Jimmie Johnson Claims Second Consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship

Team Chevy Drivers Capture Seven of Top-10 Positions in Year-End Standings

Homestead, FL (November 18, 2007) - Jimmie Johnson and his Chad Knaus-led No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team claimed their second consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup Series (NNCS) championship at the conclusion of the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He finished seventh in the Ford 400 to secure his position at the head table at the awards banquet in New York City.

Johnson's remarkable season that included 10 victories led Team Chevy to a record-setting season in the Series. With a season-ending total of 26 victories in 36 races, 13 in the Monte Carlo SS and 13 in the Impala SS, Chevrolet won its unprecedented 31st Manufacturers' Cup and 24th driver's championship.

"On behalf of Chevrolet, congratulations to Jimmie Johnson on winning his second consecutive NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship," said Ed Peper, general manager, Chevrolet. "With 10 wins, 20 top-five and 24top-10 finishes he and his Hendrick Motorsports team had a dream season on their way to the ultimate prize -- another championship.

"Chevrolet is very proud of the contributions made by all of our Team Chevy drivers who contributed to our record 26 wins. We had 10 drivers take their Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS race cars to victory lane. It has been a banner year for the Bowtie Brigade and we are thrilled to share in the success of all of our teams."

Team owner Rick Hendrick collected his seventh NNCS owner's championship and Knaus picked up his second consecutive championship crew chief award.

Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, finished fourth in the Homestead race and second in the final Chase standings, after waging a great season-long battle with Johnson in an effort to win a fifth NNCS title to come up only 77 points short. Gordon recorded six victories, 21 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes in the 36-race season.

Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet, finished third in the final standings, the highest of the three Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teams, all in the Chase. Bowyer scored one win, five top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in just his second full-time season in NNCS competition.

Kyle Busch, No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet, landed fifth in the season-ending points. Two-time NNCS Tony Stewart, No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet, captured the sixth position in the final standings.

RCR teamates Jeff Burton, No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet and Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet locked up seventh and 10th respectively in the Chase standings.

The NASCAR celebration for the championship-winning team and the other drivers finishing in the top-10 in the standings at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S MONTE CARLO SS - FINISHED 7TH IN RACE, WON 2007 DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP:

"YAHOO, you guys are awesome. Thank you. We are going to burn it down! Thank you boys! We are going to tear it up tonight.

"Last year was such an amazing season and it was such an honor just to be the Nextel Cup champion. To come back this year and to know what we needed to do over the off-season, for my guys to come back and give me the opportunity to win this championship again, I can't thank them enough. I am so proud of this race team. We work very hard to be where we are and I can't thank these guys enough for their hard work enough for their hard work and dedication. I can't thank NASCAR, Nextel and first and foremost Lowe's and all their employee owners for everything they do for us. It is just such a special time for me. I can't believe all the success I have been able to experience. I am so blessed. It is just awesome."

ON TONIGHT'S RACE: "I had a little bit more in the car but I don't think I had anything that could have won the race. There was a couple times when we took four tires when other guys took too. We got trapped down a lap, which wasn't any fun, but we were able to get a caution right away and get back on the lead lap. It was a long night but after what I experienced last year coming in to this season and even this night, just went so much smoother for me. I have been in the right frame in mind to do the right thing. Great support from these crew guys, great support from my loving wife and it all came together. We are rocking now."

ON GETTING ON SUCH A ROLL TO GET ALL THE WINS IN THE LAST RACES: "We aren't really sure. But, we don't really care either (LAUGHS). We are just happy it happened. It has been an unbelievable roll and it worked out good for us in the end. We all focused on the right things and got the job done.

"I can't go without thanking Jeff Gordon for all the time that he spent researching me, looking in to me as a driver, being a great friend and a great teammate. I think everybody saw the relationship throughout the Chase. He is an awesome guy. I have to thank Rick Hendrick for believing in me. Ricky Hendrick, even though he isn't here with us any longer, but I know he did a lot for me."

CHAD KNAUS, CREW CHIEF:

ON WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP: "Oh man, I don't know, I don't think it has hit me just yet. It just a testimony to these guys and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. What they do, and the preparation that goes in to what happens with our race cars, our engines, our chassis, I mean just everything. It was such a difficult season for everybody with the COT and the development of that car and that chassis.

"Then when General Motors and NASCAR brought out the R07 for the Chevrolet teams, it made things even more difficult for us. The guys in the engine shop just did a great job-Jim Wall and Jeff Andrews did just a great job of getting those engines out there for us and making them so they would live and build great power.

"I am just besides myself, I will be honest with you. It is a great day, a great feeling. Man, I can't wait until Daytona."

