Jimmie Johnson: Longtime crew chief questioned my commitment

[@davidpeters2625]

Jimmie Johnson... I never was a fan of him, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for him (still do as he navigates IndyCar), and quite frankly, I honestly don't think we will EVER see anyone like Jimmie.... always loved his humility and him being a class act, as well... Good luck in 2022, Jimmie! Am definitely excited to see how you do in IndyCar next year

[@camanderson9954]

guy is total class. skill wise, larson is pretty damn good.

[@greghenry1188]

The worst thing that nascar ever did was change the points format... With the old format jimmy would have never won 7 championships.... Jeff Gordon however would infact have 7

[@grantpoulin5404]

I completely agree like even with Kyle Busch I’m not a fan of him but he’s entertaining and I respect his success i like all the guys personality in the field weather I like em or hate him always have a great respect for all of and appreciate what they do for our sport

[@brotatochip7001]

@@greghenry1188 Jimmie raced in a way that valued championships over wins. There is no saying who would have had what if the format never changed. I hate people that say “oh Gordon would have had seven.” No, he wouldn’t. Everybody would have raced different. Nobody would have risked as much for wins.

[@timpatterson3340]

Kyle Larson will top Jimmie Johnson. First year 2021 wins 10 races and championship. Jimmie never did that!

[@nickolasmeyers5764]

I met Jimmie Johnson in 2001 when I was a 6 year old boy at Kansas Speedway my dad worked for Lowe’s at the Time and I got to go do a meet and great with him and from that day on he was my driver!! Watching him win those 7 titles were the best times with my old man are some of my greatest memories what I would give to have my dad back to relive those moments again! Forever a 48 fan

[@johnnycarrillo2538]

Wild how San Diego doesn’t celebrate this man as much as we should. Dude is a Southern California legend

[@arbysandtehchief5494]

Never knew about the storm brewing between Chad and Jimmie. Glad they were both able to get some help and it makes allot more sense why Jimmie would want to step away from NASCAR.

[@KillerKamanu]

It’s crazy to think they had a falling out, but looking back at some of the radioactive interactions they had, I feel like you can kinda hear it in some of those clips.

[@acrock21]

as bad as it hurt me to see their downfall and Jimmie's retirement. He deserved to walk away. When he decides to retire fulltime. He's worked so hard and risked his life for so long. what a career. Each victory he had helped me fight the depth of depression each top five made me feel proud. I'm proud of his success and he deserves to have a good life now with his girls.

[@raymundomartinez7469]

Growing up I disliked (never hated) Jimmie so much because he was always beating my favorite drivers. Yet as time progress and as I got older just as he did . I came to appreciate him still being in the series as my favorites retired. That was the only reason I still kept up with the sport until not to long ago (still watch here and there but not as before) I was rooting for him the last couple of years . Class act Ambassador to the sport

[@dcscott0602]

It shocked me when Mr. H split the two up. Seeing this interview makes it crystal clear now. They drove each other to be great, and resulted in a dynasty that we may not see again in NASCAR. It's great to see them as friends and working alongside one another again in IMSA

[@jimmyfabs78]

Wasn't a Jimmie Johnson fan but 7 championships, you have to give respect to the guy for getting it done.

[@RetroCarsForever]

It's crazy how good of a driver JJ was while still being so humble and down to earth.

[@scottawes921]

You can't argue with the results. I never was a fan. Mostly cause he was always beating my favorite driver. The guy is total class though.

[@lewiskemp5893]

I became a fan of his after the Watkins Glen crash in busch series. Plus I was a Hendrick chevy employee when his team was formed.

[@charleyharper4298]

Y aint you special. Im jealous.

[@josepedrorodriguez2376]

Jimmie Johnson is my favorite Nascar driver and I am very proud of him as a 7-time champion.

[@Topgear2006]

*5-Time

[@need4speed5353]

Jimmie and Chad were literally a married couple💀

[@EricCox4848]

I watched him around '04 and '05 and thought Jimmie had the potential to be a champion. Then when he won Daytona in '06 and won the championship, I thought it was pretty cool. Then when he did the three-peat in '08 and won four in a row, it was stunning. Here was Jimmie doing things that hadn't been done since Cale Yarborough did it back in the '70s, except Jimmie broke the tie in '09. Five in a row in 2010 set the bar for every driver and every team. My support for him waned a bit in 2011 but my confidence in him never died. Never would I have known he would win 7 championships in a 10 year span. But 2017 on seemed to be the beginning of the end of Jimmie's dominance and the beginning of the end of his career. Didn't know if it was Jimmie or the team. Some say he lost his nerve. But maybe it was time for him to walk away. About what I can say is I have nothing but admiration and respect for things Jimmie had done. I might not have worn my team 48 gear for a while, but I might start doing so to continue showing my support. Jimmie Johnson was and still is one of the greats along with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

[@EpicChickens1916]

Your interviews are unrivaled. Truly the best interviews out there. Keep it up!

