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Jimmie Johnson 2018 season recap
By Chase Wilhelm | Published: 5 Dec, 2018 16
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs for the 15th straight year of the 10-race postseason structure. Although he experienced the first winless season of his 17-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career in 2018, there were many highlights for him throughout the season. See Johnson's biggest moments from 2018.
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Jerry Markland | Getty Images
Johnson recorded his highest finish of the 2018 season in the spring at Bristol Motor Speedway with a third-place result.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Johnson was still able to reach Victory Lane this season in a different form. He celebrated with Chase Elliott over a cold beer following his teammate's first career Monster Energy Series victory at Watkins Glen International.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
The seven-time champion joined teammates Chase Elliott (left) and Alex Bowman in the NASCAR Playoffs. Johnson scored two top-five and eight top-10 finishes in the regular season to make it in.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Johnson was this close to winning the inaugural Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the new Charlotte road course in October. Johnson lost control of the No. 48 while trying to pass Martin Truex Jr. in the final corner. He spun and collected Truex in the process, allowing Ryan Blaney to sneak away with the win. The miscue knocked Johnson out of the playoffs.
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Hendrick Motorsports
Following the Charlotte road course incident, Truex's crew chief Cole Pearn joked that Johnson should buy road bikes for the entire No. 78 crew as an apology. Johnson came through the next weekend at Dover, but it wasn't what Pearn was thinking. Johnson got clearance to enter the garage early and drop off a fleet of "road bikes" -- for kids.
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Chase Wilhelm | NASCAR Digital Media
On Oct. 10, Hendrick Motorsports announced that 2018 would be the final year for Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus as a pairing after 81 wins and seven championships together. Knaus will serve as crew chief for William Byron in 2019, while Johnson will have Kevin Meendering calling the shots for the No. 48 team next season.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
It looked as though a crash early in the October race at Talladega would mean a disappointing finish for Johnson, but repairs were made on pit road and he was able to rally back for a seventh-place finish -- an impressive showing for "Seven-time" and the No. 48 crew.
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Credit: Ally Financial
Hendrick Motorsports announced earlier in the year that the 2018 season would be the last for Lowe's Home Improvement on the No. 48 Chevrolet. On Oct. 28 at Martinsville Speedway, Johnson, team owner Rick Hendrick unveiled that Ally Financial would be the full-time primary sponsor for the team beginning in 2019.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
The No. 48 team threw it back to 2001 at ISM Raceway with the "Power of Pride" Lowe's paint scheme from Johnson's three Monster Energy Series races that year.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Johnson, joined via Skype by two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, addressed the media at ISM Raceway after it was revealed the pair would take part in a ride swap at Bahrain International Circuit in Manama, Bahrain.
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Robert Laberge | Getty Images
To honor the longtime partnership with Lowe's in the company's final race on the No. 48 car, the team threw it back to Johnson's rookie paint scheme from 2002 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Along with the car, Johnson sported an earlier look as well, shaving off the beard to go full-fledged throwback in Miami.
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Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus embraced after their final race together on Nov. 18 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, marking the official end to a dynasty.
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Hendrick Motorsports
Johnson and Fernando Alonso swapped rides at Bahrain International Circuit on Nov. 26, the day after Alonso retired from full-time F1 competition. The pair also swapped helmets at the end of the day.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
There's cool, then there's JJ cool. Johnson capped off the 2018 season with some unique shades on the red carpet for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards banquet at the Wynn Las Vegas.