Part 2 of 3 looking at Chase: Why Jimmie Johnson will win the championship

This week, I’m doing a blog on each of the title contenders and why they’ll win the championship. I’ll go in order in points. I’ve done the case for Denny Hamlin.

 

So, here’s why Jimmie Johnson will win the championship Sunday at Homestead:

 

 

# He and Chad Knaus can taste a fifth championship.

 

 

The fuel mileage issue at Phoenix for Denny Hamlin could prove to be what undoes his title hopes. Why? Because it let Johnson back in the championship hunt.

 

 

Until then, Hamlin was running at the front, while Johnson couldn’t get there. Hamlin was going to take control of the title race much like Johnson often has at Phoenix, by essentially sticking his foot on the throat of his competitors and showing no mercy. Then Hamlin had to pit in the final laps for fuel and that gave Johnson (and Kevin Harvick) second life.

 

 

Had Hamlin finished second, he would have pulled further ahead in the points race. Instead, he lost a good part of his lead and let Johnson back in it. You don’t give a champion a second chance at a title that seems all but lost. Johnson and Chad Knaus very well could take advantage of that mistake and hoist another championship trophy.

 

 

# Johnson might have the best pit crew of the title contenders

 

 

If nothing else, he no longer has the worst. Say what you want about how the swap with Jeff Gordon’s pit crew was made, at least at Phoenix, it proved to be a good move. Johnson often gained spots on pit road _ he never lost a spot _ while Gordon lost spots on pit road various times with Johnson’s former pit crew.

 

 

Those in the garage had said that Hamlin had the best pit crew but that was before the switch with Johnson’s team and the performance by Hamlin’s crew at Phoenix. A couple of times he lost the lead on pit road.  When you’re talking about a close points race even one position can make a difference. While Harvick’s pit stops have gotten better since getting Clint Bowyer’s crew earlier  in the Chase, Johnson might have a slight upper hand here. Again, it’s close and it comes down to one race where even one mistake can prove costly _ just as it almost cost Harvick at Phoenix when he had to pit again for a missing lug nut.

 

 

# Chad Knaus

 

 

The master motivator. That’s not to take away from Mike Ford or Gil Martin but when you have four championships, you get the nod _ because you’ve proved you can do it. There’s no doubt Knaus is among the best crew chiefs in the sport’s history and has forced other teams and crew chiefs to change how they do things to try to keep up. His mid-race pit crew swap at Texas proved he’s not afraid to be bold late in the Chase.

 

 

He also knows how to goad Johnson to do more on the track when Johnson’s lap times aren’t where they should be. At times, he encourages Johnson, playing cheerleader. At other times, he chews Johnson’s rear out with a few choice words in a stern way _ much like a principal might talk to a child (without the salty language).

 

# Jimmie Johnson

 

His laser focus. It’s a quiet intensity he has but it is powerful. He’s avoided distractions in the past to win titles, he’s excelled when people questioned him – remember many in the media asking Johnson before the Chase if he was vulnerable this year? That’s not to say Hamlin and Harvick don’t have that laser focus but in a one-race battle for the championship, how well a driver maintains his composure could be critical, especially if things go bad or at least seem to. Sure, Johnson gets mad but he seems able to push it aside very quickly and refocus on what he has to do. That could be a difference maker Sunday.

 

 

Now, don’t forget, this is one of a three-part series of why each title contender will win the championship. Feel free to add your comments on if you agree or disagree with these points on Johnson. Next will be Why Kevin Harvick will win the championship.

 

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