Posted on by Zack Albert

Germain Racing announced Monday that Ty Dillon will jump full-time into NASCAR’s premier series next season, taking the reins of its No. 13 Chevrolet.


Dillon replaces Casey Mears, who had driven the No. 13 GEICO-sponsored entry since the second half of the 2010 season. The 24-year-old Dillon has made 18 Sprint Cup starts over the last three years, including a relief stint for the injured Tony Stewart during the early stages of last season.


In a Monday morning appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR’s Radio’s “The Morning Drive” program, Dillon indicated that an agreement with Germain Racing came together earlier in the year. The challenge, he said, was staying mum until this week.


“The questions kept coming and coming,” Dillon told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “The cool thing is that I knew what I was doing; I just didn’t say anything. It’s kind of like having an awesome secret that you want everyone to know, but you kind of had to hold it back. I guess all good things are worth waiting for. I’m just excited for what’s to come.”

A team spokesperson confirmed Monday that Robert “Bootie” Barker would return as the team’s crew chief in 2017. GEICO returns as primary sponsor, extending a relationship that bridged Germain Racing‘s transition to a full-time Sprint Cup team in 2009.


The Germain team shares a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, the multicar organization founded by Dillon’s grandfather, and its entries are powered by Childress-owned ECR Engines. Dillon said that the existing partnerships should help smooth his own transition to a full slate of racing in NASCAR’s premier series.


“I think it’s just going to help us all work a little bit closer,” Dillon told SiriusXM. “Everything is just going to be working hopefully a little bit better between RCR, and everybody just wants to keep growing at Germain Racing and that’s what I’m excited for. Everyone’s got a positive attitude to move forward. I’m looking forward to growing as a driver and also growing with this team. …


“It’s not just making it to the Cup Series for me and Germain Racing. We want to go win races and we want to go win championships. But this is a great start in putting our foot in that direction.”


Dillon has four NASCAR national series victories and has finished among the top five in each of his full-time campaigns in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. Dillon also indicated that he would remain involved in RCR’s XFINITY Series program next year; the North Carolina native has competed full-time on that tour the last three seasons.


“I plan on running the XFINITY Series, too,” Dillon said, “so hopefully you’ll be seeing a lot of me on Saturdays and Sundays and getting as much racing in as possible.”


Mears hinted last month at Talladega Superspeedway that his plans with the Germain organization beyond 2016 were uncertain. He has one victory — the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 for Hendrick Motorsports — in 488 career starts in NASCAR’s top division.


Team owner Bob Germain thanked Mears for his tenure, saying “he’s been an integral part of our growth and a great representative for GEICO and our many partners.”


Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 28, 2016) — Grammy-nominated actor, comedian and radio personality Jay Mohr will join NASCAR fans across the nation in honoring the newly crowned NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Jimmie Johnson, as the host of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 2. In addition to Sting’s previously announced headline performance, the show will feature award-winning musical artists American Authors, Skylar Grey and Olivia Holt.

 

Jay Mohr, who will host the event for an unprecedented sixth time, is the host of “Jay Mohr Sports” on FOX Sports Radio, a daily sports talk and entertainment show, syndicated in more than 150 markets, highlighted by Mohr’s trademark comedic style. Best-known for his tenure as a “Saturday Night Live” cast member, he has also appeared on numerous shows including CBS’ “Ghost Whisperer” and “Gary Unmarried,” and was previously nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award as the host and executive producer of “Last Comic Standing.” Additionally, Mohr has worked with more than a dozen Academy Award-winning or nominated actors including Tom Cruise in “Jerry Maguire,” Jennifer Aniston in “Picture Perfect,” Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt in “Pay it Forward” and Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood’s “Hereafter.”

 

“I am proud to be asked again to host the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards,” said Mohr. “Everyone associated with this organization — the owners, the staff, the racing teams, and the drivers — are of the highest caliber, and it is truly an honor to perform for all of them again. It is by far my favorite thing to do.”