ON TONIGHT'S RACE: "We really didn't dial back. We came here with the thought process of doing everything we could to sit on the pole and we were fortunate enough to be able to do that. We wanted to have a race car that Jimmie could really do whatever he wanted with. Fortunately enough, we were able to get it. It is not always an easy thing to do, but our car was really, really good today. I kinda wish we weren't going for the championship because we might have been able to be a little bit more aggressive and go for the win, but obviously, we had to do what was first and foremost on our minds and that was to win this championship. It is a long season for the guys out there that we are racing against, it is pretty phenomenal the year that we have had.

"Congratulations to Robbie Reiser and Matt Kenseth. You know, it is Robbie's last race as Matt's crew chief, to go out there and win, that is pretty phenomenal."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT MONTE CARLO SS - FINISHED 4TH IN RACE, 2ND IN SERIES:

"We have a lot to be proud of and happy about this year. It's been a great year. But it's bittersweet for us because to come up short, I've never been in this position before. Every championship, well, I guess maybe in '04, but in all the other years when we've had the year like we had this year we've been the ones to go out there and put the pressure on the competition. So it's a great learning experience for us and we're not done yet. We'll just try to go out there and do it next year."

YOU HAD A GREAT SEASON. YOU BROKE THE MODERN ERA FOR TOP 5'S AND TOP 10 FINISHES THIS YEAR. TALK ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE NO. 48 TEAM ACCOMPLISHED A LOT THIS YEAR. "I'm a big believer on when it's meant to be, it's meant to be. You've got to work hard. You've got to prepare yourself and your team. And you know what? Jimmie and Chad and all those guys did a phenomenal job. I know how good my team was this year. They're one of the best teams I've ever been a part of. And for them to come out 77 points ahead over 10 races is very impressive. We're certainly extremely proud of what we've accomplished this year. It's been a great year. But we want another championship and we know we've got to beat Jimmie and guys like Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart and a lot of other guys if we're going to get us another one. So when it comes time to step, we've got to be the ones stepping up as well."

JIMMIE JOHNSON IS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE DOING A BURNOUT, DO YOU FEEL LIKE HE'S OVERSHADOWING YOU AGAIN NOW? "Oh yeah, the year that almost was (laughs). The year that (baby daughter) Ella was born and she came into this world was a spectacular year for us, for Ingrid and myself and our race team. Certainly I'm going to look back at this as a great year. But it wasn't a championship year."

JIMMIE IS DROWNING YOU OUT AGAIN "Yeah, yeah, I know that. He's been doing that for, well, I guess the last couple of years. I was going to say four or five weeks (laughter)."

YOU PULLED UP NEXT TO JIMMIE ON THE COOL OFF LAP. IF YOU COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM RIGHT THEN, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID? "I would have just told him how happy I am for him. He deserves it. He's the best out there. He and his whole team literally are the best out there and they deserved it. There is a reason why they were champions last year and there's a reason why they are champions this year. We gave them everything we had. We couldn't have asked for more out of ourselves to go out there and battle for this championship. We put together one heck of a string of races the entire season and it just wasn't' enough."

IS THIS THE MOMENTUM YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO GO INTO NEXT YEAR? "I'm so glad we ran good tonight. That's the only thing that was really going to eat at me over the off-season is if we came out of here like we did last year and finished 25th or whatever. I would have been pretty disappointed. Hey, we didn't lead a lap. If we could have gotten up front and track position might have gotten us in a little bit different position, but we fought hard. We have them a good run and had a pretty good car there at the end."

YOU AND JIMMIE ARE GOING TO BE FAVORITES NEXT YEAR BUT IT MIGHT BE RICK HENDRICK'S TOUGHEST YEAR EVER WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? "Any time you bring on somebody with a profile under the microscope like Dale Jr is going to be, there is going to be a lot of pressure. There will be a lot of pressure on Rick and on that team and on Dale Jr. and there will be a lot of distractions there. So it's going to be a lot to overcome but you know what, Hendrick Motorsports is used to things like that. By having Tony Eury Jr. in there will make the transition a lot easier. We'll just have to wait and see. I think he's going to do great. I don't see how it's going to affect what we're doing with the other teams. So, I still think that next year can be a very strong year for us."

