Debate: Was Jimmie Johnson’s last-lap move the right one?

A series of split-second decisions are often the deciding factor in sports between triumph and heartbreak. Jimmie Johnson endured the latter on Sunday afternoon. Running second to race leader Martin Truex Jr. on the final lap of the inaugural Bank of America Roval 400, the seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion elected to push the Furniture Row Racing driver for the race win coming through the final corners on Charlotte Motor Speedway's road course. Johnson spun, then made contact with Truex's No. 78 Toyota -- taking them both out of contention for the win and ultimately knocking himself out of the NASCAR Playoffs in the process. RELATED: Johnson stunned after final lap spin | All Access: Inside the last lap So now we ask, with the benefit of hindsight: What should Johnson have done in that situation? Play it safe, take the runner-up and move on to the Round of 12 or contest Truex for his first victory of the season? NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola and Chase Wilhelm discuss.

PD: To be completely honest, it feels a little weird questioning the decision-making of arguably the greatest champion in NASCAR's storied history, but that's just it -- the ending has such an impact on the playoffs it must be discussed regardless of Johnson's stature. Johnson knew his runner-up finish would've been enough for him to advance to the Round of 12. The only possible reason for him to go after that win would've been if Truex left some sort of obvious window open to maneuver his No. 48 to the lead. There was nothing forcing him into making that call other than the monkey on his back constantly snarling in his ear that he hasn't won a race since June 4, 2017. But Johnson could've ridden that high of the second-place result being his best finish of the season into -- wait for it -- literally his best track this weekend at Dover, also the site of his last victory. A week from now, we could've been talking about how Jimmie Johnson is the only driver locked into the Round of 8. Instead, he'll have to wait until 2019 to chase title number eight. CW: Sure, Johnson could have played it safe, sandbagged behind Truex and finished second for the first time this season. But, if you believe that, you're forgetting one thing -- the foundation that drives every competitor's mentality: winning. After the race, Johnson admitted he "could have taken the safe route," but it was the mentality above that took over in the heat of the moment. When a driver, regardless of the championships he has sitting in the trophy case, is thatclose to a checkered flag, he's going to do anything in his power to go get it. There was only one mistake Johnson made, one he actually tweeted about after having a night to sleep on it: https://twitter.com/JimmieJohnson/status/1046760060020502528 Johnson thought he had enough of a points cushion to take a risk, so he went full speed in an attempt to overtake Truex coming to the line. A couple turns of the brake bias in Turns 13 and 14 and this wouldn’t even be a discussion. Racing involves a constant series of risky decisions. Some work out, some don't. But Johnson could rest a little easier knowing he gave it everything he had trying to do what he gets paid to do -- win. PD: I get that all that racers want to do, understandably, is win no matter what, and it's that mentality that led Johnson to seven titles. But Johnson's a smart guy, and I'm sure there were plenty of lessons learned along the path to those seven titles, one of which is when to give and when to take. By trying to take the small victory on Sunday, he gave away his shot at the biggest victory he could ever ask for in winning a record-setting eighth title later on this season at Miami. It should have been the other way around: Give up the win, try to take home the bigger trophy in November. Sure, it's easy for me to play backseat driver behind a keyboard, but, big picture, it's hard to reason it was the right decision given all we know now. CW: One thing that really sticks out when talking about giving up the win is what drivers have talked about in the past -- enjoying their most recent win because they never know when it's their last. Going into Sunday, Johnson was riding a 51-race winless streak dating back to Dove in June 2017 -- the longest of his 17-year career. In that moment on the final lap, I'd be willing to bet that all Johnson had in his head was finally getting back into Victory Lane. We all know Johnson is far from calling it a career, more wins will surely come and more than likely he'll have another shot at a record-breaking eighth title. But, still, none of that is guaranteed. Johnson has to take full advantage of any opportunity to win that is placed in front of him, regardless of what's at stake. Johnson didn't lay up, went 100 percent for the victory and just came up a little short. There's no shame in that at all.