[@iguessishouldntputmynamehe5503]

He looks like Jeff Gordon without the beard.

[@need4speed5353]

I thought I was the only one who thought that lol

[@johnc.wunscheljr2873]

Jimmie I wish I could have met you in person. I am a big fan and sure miss you in the 48. I was so hoping Kyle would have taken over the 48 after you. Kyle is a local boy I watched grow up racing at our home town dirt track Placerville Raceway. I am so proud and thankful Mr H pulled some strings and got Kyle reinstated . Rick is truly and great man he feels like a father to me and I only know him from tv. I know how much respect you and any one around him shows . Next to you he would be the 2nd person I would like to shake hands with. I was going to Sonoma last year and some how it was on my bucket list for my son and I to meet you before you retired. My life took a bad turn . The race was canceled and I lost my son John to covid on 11-21-2020. I promised him that some how, some day I would meet you and get him your autograph and maybe Mr H . We miss you Jimmie you are our hero. John Wunschel Placerville ca 2775 coldsprings rd 95667 hint-hint

[@ncinteriorsplus3520]

I have an autographed champion shirt after the race in Martinsville '08
JJ signed my Lowe's Kobalt hat and t shirt just before he got on the helicopter. He is my favorite of all time.

[@jerryglen986]

Pure class.

[@kalanirobb54]

As a nascar fan regardless of who my guy was or is ,to not tip your hat to this man makes you a weird little boy. The dude just flat out kicked ass and always exuded humility and class real gentlemen strive to display . Good luck in all you do young man and thanks for all the qualities that make you a legend .

[@taylorh8085]

Probably the most impressive thing about this interview is that Jimmie Johnson let you inside his home never have see that before

[@chrisslate1506]

Jimmie sounds like a battered wife talking about his and Chad's relationship 😂

[@darrellh4161]

Hahaha

[@TonyWud]

You know a lot about wife beating?

[@chrisslate1506]

@@TonyWud
I know a little about it?

[@tnwhiskey68]

Those radioactive episodes showed this coming for a good season or two.

[@lurkintomgaming397]

Very honest here. What a legend !!! One of the greatest drivers ever. It still hasn’t sunk in yet I think.

[@AT502]

Holy crap ... after all of these years I never realized how much Jimmie looks like a younger Tommy Lee Jones.

[@regenehuddleston7557]

I ve been too Bristol TN. 2017 in person. rained out race I was so excited was raced on my 50th.bday excite saw Dale jr. behind lines no nada up close🙄 but that April 2017 the drivers coursgeous performances made it so much happier😋pursuit of happiness too the johnson & earnhrdt an Erik Jones ( Michigan) 😂

[@harrycgrace4504]

I will always be a fan of Jimmie Johnson. I’m very happy that he won #se7en

[@riff2072]

Looks like the milk and cookies worked out.

[@SPINDY72]

The milk and cookies is still one of my favorite NASCAR stories.

[@jwrailve3615]

Met him multiple times in his first couple years… I disliked him so much because I felt like Jeff gave up the top equipment for his cars so Jimmie could dominate, and his 5 peat imo really negatively affected nascar popularity. The dude was winning 1/3 of the races every year it got old

[@elisamaria3628]

jimmie is such a cutie pie

[@azapro911]

Bensinger is the best American interviewer by a mile.

[@doomusrlc]

3:40 championship or not, 2016 was NOT a typical year for JJ and Knaus. Look at ALL the stats. Yea 5 wins, but EVERYTHING else was down. A LOT.

[@jek4837]

It wasn't. And he was clearly not the most dominant driver that year. He definitely lucked out because of the format (but the format doesn't reward the most dominant driver anyway). He still had respectable stats though. Compare his stats to Kenseth's 2003 stats (the last of the Winston points format). He had more wins, just as many top 10's, and twice as many laps led.

