Week 2 - Dover
Well New Hampshire sure didn't go the way we planned. That was a huge disappointment for us. I knew coming in to Loudon that you couldn't win the "Chase" in one day but you might lose it. Well, I hope that isn't the case with this Lowe's team.
We were just at the wrong place and the wrong time and got caught up in a wreck. Sure we are bummed, but it's way too early to give up and we certainly aren't going to do that.
Here's what has me staying positive.
First, we are only 139 points out of the lead. That sounds like a lot I know but in 2004 we were 247 points out of first with just six races remaining and we ended up losing the championship to Kurt Busch by just eight points. This team can get on a roll as well as any team and can come back from a point deficit. If you are going to be down by 139 points, I'm glad it's in the second race and not the ninth.
Second, this weekend we go to Dover where we've won three of the nine times I have raced there. I like those odds. My Crew Chief Chad Knaus feels pretty confident in the setup we are bringing to the concrete high banks.
Here's my third reason. This team seems to perform its best when things are tough. I can't explain why, but whenever there is adversity we seem to put in our best performances. Whether it is something that happens during a race or something that happens off the track. We bounce back as well as any team. Why you ask? If I knew the answer to that we would be performing well every race.
We look at this like we have used our mulligan for the "Chase." Odds are everyone else is going to have a bad race before the end. So, our plans are to run the next nine races like we are capable of then we are going to be fine.
No doubt we have to turn it around this weekend in Dover, but I feel pretty confident. It's time to get on a roll and Dover is as good as anywhere to start.
Related Links: Jimmie Johnson's "Chase for the Championship" Diary - New Hampshire
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
