Johnson, Keselowski’s title hopes take big hit as other Chasers falter at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 05: Crew members for Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, work on the car after a crash during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 5, 2014 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 05:  Crew members for Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, work on the car after a crash during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 5, 2014 in Kansas City, Kansas.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, KS – OCTOBER 05: Crew members for Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, work on the car after a crash during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 5, 2014 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has an uphill battle ahead if he hopes to add a record seventh title to his legacy.  After struggling all weekend, Johnson saw his trip to Kansas Speedway end in disaster in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.

Johnson, who has two wins at Kansas, spun in Friday’s qualifying round, and thus started Sunday 32nd. He was slowly working his way forward but shortly after a restart after the day’s second caution on lap 85 he was exiting turn 2 when his Chevy was tapped on the right rear by the Ford of Greg Biffle. Johnson spun down and into Justin Allgaier; he then continued and hit the inside wall before coming to rest.

“I was cruising along the top, thought everything was fine,” Johnson said. “And then found myself sideways down the back straightaway.” 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.