Johnson Gets First Win for a Calm Hendrick Motorsports Team

Jimmie Johnson came into the 2008 season ranked #1 by polls and fans alike. He was expected to dominate in both California and Las Vegas, but came up short in both, placing 2nd and 29th respectively.

But Jimmie Johnson is taking it all in stride. As a two-time defending champion, he knows that everyone is gunning for him and neither he nor the team owner has shifted into panic mode.

Hendrick Motorsports is known for their powerhouse lineup. With Dale Earnhardt, Jr. joining the team after stress and controversy surrounding his stepmother’s decision to not give Junior majority ownership, the team seemed unbeatable. Casey Mears, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr: it’s practically a dream team.

At the moment, Gordon is out of the twelve man chase, but Johnson is 4th and Junior is 3rd; Gordon is 13th while Mears is 25th. Drivers are heading into their second off weekend of the season, but Talladega is looming.

So how does Johnson keep his cool and how does Hendrick not let the pressure get to him? My guess would be the fact that they have capable people who are focused on doing their job. With Chad Knaus as a crew chief, Johnson knows he’s in good hands. With records like theirs, it appears there truly is nothing to worry about.

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In 2007, the No. 48 team won a total of 10 races. They also finished in the top 10 a whopping 24 times. They had a few DNFs last year, but those were all due to accidents, not from mechanical issues or failures. With a record like that, what is there to worry about?

The good news for Hendrick’s team is that there’s plenty of racing left. The bad news? There’s plenty of racing left. So there’s no telling what could happen in a matter of weeks let alone months of intense competition. And so we all wait because we can’t wait to see what happens next.

By Angela Moore
Pro Racing Fans Staff Writer

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