Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR title hopes hit the wall at Phoenix

Jimmie Johnson drives the wrecked #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet after hitting the wall in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 11, 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Jimmie Johnson drives the wrecked #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet after hitting the wall in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 11, 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Jimmie Johnson’s hopes for a sixth title are no longer in his control. Johnson took a hard hit on lap 235 Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway when a right front tire on the No. 48 Chevy went down. Johnson slapped the wall exiting turn four and limped to pit road. The Hendrick Motorsports team was forced to send the car to the garage for repairs.

“I think we would have been in the top five maybe at best; maybe 7th or 8th the way the race was unfolding,” Johnson said. “It’s unfortunate to have the day end like this and potentially end our season and hopes for a championship this way.”

Johnson started the day with a seven point advantage over second place Brad Keselowski. Johnson was struggling in the early going but had managed to enter the top 10 just before the accident.  Keselowski meanwhile was having a career day at Phoenix leading laps and running inside the top five. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.