Posted on by Zack Albert

In the wake of Wednesday’s penalty to teammate Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola’s situation for Sunday’s elimination race at ISM Raceway in Phoenix has gone from must-win to virtual must-win. No matter the pressure level, Almirola says he’s eager to tackle it.

Though he’ll need a win or help Sunday to advance to the Championship 4 field in the Nov. 18 finale at Homestead, Almirola says his Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 team isn’t pressing ahead of Sunday’s Can Am 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the next-to-last event in the 10-race playoffs.

RELATED: Looking at the playoff picture post-penalty | Updated playoff standings

“We’re embracing the challenge ahead of us,” Almirola said Tuesday. “As athletes and as competitive people, this is what you live for; to be in this position — bottom of the ninth, Game 7, right? You’ve got to go do it. You’ve got to do it to win, to be able to make it to Homestead to go race for a championship.

“So this is fun stuff. This is something to get pumped up about. Makes the adrenalin levels rise, makes you know you’re alive, and it’s fun. As competitive people and athletes, it doesn’t get any better than this other than going to Homestead to race for championship, which will take it to the whole next level. We’re focused and we’re going to go to Phoenix and do whatever it takes to try to win that race.”

The penalty to Harvick’s No. 4 scratched the team’s automatic Championship 4 berth and moved the cut-off line for qualifying for the title-race field. That effectively chopped Almirola’s deficit from 57 to 35 points, reopening the door for mathematically advancing, but he still has significant ground to regain.

RELATED: Clinching scenarios | Breaking down the bubble heading into Phoenix

All four Stewart-Haas Racing cars are in play at Phoenix, but with only three open spots remaining, it’s a flood of water that won’t all fit through the funnel. Should the contest for the final positions come down to a late-race battle of SHR teammates, Almirola says he expects their competitive nature to take over — within reason. 

“At the end of the day, we’ve got to go race and the best problem to have would be for us to be running one through four, and then let us figure it out from there,” Almirola said. “We’ve got to race, we’ve got to be smart and we’ve got to put ourselves in position and at the end of the day, we all know what’s on the line. I think we’re all very aware that the stakes are high and the opportunity to go to Homestead to race for a championship is pretty damn awesome, so we all know that and we know that it’s desperate times will sometimes call for desperate measures, but you’ve got to be smart about it, too. You can’t on Lap 5 go drill somebody and knock them out of the way.

“I think when it gets down to the end of the race and hopefully we’re all sitting there with a shot at the win, then you know that it’s every man for himself and that we’re all going to do whatever it takes to try and get to Homestead.”

MORE: Almirola says he and Logano have talked post-Texas

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller revealed additional details on the L1-level penalty issued Wednesday to the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team, saying the spoiler on Kevin Harvick’s car was “absolutely, 100 percent, no question” not in compliance with the NASCAR Rule Book.

“As black and white as it gets,” Miller said in a Wednesday night conference call.

The spoilers, Miller said, are purchased from a single source supplier and positioned on the car. The spoiler observed on the No. 4 was offset slightly to the right — that provides an aerodynamic advantage when a car goes into the corner.

RELATED: More on the penalty

An NASCAR inspector noticed something looked amiss on the No. 4 during the post-race inspection at the track, a finding that led to officials breaking down the spoiler completely once back at the R&D Center, where the infraction was then discovered.

“We believe this to be a separate manufactured part by the team,” Miller said. “But … if they would have modified a standard one, the penalty is the same.”

Harvick was docked 40 points for the violation, and his win at Texas no longer automatically advances him to the Round of 8. He also is without crew chief Rodney Childers and car chief Robert Smith for the rest of the season as both are suspended for two races.

Stewart-Haas Racing will not appeal the penalty.

The impact of the penalty stretches behind Stewart-Haas Racing as well.

RELATED: Analyzing penalty impact

Miller said NASCAR officials at ISM Raceway in Phoenix this weekend will further scrutinize all spoilers before cars go on track as a response to the penalty.