 

The evening’s musical lineup will include a performance by American Authors, best-known for hits “Best Day of My Life” from their debut album “Oh, What a Life” and “Go Big or Go Home” from their second album, “What We Live For.” This will be American Authors’ second performance during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week, as they will headline the NASCAR Silver Bullet Bash Presented by Coors Light.

 

Singer, songwriter Skylar Grey will also be featured at NASCAR’s championship celebration. The five-time Grammy Award-nominated artist recently released her sophomore album “Natural Causes” and has co-written hits for the likes of Rihanna and Nicki Minaj. Grey has also been featured on tracks alongside Eminem and Kid Cudi, among numerous others, and contributed to official soundtracks for “Suicide Squad,” “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Furious 7.”

 

Singer and actress Olivia Holt will join the evening’s lineup with a performance from her debut EP “Olivia,” released earlier this year. Holt has starred in several Disney originals including the Disney XD series “Kickin’ It” and the Disney Channel series “I Didn’t Do It.”

 

NBCSN, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90, will present coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

 

For more information on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, please visit ChampionsWeek.NASCAR.com.  

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: Live streaming schedule for Champion’s Week

Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Nov. 3, 2016.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After millions watched as a new champion was crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy will make its way to Las Vegas for postseason celebrations as NASCAR hosts its annual Champion’s Week festivities. Fans across the nation will gather for a week of events honoring the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, the NASCAR Sunoco Rookie of the Year and numerous other season-ending award winners.

Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 29 and culminating on Friday, Dec. 2, NASCAR Champion’s Week will feature events including the Motorsports Marketing Forum presented by SportsBusiness Journal at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and the annual NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon at Wynn Las Vegas. Guests can visit the NASCAR Fan Lounge at Beerhaus Presented by Coors Light at The Park just outside New York-New York Hotel & Casino throughout the week for information on the Champion’s Week schedule and details about how to secure access to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards red carpet.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, the 16 Chase drivers will get behind the wheel on Las Vegas Boulevard for NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco, followed by NASCAR After The Lap Sponsored by Chevrolet, Ford & Toyota. That evening, Coors Light will once again present the NASCAR Silver Bullet Bash at XS at Encore Las Vegas to celebrate the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The private event will feature a special live performance by American Authors, best-known for hit songs “Best Day of My Life” and “What We Live For.”

Festivities will conclude with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, a black-tie event featuring the Champion, 16 Chase drivers, special guests and celebrity performers at Wynn Las Vegas. NBCSN presents this year’s awards Friday, Dec. 2, at 9 p.m. ET, while Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90 will carry the show live at 8 p.m. ET.

For more information on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, please visit ChampionsWeek.NASCAR.com. 


NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPION’S WEEK EVENTS

All times are Pacific time unless otherwise noted.


Tuesday, Nov. 29

• NASCAR Live: Motor Racing Network will broadcast a special one-hour show featuring interviews with the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and crew chief to discuss their journey throughout the Chase. Fans can tune-in with host Mike Bagley from 4 – 5 p.m. for an in-depth look at their road to the championship.

Wednesday, Nov. 30 – Thursday, Dec. 1

• Motorsports Marketing Forum: The annual event presented by SportsBusiness Journal brings together industry decision-makers again this year for a comprehensive business forum on the state of motorsports. The forum will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Click here to register for required media credentials.

• NASCAR Fan Lounge at Beerhaus Presented by Coors Light: Located at The Park just outside New York-New York, fans can enjoy giveaways, special appearances and check out the cars of the 16 Chase drivers at the NASCAR Fan Lounge at Beerhaus. Presented by Coors Light, the fan headquarters will also feature music and photo opportunities with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy.

Thursday, Dec. 1

• NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon: The annual awards luncheon and industry gathering will take place from 11 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. at Wynn Las Vegas, where several team and individual awards will be presented. Hosted by Mike Joy, the event will be live-streamed on NASCAR.com.

