Hendrick Motorsports and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson have agreed to a three-year extension that will keep one of the most accomplished drivers in history behind the wheel through 2020. "I don't have any framework now on a timeline". This contract extension provides a sense of job security for him, Chad Knaus, and the entire 48 Hendrick team.
Johnson said the three-year deal doesn't mean he'll stop racing at the end of the extension. "I've said it so many times, but it's hard to ignore where I sit on the wins list and not let my competitive spirit kick in and want more". Johnson, however, won the title past year at age 41 and has no interest in stepping aside.
Even if Johnson wins only 9 percent of the races through 2020, that would give him 11 victories and he would have 94 - one more than Jeff Gordon.
In addition, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Lowe's Companies, Inc., agreed to extend the primary sponsorship of the team full-time through 2018.
"I remember hoping to just win one race", Johnson said. "We'll see how these three years go".
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Johnson, 41, debuted with Hendrick in 2001 and began running full time for the team the following season. "I had 100 percent confidence in the auto and when you're in that frame of mind, you can do great things", said Kobayashi, who drove at an average 251.882 kph. So, I'll keep leaning on him. Johnson leads all Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers with three wins in 2017 and is on the short list of real championship contenders right now - of course.
"That's still why I get in that race vehicle".
The other question would be the status of crew chief Chad Knaus, universally regarded as one of the best in the garage.
Johnson said he and Hendrick have had an informal agreement: He'll always have a spot at Hendrick and he won't go anywhere else. Eight championships, I would love to stand alone at that, but that is all predictable and easy stuff. "I don't think I've got that in me from a time commitment standpoint to go into my 50s in racing". Someday, when that fades, that's when I'll step down. "Rick (team owner Rick Hendrick) is a businessman, and through his connections in the automotive business and through life, he can offer more than a marketing relationship with a sponsor". It's not going to be because of stats and where I rank or how many championships I have, it's all about that experience in the auto. That experience is as cool as it's ever been and I'm enjoying it right now. "We're so fortunate to have him as part of our organization, and I feel even luckier to call him a friend".
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