[@doomusrlc]

@@jek4837 JJ only had 16 top 10s in 2016 compared to Kenseth's 25 in 2003... averaged 14.0 vs Kenseth's 10 in 2003.

[@doomusrlc]

@@jek4837 all I was saying was the cracks in JJ's and Knaus's partnership on track was really showing the cracks in 2016, the championship masked the issues.

[@toddw6716]

Jimmy was a great nascar driver. For anyone to question his commitment is just stupid jealousy.

[@Johnny-es1wl]

The last year or so he was just riding around collecting 💰. He should have quit 2 years before he did.

[@larryscott885]

His commitment really wasn't where it was in their peak and it was totally understandable, had has a family that's growing up so there is no way he could have stayed as committed to the race team and still focus on his family

[@johnburgess6572]

Jimmie shouldnt have been treated so poorly , he didnt have to be micro managed by anyone.

[@CYCLONEFAN88]

It’s been going on for years. Listen to radioactive and hear Chad.

[@daviclar867]

I've never seen such an immediate dropoff in performance than JJ and the 48 team.

[@daleearnhardtsmustache3984]

I think that 2017 pocono wreck had a lot to do with it. How does some go from almost averaging a 25% win rate before that point and not win a single race besides a non-points race since.

[@jameskennedy3365]

The fact Chevy and Hendrick as a whole struggled

[@roymcdre9180]

@@daleearnhardtsmustache3984 alot of people left hms from daytona 2014 to daytona 2017. Pocono didnt do anything to jimmie

[@jek4837]

@@jameskennedy3365 Exactly. Chevy and Hendrick both were WAY behind for a few of those years.

[@timbeach2409]

I highly doubt that many teams have the resources to test at the level of Hendricks. Not taking away any talent from Jimmy or the team but the saying is, speed cost money how fast do you want to go.

[@levantjbean2712]

You are ignorant, why did Jr completely suck then?

[@NigelMK]

@@levantjbean2712Im going to say this as a long time Jr fan. I think it was part commitment and work ethic, then there’s some natural skill that Jimmie had as well.
Jr. Would of been far better than he was if he was at Hendrick from the start and had someone to keep him in line and check his ego like Jimmie did with Chad. I just think that Jr became this superstar at a younger age and it was hard for him to be reasoned with when he was younger and then he gets to Hendrick and it’s almost too late to change his ways. Jr could not have handled Chad as his CC though.

[@levantjbean2712]

@@NigelMK and he wasn’t as good. Period. You said it’s all about money, clearly it isn’t.

[@marcisawesome0469]

I feel like he could have 8 championships by now possibly

[@sarcastomimic2683]

Sadly, he was never the same after the horrific crash at Pocono in 2017. He even said it was the hardest hit he had ever taken in a car, and he hit the barriers HARD at Watkins Glen in the Busch Series in 2000. He never won a race in NASCAR after that.

[@roymcdre9180]

@@sarcastomimic2683 thats not true lmao 85% of hms was diff from daytona 2014 to daytona 2017

[@darthhull85]

@@roymcdre9180 then explain his 3 wins that year then the wreck and then never winning again.

[@roymcdre9180]

@@darthhull85 how many times has larry mc said it takes 6 or 7 races in a year to see who has developed from the previous season? Jimmie had the most wins in 2016 so obvious starting in 2017 they still had ron malac's setups then once jesse saunders had to setup the car up it was a fucking nightmare. Ive always said ron malac was the key to the 48, rusty wallace said it too.

[@TheMothdemon]

@@sarcastomimic2683 I swear jimmie and lightning McQueen from cars are so similar in their careers, rookies who stunned the world with their skill, won a cabinets worth of titles and one day after their worst wreck they were a old breed and couldn't keep up

[@richardlong6097]

We all were Jimmie. We knew Chad didn't suddenly forget how to build or set up winning cars. We also knew u didn't forget how to wheel them, it made the deduction rather simple. Between that, being a rolling road block, and the bedazzled pants it's been a tough several years for JJ fans.

[@TheMothdemon]

I swear jimmie and lightning McQueen from cars are so similar in their careers, rookies who stunned the world with their skill, won a cabinets worth of titles including 5 straight and one day after their worst wreck they were a old breed and couldn't keep up

[@JackCallSports]

I think it was the right move tho
Chad helped William developed into a playoff contender and Rudy helped evolve him
Even though picking Jimmie was wrong they made it right with Cliff Daniels and now he’s pretty much Chad’s protege with Kyle Larson

[@dethkillerspiral]

Jimmie done shaved o.o

[@theplayernkc]

I have to agree with Chad, Jimmie's commitment just wasn't there at the end. Jimmie's last season he was leading a race and runs right into the back of a slower car on the straightaway?