— Watch NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, 2-4:15 p.m. ET

• NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco: All 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will parade their race cars down Las Vegas Boulevard and perform burnouts beginning at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and finishing in front of The Park. Fans can catch pre-race introductions hosted by Jamie Little at 2:45 p.m. followed by green flag at 3:30 p.m. For a list of burnout locations, fans can visit the NASCAR Fan Lounge at Beerhaus or ChampionsWeek.NASCAR.com. The event will be simulcast live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com.

— Watch Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco, 5:45-6:30 p.m. ET

• NASCAR After The Lap Sponsored by Chevrolet, Ford & Toyota: Beginning at 5 p.m., all 16 Chase Challengers will appear on stage at the Pearl Theater inside the Palms Casino Resort for NASCAR After The Lap sponsored by Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. Hosted by Rutledge Wood and restauranteur Guy Fieri, fans can watch live by purchasing tickets here or tune-in to NASCAR.com and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for behind-the-scenes insight into the drivers’ lives both on and off the track.

— Watch After The Lap Sponsored by Chevrolet, Ford & Toyota, 8 p.m. ET

• NASCAR Silver Bullet Bash Presented by Coors Light: To commemorate and celebrate the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and toast the 2016 Champion, Coors Light will host the NASCAR Silver Bullet Bash starting at 10 p.m. in XS at Encore Las Vegas. Recording artists American Authors will give a special performance at the invite-only event.

Friday, Dec. 2

• Claire B. Lang’s annual Championship Year in Review on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host Claire B. Lang will be joined by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, crew chief, team owner and team members live from 1 – 3 p.m. for a two-hour retrospective on their championship-winning season.

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards: This exclusive black-tie celebration will be held at Wynn Las Vegas, where the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, team owner and other Chase drivers will be honored. The red carpet will take place at 4 p.m. followed by the awards show at 5 p.m. NBCSN presents complete coverage from Wynn Las Vegas beginning at 7 p.m. ET with “NASCAR America,” followed by red carpet coverage at 8 p.m. ET and subsequent coverage of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at 9 p.m. ET. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90 will broadcast the show live at 8 p.m. ET.  

Posted on by Staff Report

What channel is the NASCAR race on this week? We answer that and provide all the weekly NASCAR television listings here.

 

RELATED: Find NBCSN in your area

 

All times ET

Monday, November 28
5 p.m., NASCAR The List: Dale Earnhardt Sr. Moments (re-air), NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR The List: Greatest Finishes (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Thursday, December 1
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of the Year, FS1

Friday, December 2
7 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Red Carpet Special, NBCSN
9 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, NBCSN

 



Posted on by Staff Report

What better way to pass the time on a flight than to field questions from adoring fans? Jimmie Johnson‘s Twitter answers to post-championship and post-Thanksgiving querries.


On whether he will reach 105 wins …


On whether he’d let Chase Elliott pilot him on a flight …

On never racing midget or sprint cars …

On running …

On whether he’d race an F1 car …

On when he might retire …

Posted on by Jessica Ruffin

RELATED: Miami results | Final standings | Chase Grid
SHOP: Johnson championship gear

Jimmie Johnson could feel that something special was about to happen in those waning laps Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

His No. 48 Chevrolet had struggled throughout the day, considerably slower than the rest of the Championship 4 contenders. But on that final green-white-checkered attempt, Johnson took off like a rocket and didn’t look back until taking the checkered flag — and his seventh, record-tying championship.

It was a phenomenon that left many stunned, including crew chief Chad Knaus, who just sat back in his chair atop the pit box with a smile.

It was a surprise, a miracle, a legendary moment.

It was Ricky Hendrick, Johnson said.

“I swear, there was some intervention going on, there was a higher power involved,” Johnson told NASCAR.com Tuesday morning. “… I was screaming at (Ricky) I needed his help on that last restart and the way we shot out and got going.

“I took him along for the ride, but I think in those closing laps, he took me for a ride.”

The late son of team owner Rick Hendrick, Ricky Hendrick has been “along for the ride” for a seventh title with the team since Johnson first came up with the hashtag #Se7en at the Hendrick Motorsports‘ annual Christmas party in December 2013, just after Johnson earned his sixth Sprint Cup Series title.

