Vulnerable? Jimmie Johnson Is Like a Cheshire Cat

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCARLate Saturday night, after wrapping up the 12th and final seed in NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup, an animated, caught-up-in-the-moment Clint Bowyer declared that four-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson's Superman cape was getting a little shorter.

And, Bowyer suggested, the champ may need some more Kryptonite with the stiff competition facing him for an unprecedented fifth straight title.

Then Bowyer looked over nervously at the driver sitting next to him in that press conference: Jimmie Johnson, who had simply stared straight ahead and smiled politely -- perhaps defiantly -- as Bowyer made his observation.

The cape may be shorter, but with five wins this year and a second seed in the championship standings, Johnson still has a giant "S" on his chest as NASCAR starts its 10-race playoff in Loudon, N.H., this weekend.

"People can draw conclusions however they want and I've never been one to play into any of that stuff,'' said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet.

"If guys think we are vulnerable, it's my job to show up at Loudon (N.H.) this week, qualify on the pole and win the race.

"I'm not concerned about what people think of my race team and where I'm at and what kind of threat we are to the championship. I'm just more concerned about going out and getting the damn job done.'' Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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