[@ronframe387]

The crash at Pocono was the turning point. Look at the stats before and after. He was never the same.

[@ajg7820]

@@ronframe387 I always viewed Pocono as the “final straw”, but there were some signs before that he was fading

[@roymcdre9180]

@@ajg7820 nothing about pocono did anything to jimmie. The car chief left, the car development guy left, the ceo of compitetion left... nothing was same for hms from daytona 2014 to daytona 2017

[@darthhull85]

@@roymcdre9180 ok, Jan

[@jek4837]

The final season, with the zero qualifying, was tough for anyone who fell out of the top 12. A couple unlucky breaks/wrecks absolutely doomed the rest of the season. When you're constantly starting outside the top 12, you spend every race fighting your way forward, putting yourself at risk, and using up your equipment. Meanwhile, those in the top 12, even if they had a lousy setup at the beginning, were able to adjust and still be near the front. It absolutely sucked to be that way for JJ's final season.

[@brodywinrow9222]

Jimmie just won. I hated it but I respect it. Maybe the goat tbh

[@SPINDY72]

JJ is one of the best to ever drive a stock car, a class act etc. etc. However, I’ve always had trouble connecting with him. Maybe it’s that he’s always been a little too buttoned up. Earnhardt, Gordon, Stewart, Harvick, Truex, Kyle Busch… Those are the guys that I would want to go have a beer with.

[@riff2072]

I was with you until you mention Kyle Bush.

[@SPINDY72]

@@riff2072 😂 Fair enough. Love him or hate him, he brings much-needed personality to the sport.

[@greyghost293]

Cool thing about rich people is they have enough money to put all the bs behind them at age 40 and move on. Us commoners continue the decay until we die.

[@jakobwedel3168]

Damn Jimmie looks so old now

[@chrismatthews133]

If they took a 2 year break... hendrick coulda made a deal to make the dynasty continue...Or mabe his salary demands where outrageous,,,The only 2 outcomes i see...

[@victordelgado7408]

jimmie sounded like a simp there at the last couple of minutes lol

[@Tommy_Mac]

I wasn't a fan of JJ. I think the Chad/Jimmie team was a tough combo to beat, though.
I pull for Jimmie in IndyCar now, and also in sports cars. I now wish he had made the change sooner!
NASCAR no longer interests me. All of the drivers I liked, are gone.

[@ZeZeBatata69]

A young Tommy Lee Jones..

[@tomgeauvreau7099]

Jimmy sort of fell off the cliff the last 3yrs. Changing crew chiefs didn't help after Chad. Still leaves a legacy in nascar though.

[@christianfehr8652]

They got good at cheating that’s for sure

[@rcdyer]

Commitment to driving or CHEATING?

[@chrisslate1506]

"It's not cheating if you don't get caught."
~Richard Petty~

[@riff2072]

"If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'" -Junior Johnson....
...And many other.

[@jek4837]

Provide the list of how many times drivers/teams have been caught cheating. I guarantee JJ is waaaaay lower on the list than you realize.

[@tubedude4859]

If Carl Edwards would have let Logano go by Jimmie would nevr hsve won that 7th championship

[@oldschool1993]

This guy has skill, success and everything, but he's like an empty drum. I could sit and listen to Dale Jr. read the phone book, but Johnson is like a 3 week insurance seminar.

[@michaelwilliams4787]

He looks better with the beard. He's worn it for years

[@lonewolf2513]

Anyone who says this man isnt on NASCARS Mt Rushmore... I will slap you through the comment section

[@riff2072]

The King, The Intimidator, Junior, The Silver Fox. I guess one of the last two can come off but not until Jimmie gets a good nickname. :)

[@roymcdre9180]

@@riff2072 superman was pretty good

[@nascarandbowlingfan3888]

Nope you're wrong
Dale
Jeff
Petty
Pearson

[@jeffs4760]

I still dont know how you can be that good and dominate in years before but in his last 2 years cant win a race?? He also made some bonehead moves turning down into people.