“It’s a shame that we have to, but yeah, we plan on doing that,” Miller said. “We have to change the culture. We can’t just say ‘take that off’ because ‘take that off’ obviously isn’t working anymore.

“Teams should be bringing legal cars to the race track, and we shouldn’t have to do those inspections all the time. … I think we’re getting in the borderline ridiculous territory.”

RELATED: SHR names fill-in crew chief

Additionally, Miller said NASCAR would review its deterrence model in the offseason and consider stiffer penalties for certain infractions.

“We’re actually looking at a lot of different things in the offseason in regards to the deterrence model,” Miller said. “All the way to … we’ve heard the fans call out for, ‘Why don’t you DQ the offending car?’ That’s actually a topic of discussion, among with many other things.

“Certainly points, the deterrence model, fines, suspensions. That’s always on our plates during the winter.”

Posted on by Jordan Bianchi

Ahead of Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway in Phoenix (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) — the final race in the Round of 8 — we take a look back on the 2015 race that saw Dale Jr. emerge in the rain and a star-studded Championship 4 field get set.

Previously: 2014 classic

Coming Thursday: A look back at the 2016 race.

The scene

The fall playoff race at ISM Raceway wasn’t lacking for story lines with the previous two Round of 8 races generating plenty of memorable moments and no shortage of controversy.

In what was his final season as a full-time competitor, Jeff Gordon assured himself a spot in the Championship 4 bracket by triumphing at Martinsville Speedway, a win punctuated by the four-time champion getting emotional in Victory Lane. That win came about following a dramatic turn of events that included title contenders Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano becoming ensnared in different run-ins as they vied for the lead, one of which resulted in Matt Kenseth earning a two-race suspension for deliberately wrecking Logano.

Gordon’s win left three spots up for grabs in the Round of 8 elimination race, as non-playoff driver Jimmie Johnson narrowly edged Keselowski to win the week before at Texas Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch (+11 points above the cut line), Kevin Harvick (+10) and Martin Truex Jr. (+7) provisionally held the three transfer positions, with Carl Edwards, Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Logano each effectively needing a win at ISM to advance.

RELATED: Full 2015 race results

The action

Harvick was the heavy favorite to win, increasing the odds Edwards, Keselowski, Busch and Logano faced in scoring a victory they required to avoid playoff elimination. And living up to his status, Harvick dominated in leading all but 50 of the first 193 laps.

The consensus that Harvick would win in a romp was knocked askew by a forecast that called for rain at some juncture during the race. With one eye on the track and another on the sky, crew chiefs altered their strategies in the hopes of stealing a victory seemingly otherwise earmarked for Harvick. And that was what transpired.

Dale Jr. celebrates at Phoenix
Christian Petersen | Getty Images

During a sequence of green-flag pit stops, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was on pit road when a caution fortuitously fell in his favor allowing him to get service and return to the track without losing a lap. He then inherited the lead when the other lead-lap cars pitted just as rain began to fall. With the precipitation increasing officials had little recourse but to red flag the race. It would never be restarted, and became the first postseason race to not complete the full distance since NASCAR instituted the elimination format prior to the 2014 season.

PHOTOS: Dale Jr. through the years

Joining Gordon in advancing to the Championship 4 were Harvick — who finished second to Earnhardt — Kyle Busch and Truex. Edwards finished 12th, and was the first driver below the cut line, five points behind Truex.

The winner

The victory was Earnhardt’s third of the season and 26th of his career. He announced in the spring of 2017 that he would retire from racing full-time at the end of that season, and though he has come close on multiple occasions, he has not won a NASCAR race since.

The impact

The Championship 4 featured the defending series champion (Harvick), one of the best drivers of his generation (Busch), one of NASCAR’s all-time greats (Gordon) and an underdog driver (Truex) that two years later would storm to the title. It was a stacked field.

