NASCAR Cup Series: Will Jimmie Johnson be champion again in 2019?

After his first career winless season in 2018, will Jimmie Johnson capture his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series championship in the 2019 season?

Jimmie Johnson enters the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season as an underdog. It sounds odd just saying it. After 17 years of competition at the sport’s highest level and with 83 wins and seven Cup Series championships on his resume — the once favorite to win it all coming into every season is nothing more than an afterthought in the eyes of most fans.

How did this happen?

Simple really.

Regression.

Johnson, who will turn 44 years old before the conclusion of the 2019 season, hasn’t lived up to the ultra-high expectations set by none other than himself. In the 2018 season, he did not find victory lane — not even once. It was the first winless season of his Cup Series career.

Going back even further to the 2017 season, a season in which he tallied three wins and made the playoffs, Johnson called the season “the most challenging of his career”.

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In fact, not only did “Seven Time” not win a race in 2018, he also led a career-low 40 laps, took zero pole positions and managed only two top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes. His final position in the championship standings? 14th place.

Going back further to the 2017 season, Johnson did win three races, his lowest win total since he won two races in the 2011 season, but he tallied just four top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes once again. His laps led total on was 217 laps, down 520 laps led from his championship-winning 2016 season. He finished the season in 10th place in the championship standings.

So the proof is in the pudding, right?

Johnson’s hopes of claiming his eighth career Cup Series championship are null and void. His career is over.

He’s washed up.

Not so fast.

Yes, Johnson is 43 years old. Yes, statistically, his performance level has decreased in terms of production and wins. And yes, he has a new sponsor and a new crew chief heading into 2019.

That’s a lot of change, right?

But change is good!

Gone is Lowe’s, the company that had sponsored Johnson for his entire Cup series career. Also gone is crew chief Chad Knaus, who moved over to the operation of teammate William Byron. As a result, Johnson is left without two of his biggest allies behind all of the success, wins, and most importantly, championships.

Taking over for Lowe’s is Ally Financial, previously known as General Motors Acceptance Corporation (or GMAC if you remember Hendrick Motorsports’ #25 Chevrolet). Ally Financial is a United States-based bank holding company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan that provides financial services, including car finance, online banking, corporate lending, vehicle insurance, mortgages, credit cards and brokerage firm services.

The new face atop the pit box belongs to Kevin Meendering. For last three Xfinity Series seasons, Meendering had been calling the shots for the #1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet that was driven by Elliott Sadler.

Recently, Meendering spoke with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to chat about his upcoming venture with one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers.

"“It’s a great opportunity for me.The good part about it is we have so many resources and a lot of great people to support you over here (at Hendrick Motorsports) and that really helps with the pressure side of it. I couldn’t be in a better situation or work with a better driver than Jimmie. He has the most experience and has had so much success. I think the biggest thing is, he knows what he needs, the feeling he’s looking for in the race car and we just gotta work hard to get that to him. I think being a young crew chief, first year in the series, I think having a veteran with that kind of experience to bounce ideas off of is just an incredible situation for me and I’m looking forward to it.”"

Meendering graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and began working his way up the ranks at Hendrick Motorsports. He started out building suspension parts before becoming the assistant engineer of the #24 team of Jeff Gordon in 2008.

He later moved on to the previously mentioned #1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and took on the crew chief duties. He led the team to three victories, three playoff berths and two Championship 4 appearances.

Meendering has proven himself at the Xfinity Series, and jumping to the Cup Series seems to be a challenge he looks forward to. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.

"“I want to win races, just like Jimmie does. We’re all in this…we didn’t reach this level just being complacent. I feel like I’ve earned this position. I’ve worked hard. It’s my goal to take this team and take Jimmie and win that eighth championship for him. That’s the biggest thing. It’s a little surreal to be put in this position and I’m excited. There’s a lot of history with Jimmie and this 48 team. Just to be a part of it is exciting.”"

This fresh start for Johnson is exactly what he needs if he hopes to return to victory lane for the first time since the June race at Dover International Speedway in the 2017 season, and even more so if he hopes to win his eighth career Cup Series championship.

Meendering is cool, calm, collected and confident. He has a plethora of experience with both Hendrick Motorsports and their Xfinity Series affiliate, JR Motorsports. He has knowledge of the cars, remains close with Knaus and has a desire to place the Johnson’s struggles of last year in the rearview mirror — both on and off the track.

In fact, Meendering has gone as far as predicting that Johnson will return to victory lane in 2019. If he can be consistent, run up front and make the playoffs, he can certainly make things happen from there.

One of Johnson’s teammates, Chase Elliott, won three races last year despite the fact that Hendrick Motorsports generally struggled as a whole with the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Elliott may be a young, up-and-coming driver, but his wisdom and talent behind the wheel greatly surpass his age. He and his team should serve as the perfect place for Johnson and Meendering to go to receive advice and share information.

Johnson certainly still posses the hunger to win, which was seen in the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval last fall.

When Johnson was asked about his new crew chief’s prediction for next year, he smiled and replied with this.

"“Feels great. I can’t wait to get there!”"

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Will Jimmie Johnson get back to victory lane in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, and will he win what would be his eighth career championship?

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