[@hawk5182]

Think about Jeff Gordon really into the 2000’s. He set so many records in his first 5 years and then he just slowed down

[@jameskennedy3365]

Well to be honest Chevy was sH#t his last few years..Nobody really was winning races in a Chevy till last year and this one

[@hawk5182]

@ICEYOU yeah but still, for me it was always one of the saddest drop offs in nascar just watching Gordon almost fade away as Jimmie started winning

[@joshuapittman4663]

@@hawk5182 even then in the old format Gordon would’ve won in 2004, 2007, and 2014.
he never really had a down fall. Jimmie did.

[@roymcdre9180]

The car chief left, hms ceo of compitetion left, the hms car development guys left. Thats the rebuilding that chad was talking about from 2017-2020 on dale jr download

[@WastdTrashPanda]

Johnson would have been nothing more than average without Knaus

[@roymcdre9180]

I can tell you for a fact that ron malec did more for the 48 lowes team than anyone else

[@brandonmiller342]

clearly there is a reason why willy b wasn't successful with chad

[@CreamyBone]

NASCAR isn't the mega popular sport today that it once was... so it really isn't necessary to for Jimmy blast his face with botox 😉
...especially by some who called others out for it

[@normanparthiban4383]

Wtf is Graham wearing

[@1970sRacing]

without chad he never would have won a single championship IMO

[@paulbuckingham8225]

Neither would Chad. IMO

[@roymcdre9180]

pOcOno 2o17! No. Doug Duchardt leaving HMS and Ron Malec having to step up did the 48 in. Those 2 names hold more weight than Chad Knaus for the true #MyBoyBlue Lowe's 48 Fans

[@cliff4695]

1 driver I just could never get behind. Not because of success, just the arrogance that he seemed to have, was enough for me to just say, nah.

[@jek4837]

JJ was arrogant? How so? He was one of the most humble, well-mannered drivers throughout his career. I can only think of 2 drivers that he sort of had some problems with. Harvick and Kurt Busch. And those 2 guys were some of the biggest a-holes on the track.

[@cliff4695]

@@jek4837 you ever tune into his radio? The real Jimmie is in his racecar, the fake Jimmie talks to cameras. No problem with that, just be one or the other

[@jek4837]

@@cliff4695 I listened to his radio all the time. He was calm and professional. You didn't hear the screaming, whining tantrums that you hear from other drivers. Apparently you never listened to his radio.

[@cliff4695]

@@jek4837 😂😂😂😂 you clearly never listened. His little outbreaks with Chad were 10 times worse than Kyle Bush at times. Talking about other drivers and how they shouldn't be on track. Chad found mild success and huge progression with Byron, now in charge of operations with Hendrick. You see all the success this year because of that. Tell me what Jimmie has done without Chad and than tell me who Jimmie blamed for his performance on track? Jimmie recently said himself that he went about all wrong, and wishes he could go back and get a redo. You're trying to defend him, but sadly he's already admitted to his faiilures

[@jek4837]

@@cliff4695 Let's see. I paid for the subscription to the Nascar Raceview/Pit Pass thing for around 15 years. I never missed more than 2 races a year. I had JJ's radio on the entire race (except when drama was happening elsewhere and I'd switch). So maybe you listened more than me, but I'm 99% sure you didn't. And you are batshit crazy to suggest that his radio was worse than Kyle's. Your hatred/jealousy of JJ is so deep that your speaking nonsense. And yes, he admitted his shortcomings..he always would. That's nothing new. Go watch the 9 minute long "angry radio Jimmie Johnson" video. There's maybe 2 times that he was really pissed. The 3rd worst one was when JJ told Chad that his cheerleading sucked. I absolutely remember that one because the whole time I listened to the radio throughout the race I remember thinking "Chad, you are getting really, really annoying on the radio with how you're talking". Chad had been like that the previous couple weeks, and it was annoying the absolute shit out of me. JJ took it more than I could.

[@matthewmauran9453]

Jimmie your out of cup and the bottom fell out of his cup career. His last 3 years winless. Especially the last 2 years he was horrible. Jeff Gordon and other's went out still competitive when they retired. Jimmie was horrible. Look at his 2020 season. The same team that became the #5 was dominant!

[@christophersmith8486]

First!

[@jesuschristislord6790]

No one cares you were first either

[@HooyahPeacock]

Now that your life is complete go lay in traffic

[@caseys_cozy_garage]

4th

[@riff2072]

It pays to be a winner. If you are not first, your last