You won?t find many drivers in a Nextel Cup garage who say they truly enjoy restrictor-plate racing. In fact, you may not find any. But if there was one driver eager to get back to a plate race this season, it had to be Jimmie Johnson.
Johnson?s season started with a restrictor-plate victory in NASCAR?s most prestigious race, the Daytona 500. That win was overshadowed by controversy, however, as Johnson was caught during qualifying with an illegal modification to the rear window that used to improve the aerodynamics of his car. Crew chief Chad Knaus was immediately ejected from the track, then suspended for the next four races. Johnson went on to win the Daytona 500 without his crew chief and in a backup car, but the victory was tainted by continuing allegations that the 48 team was bending the rules too far on a regular basis.
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So Monday?s rain-delayed Aaron?s 499 in Talladega was not just an opportunity for Jimmie Johnson to take back the overall points lead from Matt Kenseth, but more importantly it was an opportunity to validate his Daytona 500 win.
The excitement started early in Talladega. In true restrictor-plate racing fashion, when you have 43 equally matched cars running three-wide at 190 mph, the chance for a wreck ? a big one ? increases greatly. Monday?s ?big one? came early, on lap No. 9, when 13 cars, including championship contenders Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin, got caught up in a wreck coming out of turn No. 3.
Talladega favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., sporting an all-black paint scheme in honor of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.?s 55th birthday, resembled his father on the track and easily leading the race early and then overcoming a spin to work his way back toward the front of the pack. Unfortunately for Junior, his day ended when his motor gave out with less than 40 laps to go.
That set the stage for a classic Talladega finish between Hendrick Motorsports teammates Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon and Johnson. The deciding moment came on the final lap of the race, as Tony Stewart went to the low side with Johnson and pushed him to victory.
The victory allowed Johnson to regain the points lead over Kenseth. More importantly, Johnson went out and won a restrictor-plate race, just like he did at Daytona ? but this time with no rule violations and no controversy.
It is almost enough to make Johnson enjoy restrictor-plate racing. Well, maybe.
Get up to speed on the latest in NASCAR ? listen to Wilson?s Race Report every Monday and Friday at 5:39 p.m. on 93.1 WPOC in Baltimore.
