Aric Almirola, the driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 11, 2018, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images
With three straight victories in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Kevin Harvick deserves top billing in the Stewart-Haas Racing camp, but Aric Almirola has been strong and steady through the first four races of the season. Continue reading
Denny Hamlin, the driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 11, 2018, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota wasn’t as fast as the No. 4 Ford of race winner Kevin Harvick, but Hamlin did an admirable job of keeping Harvick behind him for 46 laps in Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway. Continue reading
Kevin Harvick, the driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 11, 2018, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
AVONDALE, Ariz. – As the old aphorism goes, there’s nothing certain except death and taxes. Continue reading
Brad Keselowski, the driver of the #22 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series DC Solar 200 at ISM Raceway on March 10, 2018, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Neither a speeding penalty nor uncharacteristic rain in the Sonoran Desert could keep Brad Keselowski out of Victory Lane on Saturday at ISM Raceway. Continue reading
Jimmie Johnson, the driver of the #48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet, talks to crew chief Chad Knaus on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 9, 2018, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
AVONDALE, Ariz. – That was the brief consensus when Jimmie Johnson shot to the top of the speed chart in the first round of Friday’s knockout qualifying session at ISM Raceway.
But the seven-time champion’s stint at the front of the field was short-lived. In the second round, Johnson was 17th fastest and failed to advance to the final round.
Inexplicable? Hardly.
“I kind of look back to the amount of practice we had today. We only had 20 minutes practice because of the issues we had in Las Vegas, and I never had a chance to go out on scuffed tires to see what adjustments we had to make,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s car failed pre-race inspection three times at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the team lost 30 minutes of practice time in the one session before qualifying on Friday. That left no time for the No. 48 Chevrolet team to make any runs on scuffs.
“I had two runs on stickers in practice, and we clearly dialed that part of the car in, and it would have been nice just to have a scuff run to go out and understand what exactly to do. I’m very optimistic with the speed in the car in that first round and look forward to a full practice session or two (Saturday) and dial this Lowe’s for Pros Chevy in.”
Johnson needs a reason for optimism. He enters Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM) 29th in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points.