Jimmie Johnson’s Title Hopes Explode with Blown Tire at Phoenix

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Jimmie Johnson, the driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, talks to the media during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12, 2017, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

There won’t be an eighth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title for Jimmie Johnson this year.

With less than one lap left in the second stage of Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at Phoenix Raceway, the cutoff race for next Sunday’s Championship 4 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson popped his right front tire as his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet barreled into turn three at the one-mile track.

Hard contact with the wall knocked the seven-time champion out of the race in 39th-place, ending the title run for a driver who needs nothing short of a victory at Phoenix to advance to the final round of the Playoff.

“I really didn’t have any warning,” Johnson said after exiting the infield care center. “I knew I was hard on the brakes, but the run before we didn’t have any issues reported back. So I felt like I was kind of doing the same thing. Unfortunately, with so few laps to go to the end of the stage, as soon as I went in the corner and touched the brakes, the right front just blew.

“I hate it for this team. They’ve worked so hard all year-long, and I’m very proud of their efforts. It’s obviously not the result that we want, but we’re Hendrick strong and I’m proud of my Team 48. Unfortunately, we won’t have a chance to make eight this year, but we’ll come back next year and try real hard.”

Even without the accident, Johnson would have faced an uphill battle. He entered Phoenix eighth in the Playoff standings, needing a win to advance. Johnson finished tenth in the first stage and was running 11th on lap 150 when he hit the wall.

“The last couple of months we’ve been staying alive, with the Round of 8, and then the Round of 4, you can’t just stay alive,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to be hitting on all cylinders, and we just haven’t been there, unfortunately.

“Again, I’m very thankful for all the hard work that’s gone into this and all the efforts from (crew chief) Chad (Knaus) and the team, but we just can’t get there right now. We’ll try again next weekend and then do some good changes over the off-season and come back next year and be ready to go.”