Six-time champion gets spun, wrecks at Kansas
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Jimmie Johnson was aware of the danger of starting deep in the field here at Kansas Speedway.
When the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion was gathered up in a Lap 84 wreck less than halfway through the Hollywood Casino 400, that danger quickly became a reality.
"Definitely disappointing but not much I can do about it," the Hendrick Motorsports driver said after exiting the infield care center. "If I can put any blame anywhere, it would be on our qualifying effort on Friday. If you're going to be in the back, you're putting yourself in harm's way and today's proof of that."
Johnson would finish in 40th place, 87 laps down.
Johnson, whose 24 wins in Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races leads the series, spun his No. 48 Chevrolet in qualifying here at 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway and started the race from the 32nd position. It was his worst starting spot since also qualifying 32nd for the season-opening Daytona 500.
After pitting for adjustments during the second caution of the day, contact from Greg Biffle sent Johnson's car into the wall. Justin Allgaier and Josh Wise were also collected in the incident.
"Just got tagged in the left rear," Johnson said. "I heard it was the 16 (of Biffle), but I haven't seen the video or anything yet. I was cruising along the top (groove), everything was fine and I felt myself sideways down the back straightaway."
His crew quickly began repairing Johnson's car to allow him to return to the race.
What can't be repaired as easily will be the points hit the defending series champion will likely take. Winless in the first three Chase races, Johnson had hoped to be much more competitive to start the Contender Round (Kansas and Charlotte) to ease the concerns about heading to Talladega Superspeedway needing a strong finish to advance.
That likely is no longer the case.
"It just means we've got to be on our game at Charlotte and Talladega," he said. "And there's still a lot of racing left. This stuff can happen so we'll see how the other Chasers fare.
"If I can get taken out today, somebody else can later in this event or at Charlotte, so we'll do our best to get back on track and then certainly need (wins), I would assume, moving forward."
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