Kevin and Rodney, The Next Jimmie and Chad?
Though trials and tribulations have stood before them, “The Closer” and his newest crew chief, Rodney Childers, have turned out to be one of the strongest pairings in the garage this season thus far.
Currently second in the points standings with two wins, the pairing of Kevin Harvick and Childers may have been just what Stewart-Haas Racing needed to get back into Championship contention.
While mechanical failures have barred success at multiple tracks this year, the pairing has shown obvious signs of being in contention for wins week after week, as well as being one of the early favorites for the Sprint Cup championship.
The real question is does the dynamic duo at Stewart-Haas Racing have what it takes to become a powerhouse team like the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports has been in previous years? After six championships together, the pairing of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus has been near about unstoppable.
Only just now marking his first win of the 2014 Sprint Cup season at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson seemed to have been lacking the spark the No. 48 team usually shows from day one. While with this win Johnson all but locks up a spot in the 2014 Chase field, is the No. 48 team prepared for another year of multiple wins, or will the lackluster beginning of their season follow their strong run in Charlotte?
Many NASCAR fans turn down the idea of Johnson winning a seventh championship, saying it is bad for the sport to have such domination. Would fans be open to another pair dominating the series, or is simply the idea of an individual team’s domination what turns fans away?
The newest Chase format has yet to be seen in action and could potentially create a ton of excitement in the post-season. The season is a third of the way through, and already the 16-driver Chase field is filling up quick. As the summer heats up, we will begin seeing who is a contender and who is a pretender for the championship, and while everyone will always keep an eye on the No. 48 team, this season may be the year of the fresh pairing of the No. 4 team.
Without a doubt, the pairing of Harvick and Childers seem to be a strong pick to make it to the final round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but will Johnson and Knaus finally pick up where they left off at the end of 2013 and be there as well? Only time will tell.
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte
Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Jeff Gordon: Gordon overcame back spasms to post a seventh in the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte. He remains atop the Sprint Cup points standings, 11 ahead of Matt Kenseth.
“Back problems have been an ongoing issue for me,” Gordon said, “as has the quest to win my fifth Cup championship. That’s why the latter part of my career can be described as ‘back and fourth.’
“We had Regan Smith on standby just in case I couldn’t go. Turns out, we didn’t need him, which certainly isn’t the first time Regan’s heard that.”
2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson started on the pole and led a race-high 164 on his way to the win in the Coca-Cola 600. It was Johnson’s first win of the year, and all but ensured his chance to defend his Sprint Cup championship.
“The No. 48 Chevrolet with the special Memorial Day paint scheme was awesome,” Johnson said. “Matt Kenseth was no match for me. You could say I ‘red, white, and blew’ right past him.
“You’ve probably heard that I completed a triathlon last Saturday. I’m proud to call myself a ‘triathlete.’ The great Tim Richmond was NASCAR’s original triathlete, because he’d ‘tri’ anything.
3. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth held the lead on the final restart but was easily passed by Jimmie Johnson, who went on for his first victory of the year. Kenseth eventually finished third, and is second in the points standings, 11 behind Jeff Gordon.
“Johnson went by me like I wasn’t even there,” Kenseth said. “I could say the same about most NASCAR fans. I may be the most unrecognizable athlete in professional sports today.”
4. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt finished two laps down in 19th at Charlotte after engines problems soured his day. He is fourth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 38 behind Jeff Gordon.
“I raced Charles Barkley head-to-head a couple of weeks ago,” Earnhardt said. “Charles can really drive. The last time he went that fast, there was a prostitute waiting on him. Where was she waiting, you ask? Well, let’s just say Sir Charles’ car is good at ‘cornering.’”
5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 100 laps and finished second at Charlotte to Jimmie Johnson. Harvick was going for his third win this season, but couldn’t chase down Johnson.
“Where’s one of those phantom cautions when you need one?” Harvick said. “I guess that’s what happens on Memorial Day weekend—there’s plenty of red, white, and blue flags, but no yellow.”
6. Carl Edwards: Edwards posted his third top-five finish of the year with a fourth in the Coca-Cola 600. He is third in the points standings, 24 out of first.
“Trevor Bayne’s joining the Roush Fenway Racing family in 2015,” Edwards said. “That means a current driver at Roush is likely to say goodbye. Could that be me? If it is, I guess you could call me ‘Cousin It.’”
7. Joey Logano: Logano finished 12th at Charlotte as Penske teammate Brad Keselowski finished tenth. Logano is now sixth in the points, 54 behind Jeff Gordon.
“What a run by Kurt Busch at Indianapolis,” Logano said. “And what a run by race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. Not only does he lead the Indy Car points standings, he’s the most sought-after driver on the talk show circuit now. I guess that’s what happens when the Hunter becomes the hunted.”
8. Kyle Busch: Busch finished ninth at Charlotte, recording his sixth top-10 result of the year. He is now third in the points standings, 24 out of first.
“My brother Kurt didn’t complete the Indianapolis-Charlotte ‘double,’” Busch said, “but he did finish sixth. I think all NASCAR drivers would agree that’s an incredible accomplishment. And I’m sure all NASCAR drivers would agree Kurt should become a full-time open-wheel driver.”
9. Brian Vickers: Vickers finished sixth in the Coca-Cola 600, earning his second straight top-10 and fifth of the year. He is now eighth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 67 behind Jeff Gordon.
“It’s great driving for Michael Waltrip,” Vickers said. “And it’s great driving the Aaron’s Dream Machine. I like to think my alter ego, who’s a fierce competitor talented enough to contend for the Cup, would drive a car called the ‘Rude Awakening.’ Here’s to dreaming.”
10. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski’s attempt at fuel mileage strategy was derailed by a late-race pit stop for a right-wheel vibration. Still, the driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford finished tenth, his fifth top-10 of the year, and is now ninth in the points standings, 71 out of first.
“We just didn’t get the wheel on tight enough,” Keselowski said. “If that would have happened to the No. 48 car, it would have been called a ‘Shimmy Johnson.’”