The championship came down to Busch vs. Harvick, with the two going toe-to-toe over the final laps at Homestead. Busch prevailed when he passed Keselowski for the lead on a restart with seven laps remaining, then held off a closing Harvick to win the race and the championship.

Posted on by Staff Report

The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team was docked 40 driver and 40 owner points as part of an L1-level penalty following Kevin Harvick’s win Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. As a result, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs picture got a bit of a makeover.

To recap: As part of the penalty to the No. 4 team, Harvick was docked 40 points and his win at Texas cannot be used to clinch his spot in the Championship 4. As NBC’s Rick Allen might say — this … changes … everything.

The only playoff driver not impacted by the penalty is Joey Logano. The Team Penske wheelman won his way into the Championship 4 at Martinsville, and his status does not change. He’ll race for the title in Miami.

The other seven playoff drivers all feel the impact, though — some more than others.

RELATED: More on No. 4 penalty

Here’s a look at how the standings shook out, and what it means for the seven drivers all trying to clinch one of the three remaining Championship 4 spots this weekend at ISM Raceway (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

2. Kyle Busch (Previously: 3)

Points above cutline: +28
Previous points above: + 28
Note: The biggest gain for Busch isn’t necessarily in points, but security. He remains 28 points above the cutoff (because the points total for the first driver below the cutline didn’t change), but now he has Kevin Harvick 25 points behind him instead of locked into the Championship 4. Busch should feel far more comfortable heading into Phoenix.

3. Martin Truex Jr. (Previously: 4)

Points above cutline: +25
Previous points above: + 25
Note: Similarly to Busch, Truex Jr. can breathe easier considering he’s not the last driver above the cutline. His points cushion doesn’t change, but with Harvick 22 points below him, his Miami chances have spiked upward — especially when you consider that if a driver below the cutline wins, it now is more likely to impact Harvick rather than Truex Jr.

RELATED: Updated playoff standings

4. Kevin Harvick (Previously: 1)

Points above cutline: +3
Previous points above: CLINCHED
Note: Obviously, Wednesday’s penalty is a massive blow to the No. 4 team. In the top spot in the standings with a Championship 4 berth locked in after winning at Texas, the team’s 40-point infraction erases that and puts Harvick in a dangerous spot. Yes, ISM Raceway at Phoenix is Harvick’s best track, but his margin over Kurt Busch is razor thin — just three points. Beyond that, if someone below the cutoff line wins, he’s in real trouble. Then there’s the mental aspect. Yesterday, the No. 4 team had its feet metaphorically kicked up, plotting for Homestead-Miami Speedway. Now they are back in the pressure cooker, and without crew chief Rodney Childers and car chief Robert Smith for the next two races.

5. Kurt Busch (Previously: 5)

Points below cutline: -3
Previous points below: -25
Note: The biggest “winner” of this points penalty is Harvick’s teammate Kurt Busch. Prior to Wednesday’s news, the Stewart-Haas Racing veteran faced an uphill climb to Miami that in all likelihood necessitated a win at Phoenix. His margin to the cutoff line is down to three, and Busch has plenty of room to wiggle – and the cushion to pounce if a driver above him in the standings has an issue.

6. Chase Elliott (Previously: 6)

Points below cutline: -17
Previous points below: -39
Note: Wednesday’s penalty was plenty impactful for Chase Elliott as well. A strong finish in Stage 1 and Stage 2 would help Elliott cut into the 17-point gap much more easily than the 39-point gulf he had previously faced.

7. Aric Almirola (Previously: 7)

Points below cutline: -35
Previous points below: -57
Note: No change here. Almirola must win Sunday to advance.

8. Clint Bowyer (Previously: 8)

Points below cutline: -51
Previous points below: -73
Note: No change here. Bowyer must win Sunday to advance.

Posted on by Sponsored Content

NASCAR fans at Texas Motor Speedway got their own laps in Sunday morning before the AAA Texas 500 with the NASCAR Fitness Challenge Fan Lap Powered by Lilly Diabetes.

