Blaney: If Johnson ‘wanted to go, we could go’

Jimmie Johnson's pointed comments about Ryan Blaney caught the Team Penske driver's attention in a post-race media availability, and this sure seems like a new rivalry that will be front and center for some time. To catch you up, Johnson said this about his post-race "chat" with Blaney following his displeasure over their on-track altercation at Watkins Glen. MORE: Johnson, Blaney exchange words | Did Blaney deserve heat from 'Seven-Time?' "I was trying to hear what he had to say but his lips were quivering so bad he can't even speak," Johnson said. "I guess he's nervous or scared, maybe both, I don't know what the hell the problem is. … He claims it was racing, I can’t wait to go racing. Everybody stay tuned.” [ndmsvideo vid="6067974039001" iframe="true" play="false"] Blaney's response was first aired Monday night during FS1's RaceHub program. "He said I was scared?" Blaney asked when told of Johnson's comments. "Yeah, OK. He can think that. Did I turn away? No, I didn't turn away. If he wanted to go, we could go." https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/1158509386970673155 In an interview that aired Sunday during NBCSN's broadcast, Blaney said he "didn't run through" the 48. [ndmsvideo vid="6067982188001" iframe="true" play="false"] Johnson’s car sustained significant damage after the Blaney bump and an impact with the Turn 5 barrier -- an encounter that Johnson described in subsequent interviews as “he just drove through me.” He went a bit deeper on the stance when questioned on Twitter. https://twitter.com/JimmieJohnson/status/1158516684224811008 Blaney continued on to a fifth-place finish while Johnson limped to a 19th-place result, further imperiling his hopes at clinching a postseason berth -- though he's currently the last driver who would qualify for the 16-driver field. The Team Penske driver's comments are a remarkably different tone from his last tweet before the Watkins Glen race on Wednesday where he posted a video of his nephew attempting to eat Johnson's bobblehead made by Texas Motor Speedway. https://twitter.com/Blaney/status/1156640935570284549