Subscibe to our feedJohnson Says Team Lowe's Racing has Good Focus Heading to 'Dega
With four races remaining in the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe’s team hold a 118 point lead in the championship points battle.
As Talladega Superspeedway looms, Johnson has found that despite having an average finish of third in the first six events of the 10 race Chase, it’s not easy to gain points on the rest of the field due to the tough competition.
“I think a lot of it has to do with it's the 12 best teams over the regular season and it kind of backs up why those cars are in the Chase,” said Johnson. “I know it's tough on the guys that don't make the Chase that are right on that bubble mark, but those top 12 guys typically run hard through the Chase and run in the Top 10 all the time. I think it's that more than anything.
“It doesn't surprise me too much,” added Johnson. “But I wish there was some separation in there at times.”
But with three wins and six top-10 finishes in his previous six starts, Johnson believes his team is putting its focus in the right place.
“It's done in a lot of different ways,” said Johnson. “At the end of the day it really just means focusing on what we need to do. We've all been there before, if it's been in sports -- mainly sports, I guess, would be the best example where you're doing well, you're in a rhythm, things are great, you get a little confident and you lose -- whatever it is, if you're shooting hoops, if you're swinging a golf club, it's just gone.
“I've learned over time in a race car that that same thing can happen. I need to just worry about doing my job and not let the emotions affect my effort and my focus. That can be negative thoughts, it can be good thoughts. You've just got to stay focused on your little world, or I stay focused on my world, and that's it. So that's kind of what I mean by (putting our blinders on) it is for us to all stay in our worlds and focused on our jobs, and we need to go out and execute.”
The next test for Team Lowe’s Racing will be this Sunday at Talladega. Coverage of the race will begin at Noon ET on ABC.
RACE NOTES
Talladega Superspeedway
- Johnson has made 15 Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway where he has earned one win, four top-five and six top-10 finishes.
- Johnson has completed 95.5% (2707 of 2834) of competition laps at the 2.66-mile track and has led 192.
- He has an average start and finish of 10.9 and 17.7.
Chassis- Johnson last drove primary chassis number 482 at Daytona International Speedway in February, where inclement weather forced the event to end early, leaving Johnson with a 31st-place result.
- Johnson finished second in backup chassis number 547 at Daytona in July.