With Roush Fenway driver Ryan Reed and “Glass Case of Emotion” podcast co-host Kim Coon joining fans pre-race under a bright blue Texas sky, fans took a pledge to better manage their health then took a walk on the fastest 1.5-mile track in NASCAR.

“Something as simple as a walk can make all the difference for my health and my diabetes management, so it’s really cool for Lilly Diabetes and NASCAR to encourage fans in a fun way to get some good exercise,” said Reed, driver of the DriveDownA1C Ford, at the fan walk earlier at Texas Motor Speedway.

Visit DriveDownA1C.com for more information and join the conversation with the hashtag #DriveDownA1C on Twitter.

Posted on by Staff Report

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019, giving the longtime team owner a powerful four-car operation with multiple Monster Energy Series champions.

Truex is leaving Furniture Row Racing after five seasons with the Denver, Colorado-based No. 78 organization. He’ll replace Daniel Suarez on the No. 19 team, bringing crew chief Cole Pearn along with him. Furniture Row announced in August it would shutter its operations at the end of the season, paving the way for Truex Jr. to become a marquee free agent.

RELATED: Key players in ‘Silly Season’

“Anytime you have an opportunity to bring two people of this caliber into your organization, it’s certainly an exciting time,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, in a team release. “They obviously have developed a chemistry that has led to tremendous success, including a championship. We’ve gotten to know them well over the past few years through the alliance and having been part of the Toyota family. They both make us stronger as an organization.”

JGR indicated that sponsorship plans for next season were still in progress and would be announced at a later date.

Truex, 38, has four wins and four Busch Pole Awards this year for Furniture Row, which operates in partnership with JGR. His performance has placed him among the championship contenders heading into the Round of 8 finale this weekend at ISM Raceway in Phoenix.

Truex will be Kyle Busch’s teammate in 2019, giving JGR a powerful 1-2 punch with two of the most recent Monster Energy Series champions. Erik Jones and Denny Hamlin complete the four-driver roster at JGR.

All but two of Truex’s 19 Monster Energy Series wins have come with Furniture Row and team owner Barney Visser. The Furniture Row Racing owner issued a statement appreciative of Truex and Pearn’s efforts.

“I want to personally thank Martin and Cole for their contributions in making Furniture Row Racing a championship-caliber team,” Visser said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that they will continue to be a winning driver/crew chief combination with Joe Gibbs Racing. They are outstanding representatives for NASCAR and I am proud to have been associated with them. But before Martin and Cole depart for a new endeavor we still have two races remaining, and hopefully we will be celebrating another championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.”

Pearn has been with Truex for all 17 of his Furniture Row victories, and the driver-crew chief pairing will remain intact next season.

“Obviously to be able to make this transition and still be able to work alongside Cole is something that was very important to me,” Truex said in a release provided by the team. “There is also a real comfort level working with the JGR team and I wanted to stay in the Toyota family. We still have big goals for the remainder of this season, but it’s nice to know what we will be doing in 2019.”

RELATED: All of Truex’s wins | Truex through the years

Truex marched to his first title in NASCAR’s top division in 2017 by winning eight races, including the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He is also a two-time champion in what is now called the Xfinity Series, going back-to-back in 2004-05.

Suarez’s tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing will end after two seasons in NASCAR’s top division. The Mexican-born driver made the transition to the Monster Energy Series after Carl Edwards’ departure in January 2017, moving up after claiming the Xfinity Series championship for JGR the previous season.

Suarez climbed the NASCAR ladder through the Toyota Racing system and is now one of the sport’s top free agents for 2019. Gibbs, who oversaw much of his stock-car racing development, wished him well in a statement from the team.

“We really appreciate everything Daniel has done for Joe Gibbs Racing over these past several years,” Gibbs said. “He has made the most of every opportunity from winning the championship in the Xfinity Series to making the jump into the Cup Series for us. We look forward to hearing about his plans going forward and know he continues to have a bright future in our sport.”

