Kenseth and Johnson not exactly has-beens

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, speaks with Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Spread the love
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14:  Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, speaks with Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, speaks with Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC – The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ two most prolific 2013 winners – Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson – have yet to visit Victory Lane this year.

Never at a loss for a deadpan answer, Kenseth expressed mock concern Friday for the six-time champion’s “plight.”

“He’s probably washed up; I think he’s done,” Kenseth quipped, when asked if Johnson had lost his air of vulnerability. “I don’t know it’s hard to win races. Everything has to go right. He’s had some dominant cars this year a few times and hasn’t won. Until you get the win and bust through and win some races, you always have that little feeling in your stomach like, ‘Man, we need to win.'”

Kenseth and Johnson combined for 13 victories last year, Kenseth leading the series with seven.

“I’m more worried about us winning right now than him,” Kenseth said. “I don’t think anybody has much to worry about him not being the guy to beat when it gets down to it at the end of the year again, like they usually are every year.

“Like I say, it’s hard to win races. You have to get things lined up. Everything has to go right besides just having a fast car. Obviously, they have one of the better cars each and every week, so I’m pretty confident they will probably win some races.”

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.