“I was at the Hendrick Christmas party and it just so happened that year that Rick and Linda invited Ricky’s favorite band to come in and play, which is O.A.R.,” Johnson recalled. “… O.A.R. is playing, I’m watching Rick and Linda sing every word to every song … I was in that space and reliving Ricky and my heart was full. And it dawned on me that he had a tattoo on his back that was ‘Se7en’ and spelled out how I’ve been using the hashtag. So, it hit me hard, right then and there.”

It took the team three years to be in the title mix again, but Johnson began to have an overwhelming, foretelling feeling this season was going to be special beginning at one special place.

Martinsville Speedway.

The track where he punched his ticket to the Championship 4 with a win on Oct. 30 — and the track where Ricky Hendrick was headed when he lost his life in a tragic team plane accident on Oct. 24, 2004.

“It was more than just the race itself — when we won in Martinsville and you think back to when the plane crash happened,” Johnson said. “When we won in Martinsville there was just this feeling that ‘seven’ was alive — there was this great chance.

“I stayed extremely calm in the weeks preparing (for Miami), through the course of the race and I just, I don’t know — I felt like something was going to happen and I was going to be OK with it, I didn’t know what it was.”

The battle for #Se7en was uphill at first: Johnson started the race from the back of the field for unapproved adjustments. He made his way up to the top 10 quickly, but still struggled with the handling of the No. 48 machine, prompting Knaus to “try a bunch of (expletive)” with less than 100 laps to go.

RELATED: Knaus closing in on big NASCAR record

 

“I thought, ‘All right, this is my moment to be a gracious loser,’ ” Johnson recalled. “I need to handle this the right way — I’m going to shake someone else’s hand today and handle this the right way. I’m going to have a chance to honor Ricky but it’s different then.’

“Then the final couple cautions happened, we put tires on, the 19 (Carl Edwards) and 22 (Joey Logano) wrecked and I’m like, ‘Oh no, there’s more. This might be what I think it is.’ The next restart I get to second, I’m like, ‘Oh, this is going to happen, this is really going to happen.’ ”

RELATED: Late wreck ruins Edwards’ title hopes

Johnson restarted behind leader Kyle Larson, who led a race-high 132 laps, in the bottom lane.

“Outside, it’s your quarter,” No. 48 spotter Earl Barban told Johnson on the radio in the final laps just before he passed Larson for the lead. “Clear, clear, clear, clear, clear, clear!

“Come on baby, come home.”

That was the moment.

“When I heard ‘clear’ off Turn 2, I just knew,” Johnson said. “I literally had the goosebumps when I heard ‘clear’ and there was this register with ‘This is why. This was going to happen.’ It was insane.”

For Johnson, having Ricky — a friend, fellow racer and member of the Hendrick Motorsports family — along for the #Se7en ride made the accomplishment even more special.

“It took us a couple years to get there but I’ve had the ‘Se7en’ and it’s always taken me back to that place and just filled my heart up, trying to get seven, thinking of it on the Ricky level,” Johnson said. “I miss him so much and it was fun way to pay my respects to him and also the others that were on the plane. I know it’s meant a lot to Rick and Linda to have it be such a focal point, and so talked about and (to) bring the spirit back.

“It’s been the perfect thing for our Hendrick family.”

After the fireworks had erupted and some of the chaos settled down in Victory Lane, Johnson flipped his hat backward — just like Ricky wore his — and pointed to the sky. This is a gesture that Hendrick teams do after every win to pay tribute to those lost in the plane crash 12 years ago.

This seventh championship was for Johnson, Knaus, Rick Hendrick, the No. 48 team and the entire organization.

But #Se7en was for Ricky.

Posted on by

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Mark Martin, winner of 40 NASCAR premier series races and a runner-up in the championship battle on five occasions, has been selected for induction into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

 

Martin, 57, will be inducted Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017.

 

He was named on 95 percent of the ballots cast by the NMPA membership.