Posted on by Zack Albert

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Wednesday that production manager Tony Gibson will serve as interim crew chief for the No. 4 Ford and driver Kevin Harvick for the rest of the season.

SHR made the announcement in conjunction with its decision not to appeal the L1-level penalties issued to the No. 4 team after its win Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. Those penalties included a two-race suspension for crew chief Rodney Childers.

RELATED: Penalties to No. 4 team shake up playoffs

Gibson, who turned 54 on Saturday, will return to the top of the pit box for this weekend’s events at ISM Raceway in Phoenix and the Nov. 18 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The longtime crew chief moved to the role of production manager before the 2018 season, taking control of vehicle fabrication for SHR’s four-car fleet and reducing his travel duties.

Gibson’s task will be to help guide Harvick through the final stages of his bid for a second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship. Wednesday’s penalty for an unapproved spoiler carried a 40-point deduction that leaves Harvick just three points above the elimination line entering Sunday’s Can Am 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the final event in the postseason’s Round of 8.

MORE: Updated playoff standings | All-time winners at Phoenix

Harvick has nine career victories at the 1-mile Phoenix track, including the series’ most recent race there in March. Gibson scored his first premier-series win as a crew chief at Phoenix, converting a gutsy two-tire pit-stop call into a victory for Ryan Newman in April 2010.

Gibson revealed in August that he had suffered a stroke on July 6. He indicated that the illness affected his vestibular system, which relates to the balance and orientation functions through the eyes and ears. He returned to work after a six-week recovery period.

Gibson has been a less frequent visitor to the track in his current role, which is based in SHR’s Kannapolis, North Carolina, shop. Gibson served as a substitute crew chief for Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 10 team and driver Aric Almirola at Bristol Motor Speedway in April, filling in for Friday practice and qualifying while primary crew chief Johnny Klausmeier stayed home with family after the birth of his second child.

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR officials handed down L1-level penalties to two more Monster Energy Series teams Wednesday, docking the No. 12 Team Penske operation and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team for body panel infractions in last weekend’s event at Texas Motor Speedway.

The No. 12 Ford that Ryan Blaney drove to a runner-up finish in last Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 was found with unapproved door front crush panels, a violation of Section 20.4.17.6.b in the NASCAR Rule Book. That rule states that “all filler panels must remain permanently attached for the entire event.”

RELATED: Harvick loses 40 points

The No. 20 Toyota that carried Erik Jones to fourth place was found with infractions on the body and package tray. Those sections (20.4.h and 20.4.17.8.b) in the rule book note that “air cannot pass from one area of the vehicle interior to another. Vehicle package tray must remain flat and straight, front to back, with one break.”

The penalties for both organizations are identical, with each team losing 20 points in both the drivers and team owners standings. For the No. 12 team, crew chief Jeremy Bullins has been fined $50,000 and car chief Kirk Almquist has been suspended from the next two Monster Energy Series races. On the No. 20 team, officials issued a $50,000 fine to crew chief Chris Gayle and suspended car chief Jason Overstreet for the next two events.

Those punishments are in addition to L1-level penalties handed to the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team of Texas race winner Kevin Harvick. NASCAR officials issued penalties for an unapproved spoiler on the No. 4 car, stripping the team of the benefits associated with the win and shaking up the playoff picture.

Both violations, found after a post-race technical inspection at the NASCAR Research & Development Center, are applied to the race finish for both teams. Blaney and Jones each qualified for this year’s NASCAR Playoffs, but both have since been eliminated from championship contention.

MORE: Updated playoff standings

Officials also penalized one team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for a safety infraction for losing a ballast container during a practice session last Thursday at Texas. NASCAR officials suspended three crew members for the No. 35 NextGen Motorsports team — crew chief Ryan Bell, truck chief Jerry Kennedy and mechanic Patrick Magee — for the next three Truck Series events, a span that stretches until after the 2019 season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Brennan Poole drove the No. 35 Toyota to a 15th-place finish in the NextGen team’s debut in the series.

