Jimmie Johnson And Chad Knaus: Exposing The Chase Format
With Jimmie Johnson’s 39th place finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, his streak now sits at six races in a row with out a finish in the top-five. Although Johnson had problems on pit road during the Pure Michigan 400, he seemed to be off the pace compared to his usual self on the two-mile oval. With Johnson’s recent struggles the question has to be asked as to whether or not you can count him out of the chase.
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The answer? Absolutely not.
Yes, it goes without saying that Johnson and the No. 48 team have looked off since their dominance in the earlier part of the 2015 season. That being said, maybe it’s just possible that Johnson and Chad Knuas are looking forward to something bigger, like winning a record-tying 7th NASCAR championship.
"“They get in the Chase, they lock themselves in and then they go play for however long in order to try to learn some things.” said Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch, “They’re very smart in what they do,” he said. “I’m (pretty) certain that the way they’re running isn’t fooling anyone right now.”"
Let’s not forget where this team was just four short months ago, Johnson started a streak at Texas Motor Speedway that saw him finish no worse than third for five races straight, including two wins. If the Chase for the Sprint Cup started today, Johnson would be tied with Busch as the points series leader accumulating four wins worth of bonus points for the start of the chase.
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The 48 team figures: What’s the point of going out and winning races now, when you can prime yourself for the last 10 races of the season? It’s a strategy Johnson and Knaus have perfected before and will continue to use, and why shouldn’t they?
Although the Chase for the Sprint Cup creates much excitement throughout the last 10 races, the major flaw of the format stems from teams like the 48 being able to lock themselves in early and be on autopilot for rest of the summer. Every race does not mean as much anymore for them so it actually hurts the racing through the summer, even though it provides and action packed last 10 races of the season. I’m not saying the racing is bad now, but if you throw another contender in there week in and week out to contend for wins, it would create even more excitement.
Nothing against the 48 team, I commend them for trying to play the system to their liking, but other teams are finally starting to follow suit, much like his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to a certain extent.
I am all about doing whatever it takes to win and, the 48 team feels that flying under the radar and working on their equipment for the last 10 tracks gives them the best chance at a championship right now so you cant argue with that.
But putting the best product on the market should be NASCAR’s goal and with one of the greatest drivers and crew chiefs in all-time NASCAR history not playing to their full strength right now, it hurts the racing rather than helps it.