 

The Batesville, Arkansas, native competed in NASCAR for more than three decades. His 40 career victories currently rank 17th on the all-time list for the series while his 882 career starts rank fifth overall for the sanctioning body’s top series.

 

In addition to his premier series efforts, Martin also enjoyed success in NASCAR’s lower national series, winning 49 times in what is now the XFINITY Series and seven times in the Camping World Truck Series.

 

He is also a five-time winner of the IROC (International Race of Champions) title.

 

Others receiving votes but falling short of the required 65 percent necessary for induction were veteran crew chiefs Kirk Shelmerdine (61 percent), Buddy Parrott (59 percent) and Larry McReynolds (51 percent); and long-time Martinsville Speedway public relations director Dick Thompson (59 percent).

 

“Those guys are heroes of mine,” Martin said of his fellow nominees. “It is just such an incredible honor to be considered along with them. I feel very fortunate and blessed but most of all I’m thankful. Very thankful.”

 

Former statistician Bob Latford and driver Dan Gurney were also named as write-in candidates on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot.

 

Martin, who retired from competition following the 2013 season, earned 35 premier series wins with team owner Jack Roush. His final five victories came in 2009 after joining Hendrick Motorsports.

 

Alan Gustafson served as crew chief for Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Martin at Hendrick. He is currently the crew chief for 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Chase Elliott.

 

“Mark drove so much by just raw feel,” Gustafson said. “His ability just to flat out drive a car, no markers, no signs no nothing, he was really good at that, which produced some amazing lap times.

 

“We’ve all seen it. Mark Martin, first lap on the track, is just insane. Because he doesn’t have to figure out where he’s at, he just drives by feel. He was open to working on things and doing things but he just did it a different way than drivers like Jeff and Kyle and Chase.”

 

The National Motorsports Press Association was formed more than 50 years ago and its membership consists of motorsports writers, broadcasters and photographers from throughout the U.S. and abroad.

 

The NMPA Hall of Fame, established in 1965, is located on the grounds of Darlington Raceway.

Posted on by Staff Report

The weather is getting colder, the leaves are changing colors, the days are getting shorter … and there’s no on-track NASCAR action for a while.

 

All of the above means one thing: It’s Thanksgiving.

 

Given that this is a time to pause and reflect on the many things for which we are thankful, here are some of the many NASCAR-related things the editorial staff of NASCAR.com are thankful for:

 

We are thankful for …

 

• Jimmie Johnson. NASCAR is fortunate that one of its greatest drivers is also one of its greatest men. — Brad Norman

 

• Martin Truex Jr.’s mean air guitar on the NASCAR on NBC intro song of “Bringing Back the Sunshine.” Truex showed off his rock star-like ability on the track this season in one of the feel-good stories of 2016. Seeing Truex and girlfriend Sherry Pollex tackle her fight with cancer head-on has been especially impactful for me on a personal level as my mother was recently diagnosed with cancer. — RJ Kraft

 

• Kyle Larson‘s penchant for riding the high line ever-so-close to the wall. It adds an element of edge-of-your-seat excitement to any race where he’s running in the front because you never know what’s going to happen next. — George Winkler

 

• Seeing the Tide car ride again at Darlington. — Kathy Sheldon

 

• Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s positivity and transparency. Not many athletes would let fans and media into a very personal concussion recovery process, but Junior has been as honest and upbeat as ever throughout his healing. His continued presence at the track and positive voice in the sport has been a blessing to us all. – Jessica Ruffin

 

• Jimmie Johnson. Being able to work for NASCAR and have a front row seat to history being made with his seventh Sprint Cup Series championship is something I’ll never forget. I’m in awe of his talent. This must be what it was like working for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. — Pat DeCola

 

• SAFER barrier and safety personnel. We haven’t stopped writing about injuries, but the instances are much less frequent today. — Kenny Bruce

 

• Martin Truex Jr., Sherry Pollex and Barney Visser, who had the courage to do something different and run a race team from Denver. All the time and effort the Furniture Row Racing team puts in is clearly paying off, and I look forward to watching them grow to two teams next season with Erik Jones. — George Winkler