Posted on by Staff Report

The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team has been issued an L1-level penalty following driver Kevin Harvick’s win Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, an infraction that carries major championship implications in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The team violated Section 20.4.12 of the NASCAR Rule Book that is specific to spoilers. Spoilers must be used exactly as supplied from the manufacturer and not altered. The infraction was discovered in post-race tear down at the NASCAR Research & Development Center.

As a result, Harvick has been docked 40 driver points and the team loses 40 owner points as well. Harvick’s win at Texas no longer automatically qualifies the team for the Championship 4 in Miami. He will enter this weekend’s Round of 8 finale fourth among eight playoff drivers in the standings, three points above the cutline – should there be a tie for the final transfer spot, Harvick cannot use the Texas win in the tiebreaking procedure.

RELATED: Nos. 12, 20 also penalized

Additionally, both crew chief Rodney Childers and car chief Robert Smith have been suspended for the next two races – ISM Raceway at Phoenix and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Childers also has been fined $75,000.

“It is not our desire to issue any penalties, but will do so when necessary to ensure each race and championship is contested on a level playing field,” Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, said in a statement. “We will now return our focus to Phoenix, and the battle for a championship.”

Greg Zipadelli, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Vice President of Competition, said in a statement that the team would not appeal the penalty. Tony Gibson, SHR production manager, will serve as interim crew chief for the No. 4 team and Nick DeFazio will be its interim car chief.

“We work tirelessly across every inch of our race cars to create speed and, unfortunately, NASCAR determined we ventured into an area not accommodated by its rule book,” Zipadelli said in the SHR statement. “We will not appeal the penalty. Instead, we will direct our immediate focus to this weekend’s event in Phoenix and control our destiny on the race track.”

RELATED: Race results

Other Monster Energy Series penalties announced in the Wednesday penalty report were:

• An L1-level infraction to the No. 12 Team Penske camp. Crew chief Jeremy Bullins is fined $50,000, and car chief Kirk Almquist is suspended for the next two races. Driver Ryan Blaney loses 20 driver points, and the team loses 20 owner points.

• An L1-level infraction to the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team. Crew chief Chris Gayle is fined $50,000, and car chief Jason Overstreet is suspended for the next two races. Driver Erik Jones loses 20 driver points, and the team loses 20 owner points.

Posted on by @nascarcasm

The name “Jimmie Johnson” invokes many images. A seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion. A certain first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. A fitness fanatic. A man with a beard so perfectly and meticulously groomed that you wonder if he’s of this planet.

Well, you can add “Budding Merchandise Magnate” to that list.

As it turns out, Jimmie’s spontaneous reply to yet another keyboard schmo on Twitter telling him to retire has inspired what is sure to be the fashion must-have of the fall.

Anyways, you probably saw this tweet/reply/third-degree burn…

… “I’m far from done, JA” — a reply that became an inspirational motto we can all live by. It inspired a bad tweet from yours truly …

… which wound up inspiring a good shirt by Twitter user and race fan @LandonShaffner.

… which has led to this moment. YOU TOO can rock this stylish shirt. It is now available for purchase here. Order, and be awesome.

Join the legions of fans who support Jimmie and are out to spread the message that, as evidenced by the final turn at the Roval this year, Jimmie Johnson shows no signs of slowing down.

Before going any further allow me to add that Jimmie has several good years left in him, and will retire when he feels like it. He won’t call an unexpected news conference, saunter to the podium with his head down, and say “I still feel like I have several wins and a championship or two left to win, BUT @BooJimmyJonson7665876544, whose Twitter avatar appears to be a blurry picture of his cat, told me I should ‘Hagn it up’ so I have no choice but to follow his demand.”

I had a chance to speak with Mr. Seven-Time himself regarding this magnificent attire. He was forthright and honest with his answers, as he is known to be. This is NOT made up dialogue. These are Jimmie’s actual words.

