February 27, 2008
By Rebecca Gladden
While much of the U.S. is forging through a frigid, frozen February, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series found its way to the (mostly) sunny southwest this week for a pair of early season races.
The first west coast swing of 2009 brought defending NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson to Phoenix for a stopover between last weekend's race in Fontana, California, and this Sunday's running of the "Shelby 427" in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Johnson was in the Valley to help Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announce the extension of a charity partnership between the track and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. The initiative includes the April 16th NASCAR Camping World Series West race at PIR, which will again be named the "Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150," and a specially-designed Chevy Impala pace car that will lead the field to the green flag.
Photo Courtesy Phoenix International Raceway
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Jimmie and Chandra Johnson * PIR President Bryan R. Sperber
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In partnership with the raceway, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has designated the West Valley Child Crisis Center as its local charity of choice. The Center provides a temporary home for abused, neglected and abandoned children and is the largest nonprofit shelter in Arizona.
But, why would Johnson, who was born and raised in California and now resides in the NASCAR hub of Mooresville, North Carolina, choose Arizona for a charity fundraising effort?
Johnson says his relationship with PIR was a critical factor in the decision. "I'm very thankful that the speedway is working with us and giving us this opportunity with the Foundation. I have to give them credit for coming up with the idea. It makes me smile knowing that we can give back to the local community."
Jimmie grew up racing motorcycles and off-road vehicles throughout the southwest and admits a personal fondness for the Valley of the Sun.
"It's just a great place," Johnson said. "I've been through the deserts here, I've raced in the stadiums in the Mickey Thompson (Off-Road Racing) Series. It's a place that - minus the mid-summer when it's 117 degrees - is a great spot to be, and it's probably even okay then, if you're outdoors at the right times."
Weather proved to be an issue during last week's Auto Club 500 in Fontana, as scattered showers interrupted the Sprint Cup race four separate times. But a bigger concern for Johnson was a slipping transmission -- the same problem that affected Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. during practice on Saturday. Johnson told me that during the race "the transmission kept jumping out of gear. It was odd to have that happen. When I'd let off the gas it would fall out of gear and I thought, 'Okay, that's interesting.'"
Johnson started the Fontana race on the outside pole, but finished ninth after leading 74 laps early on. His No. 48 Lowe's Chevy faded a bit as the race progressed - a pattern uncharacteristic of a team whose uncanny ability to make the right adjustments helped them win a record-tying three straight Cup series championships.
"With the set-up, we thought we were going to be good, but we just lost the handle on it as night came and the sun went down," said Johnson. "That's typically something we're really, really good at, so we were all a little confused when we left there. It's early in the year, so maybe we overlooked some small adjustments in what they did and things like that. I feel like we missed an opportunity to win, which is no fun, but at the same time there is a lot of racing left."
Fontana was just the second race of a 36-race season, but his ninth-place finish there coupled with a 31st-place run at Daytona (involved in an accident not of his making), has the reigning champ currently ranked 19th in points. I wondered whether Johnson considers it too early in the year to be concerned about points.
"No, you're always thinking about (points), because you have no clue what's going to happen," he said. "The first goal, obviously, is to make the Chase. But everybody's going to experience bad luck, everybody's going to have some mechanical issues. So you've just got to get every point and hope that you don't need four or five points. I think David Ragan last year missed the Chase by just a handful of points, so that's a great example of how every point really does count."
This week, the Cup Series heads to Las Vegas where Johnson won three straight races between 2005 and 2007, though he finished 29th there last year. "I feel good about Las Vegas," he said. "Not long ago it was one of my best tracks, but last year we went up there and made fools out of ourselves running so bad. I'm optimistic, but at the same time I still remember last year's experience. It wasn't good at all."
Johnson returns to Phoenix on April 18 for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, the first night race of the 2009 season. PIR is another track where Johnson has dominated, winning three straight here including the sweep last year. "It's been a good track for us, especially the last two years. It's a very challenging track to drive, which I enjoy. The surface is kind of old and tired, which is a good thing, and then the design of the track - the two ends of the course are so different, which makes it really fun."
While in Phoenix promoting his charity foundation, Johnson also wanted to encourage fans to attend some races in person. "I'm just trying to get everybody charged up. In today's world, I think the fans are getting a lot more for the dollar. It seems like the hotels are finally getting realistic on their prices and the track operators are doing everything they can to get people in the stands. So, as a fan, if you're looking for something to do, it's a great time to come to the races."
Johnson notes that there are a few other attributes making Phoenix one of his favorite destinations, both for racing and relaxing. "It is a beautiful city. I love the architecture and the people are great. And there's In-N-Out Burger, which is always nice for us because we don't have that on the east coast."
But didn't Johnson blame his favorite fast-food restaurant for losing the Fontana pole to Brian Vickers after the two dined there together the night before qualifying?
"Yeah, the double patty hurt me last week," Johnson laughed. "I should have gone with the single."
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