Johnson is champion for second consecutive time
Racing Champion Jimmie Johnson won his second consecutive championship at Miami by finishing a risk-free seventh at the Homestead Driveway on Sunday. His competitive rival from last week’s duel, Matt Kenseth won the race. But Johnson has won the war, being only the first racer to win two consecutive championship since Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon accomplished the same in 1997-98.
When it was over, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were already looking at the third time.
“We’re just really hitting our stride,” Johnson said. “I think that we have a lot of good years ahead of us and we’ll be fighting for more championships and certainly winning more races as the years go by, and hopefully be a three-time champion in the near future.”
Sunday’s race was just a coronation, a mere formality to crown the sport’s new King. And everyone knows that. Nascar is said to be set to change eras next season, but the Johnson era has just begun. Team owner Hendrick was as excited as the driver if not more.
“Jimmie’s just getting better and better, phenomenal,” Hendrick said. “He’s as determined as anybody I’ve ever seen sit down in a racecar. I don’t see anything that’s going to slow Jimmie down. I hope that we can keep it together. We can do some phenomenal things in the future.”
“Can we get 10, guys?” Hendrick asked, looking at Johnson and Knaus. “OK, we’re going to get 10.”
Johnson came into the race with a safe 86 point lead and never looked like loosing it. Right from the beginning he took the lead, finishing the first lap in first place, and having secure the bonus points, settled in for a smooth ride into the history book