 

• Night races in the summer heat. — Kathy Sheldon

 

• Short-track racing. The action at Bristol and Martinsville is typically among the most entertaining of the season. Richmond produced a bump-and-run between teammates in the spring, and Iowa also is a great track. Tempers tend to flare at the smaller venues, and the racing is among the tightest you’ll see all season. — RJ Kraft

 

• Local short tracks. Dirt? Asphalt? Quarter-mile? Three-eighths? Yes. — Brad Norman

 

• Daytona in February and Homestead in November. There aren’t two better places, or tracks, to begin and end a season. All the ones in between? Yeah, they’re pretty nice, too. — Kenny Bruce

Posted on by

RELATED: Johnson wins seventh title | Race results | Chase Grid | Standings

SHOP: Champion gear

Jimmie Johnson‘s record-tying seventh Sprint Cup Series title put him in elite company with the legendary Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

It’s quite the feat the No. 48 team achieved, but Johnson is already thinking about eight.

For crew chief Chad Knaus.

Dale Inman holds the record for most championships as a crew chief with eight premier series titles. Having been atop of the pit box for of all seven of Johnson’s championships, Knaus would tie that record with an eighth Sprint Cup title.

“I mentioned it to him that we need to go get eight for him,” Johnson told NASCAR.com on Tuesday morning. ” … He’s honestly been such a huge part of my success and deserves the title of ‘greatest ever.’ So one way to really nip that is to go and put him up there with the same stats as Dale Inman.”

In his storied career, Inman achieved seven titles for Petty and his last one for Hall of Fame driver Terry Labonte in 1984. No one has come close to reaching Inman’s record in the modern era — and not even Inman earned eight titles with a single driver.

Knaus has that chance to make history with Johnson, who says he has “another 3-5 years left” in his career.

WATCH: Johnson talks future in sport

Has it entered Knaus’ mind? Probably. But as the world saw with Johnson’s seventh title, Knaus’ impeccably focused drive doesn’t come from tying records or rewriting history books.

It comes simply from winning, Johnson says.

“I honestly don’t think it’s going to be in his mind,” Johnson said. “It’s just not what motivates him — he would certainly relish the moment if it happened, but he was even more removed from the significance of seven than I expected.

“I sat alongside of him and listened to him explain this to the media and to others, but working alongside him and seeing that it wasn’t about seven at all — it was about a championship. I wouldn’t imagine it would change as he attempts to go for eight.”

Johnson’s thoughts were echoed in Knaus’ post-race remarks Sunday, as he talked about the duo’s run for the seventh title.

“I don’t mean to be weird or disrespectful or anything like that, but that’s — I haven’t approached it throughout the course of our career,” Knaus said Sunday. “I really just think about the next event. The next event could be qualifying, the next event could be practice, the next event could be the race. It could be whatever it may be, and I feel like for me, that’s the safest environment for me to operate, knowing that there’s always that next goal that needs to be achieved, that next goal that needs to be accomplished, and keeping our guys in that mindset.

“Not that I don’t want them to enjoy and bask in the opportunity to go out there and battle for championships, or myself, I do enjoy it. That’s why we do it. But looking at the numbers right now isn’t really what I’m about.

True to form, the Rockford, Illinois, native’s next big goal is a more immediate one: To win at his home track of Chicagoland Speedway, one of the three active tracks where Johnson has yet to nab a win.

 

“He reminded me of the promise I made to him to win at Chicago and I haven’t been able to do that yet,” Johnson said. “So he jokingly laughed and said, ‘Let’s just focus on Chicago first and then we can worry about the other championship.’

“… When we first started, we were setting some goals back in winter ‘01 and we both agreed that the first goal would be to win at our home tracks. And that was where my first win (at his home track, Auto Club Speedway) came a handful of races later and we’ve been in contention numerous times at Chicago and I just keep screwing it up.

“So I owe him big on that.”