Johnson, Junior know the time to win is now

“If we can’t (win), we still need to focus on finishing as high as we can,” Johnson, 39, said. “The reason that leaves a little bit of hope is because if you miss the big (wrecks) in Talladega, you could assume some of the other Chasers will be involved in one or two of those and you might have another chance.

“It’s a fading chance, the position I’m in I believe, but it’s still an opportunity and something for us to consider.”

Johnson won here in May, the first of three wins by the No. 48 team in the span of four weeks. Since then, wins have not materialized and a single mishap threatens to paint Johnson out of the title picture.

“We’re just not where we want to be, bottom line,” he said. “This sport is not forgiving and what you’ve done in the past doesn’t buy you a damn thing for the present. You’ve got to go out there and earn it and make the most of it.

“We’ve been a third- to fifth-place car. We can finish there and run there but we haven’t been a dominant car. We’re certainly hoping that when we come to tracks that have been very good for the 48 that we’re able to find that little bit, that extra tenth and put us in that position and get our mojo going the right way.”

Johnson is a seven-time winner at CMS and sports an average finish of 11.2.

Earnhardt Jr. is still searching for his first points win at the 1.5-mile facility. Charlotte has not been as kind to the sport’s most popular driver. He’s won here in 2000 in the series’ annual All-Star race and again in 2012 in the Sprint Showdown.

But that lack of success hasn’t dulled his outlook for racing his way back into contention.

“We obviously know what the situation is with the points and how important it is for us to come in here and win the race,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I have been winless at Charlotte in a points-paying race since I started my career, so it’s bound to happen sooner or later.

“I always win at the weirdest times in the oddest circumstances. So I feel like everything is lining up and I feel real good about this weekend.”

Unlike Johnson, who had his hands full at Kansas, Earnhardt Jr. was enjoying a strong run last week before a tire problem sent his No. 88 Chevrolet to the garage. He had led 45 laps and was out front when the incident occurred.

That performance, he said, gives him confidence going into this weekend’s race.

“I feel less pressure now I think than I did before the race at Kansas,” he said. “Even … if we had run in the top five last week, I think … under the circumstances now I still feel less pressure for some reason — it’s weird.

“I just think that we have a shot and I feel good about it. I think our team is good. I think we are good enough. I think we should go out there and win. I believe we will.”