NASCARCASM: “I’m far from done, JA” is a powerful message. One that resonates with both young and old. One suitable for anyone facing adversity whether in life or via a random troll on Twitter. Tell me how you came up with this motto.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I saw the posts, and I’ve seen posts from people not being so kind and suggesting my work ethic, my focus, my talents, my desire, all that stuff, is out the window and that I should just hang it up. And I saw it one too many times and saw that post and responded with that caption.

NASCARCASM: Did you have any other potential responses composed other than “I’m far from done, JA” that you opted not to use? I would assume your Twitter drafts folder is quite the treasure trove.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I try to keep it clean, and I did flinch a little. I had “jacka—” written out and then I shortened it to JA. I know there’s kids watching and reading and stuff, but I’ve seen enough abbreviations that I felt like it was safe to use it and it wasn’t ultimately vulgar so I felt like it would be just fine.

NASCARCASM: How did the idea for the shirt come about?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Just looking around on Twitter and I think you either posted it or responded to somebody that was making a shirt and going to Martinsville with it, so when I saw the shirt I thought it was a super-cool idea. I had a chance to actually meet the guy in Martinsville and had some shirts made for my crew guys and a few buddies that I’ve distributed, and just having a little fun with it. Hopefully we’re in Victory Lane soon and can bust out the shirts and show everybody then.

NASCARCASM: Will these be available in children’s sizes? Not trying to put ideas in your head but if you post a picture of your kids in this shirt it’s gonna get ALL the likes.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I’m not sure mom’s gonna approve of that one, so I’ll let you ask her. (AUTHOR’S NOTE: Nooooooope, you ain’t getting ME in trouble, Jimmie Johnson)

NASCARCASM: I think we all know what “JA” stands for, but if you could, please provide some G-rated options for what it could mean, just in case a small child or William Byron asks “What does that stand for?”

JIMMIE JOHNSON: We’ll investigate. I don’t have a clue. (AUTHOR’S NOTE: Potential substitutes include “Jedi Apprentice,” “Judgmental Accuser,” “Jerky Auctioneer” or “Jennifer Aniston,” just to name a few. Or you could simply tell your child that it’s Jimmie telling Justin Allgaier to wait his turn.)

NASCARCASM: In what other instances in life do you think the message on the shirt is applicable? It certainly applies to more than just racing. For example, just last week at Don Pablo’s the waiter tried to take my plate as I was scraping that last remnants of guacamole off my plate with a tortilla chip and I yelled “I’M FAR FROM DONE, JACKASS” at him. What would be some others?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Anybody trying to steal your guacamole too soon is certainly appropriate. Or if they touch my ice cream. Both of those are worth fighting over.

NASCARCASM: If Chad Knaus had a shirt similar to this one, with a short motto and an image of his likeness, what would it say?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: This one 🤬. I think he would be a little less PC and more direct.

NASCARCASM: Have you had any other memorable tweets in recent years that you think also warrant a T-shirt?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I think witty ones. Look, I’ve got thick skin and I make mistakes and if I spin out their driver I’m fine having the banter. I’ve never blocked anyone on any of my channels. I read it all, I see it all – the good, bad and the ugly. But the witty ones, even if it’s something not in my favor that’s witty, just be creative. You don’t have to be a jerk. Just be creative and have some fun.

NASCARCASM: One idea. Lemme know if you like it. If not, throw it right back. A version of this shirt for your new best friend Fernando Alonso that reads “Estoy lejos de terminar, imbécil.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I’ve sent him a shirt, I just need to send one now in the correct language.

NASCARCASM: Also, this is unrelated, but I told a couple people I would be interviewing Jimmie Johnson. More than one said “Please ask him how he keeps his beard so meticulously groomed to such a perfect length.” Can you enlighten us or is this a trade secret.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Head to your nearest pharmacy, and buy a beard trimmer. Buy a No. 1 blade and use it every third or fourth day.