WHEN YOU AND JIMMIE WENT TO MEXICO, YOU DIDN'T TALK RACING WHEN YOU GOT TOGETHER. ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE HAVING A BEER AND JUST BE BACK TO HANGING OUT A LITTLE BIT? "Yeah, that's what the off-season is all about. He has his plans and he has his plans and now that I'm a dad, it takes me in a little bit different direction. So, we're going to meet up with him later on tonight. We all had that planned no matter which way it went. And I look forward to chatting to him and talking about it. We talked a little bit. We flew back and forth to the race track (together) this weekend and we talked about how awesome it is. We're very competitive and those competitive juices get flowing and you get caught up in wanting to win and wanting to beat the competition and he's the competition for me. And I am for him. So it's nice to be able to just think about some other things and really put it all in perspective of how fortunate we both are to drive for Rick. I love having him as my teammate. I'm proud of him as a champion. And if I can't be the champion, there is nobody I'd rather have as a champion than Jimmie."

MARTIN TRUEX, JR. NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS / TRACKER BOATS MONTE CARLO SS - FINISHED 6TH:

"We just fought tight all night. Then I hit the wall a couple of times and damaged the front and that made it worse. We kept working on it. We took two tires the last stop and that didn't work out for us."

CLINT BOWYER, NO. 07 JACK DANIELS MONTE CARLO SS - FINISHED 39TH IN RACE DUE TO A BROKEN EXHAUST PIPE, 3RD IN SERIES:

THIS WAS NOT THE WAY YOU WANTED TO END THE YEAR, BUT YOU CAME OUT WITH A SOLID TOP THREE FINISH. THAT SHOULD MAKE YOU PROUD: "It was a good year. It was a successful year for us. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot and it was definitely a season we can build on for the future. So all-in-all it was good year."

WERE YOU EVER NERVOUS THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR FIXED AND BACK INTO THE RACE? "Yeah, that was the other thing. I just didn't want to have a DNF. The guys worked hard to make sure we didn't have a DNF all season and I sure didn't want it to be the last race of the season. So I was glad we got back out, for sure."

DALE EARNHARDT, JR, NO. 8 BUDWEISER MONTE CARLO SS - FINISHED 36TH:

"I am going to go home, take a deep breath and try to take a little time. We have a photo shoot this week with Adidas. I was hoping I wouldn't have to work much but, I was just going to try and unwind a little bit. The same thing everybody else is going to do."

ON BEING LAST RUN WITH DEI AND THE NO 8 BUD CAR: "I guess I thought I would be sadder, but I am not. I still have all these guys as friends, that is even better than the working relationship. Now, I am ready to get to work."

ON HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO FINISH THE RACE WITH THIS TEAM: "We didn't wreck hard enough to quit tonight, we kept going. I don't have all my good quotes right now, I don't know why. It is over. It is over, I am going to go do something else, I have them as friends and they have things to do too. They have things to worry about and need to worry about themselves and their families. They have to move on, I am sure they will. I wish them all a good holiday season and of course, I wish them good luck next year. It is good to be finished and be able to relax a little bit and take a couple of weeks and recharge my batteries and then get after it."

ON BAD LUCK THEY HAVE HAD THIS SEASON: "I try not to let my confidence abused or hurt, but so many things happened this year. You may not think it is your fault or you did anything wrong or anything to put yourself in that situation but someone on the other side of the fence may see it better. A better way of putting it and a better solution and not finishing like I have been finishing.

"I had a great car, I got up to 11th. Did ya'all see that? We were running good. I got run over by a veteran on a restart. I don't know what the hell that was. I am so disappointed. We all try to take each other on the race track. Jeff Burton is one of the guys I would expect that from the least. Give and take. I don't know, he said that the sun was in his eyes. It was blinding down the front straightaway. But, my luck, I didn't think it could get worse until then. I hate that Jeff was the guy; it is upsetting. There are bigger things.

"Kyle (Busch) was being a jerk, running in to me and carrying on and trying to rile me up. I don't know why he spun me out on pit road. I guess he was blinded by the sun too. Or he just can't see at all. The integrity is what is important so that is what I am going to hang on to.

"I can't wait to get to work. Get this over with, get past this, I want to win races."

ON HIS EMOTIONS TELLING HIS GUYS SO LONG AND WISHING THEM GOOD LUCK FOR NEXT YEAR: "It wasn't emotional. It wasn't as emotional as I thought. I thought it might be emotional and tough but it wasn't really that bad. Those guys are going to be around and I am going to get to see them an awful lot more than we assume. It is not like we won't see each other again. We will, and it is just the nature of the business. You get used to people coming and going from day one when get you get started working in this business."

MARK MARTIN, NO. 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - FINISHED 9TH, Scored 11 top 10s and 19 top 20s in 24 races:

"This was just a great effort by (crew chief) Ryan Pemberton and the U.S. Army team," said Martin. "I'm very proud to close out the season with a top 10. These guys have been through a lot this season. They wore the Army uniform with pride, and like our soldiers, they never quit. I am really excited about racing with these guys next season."

"I truly feel that we are going to keep getting better and better," added Martin, who will share the 2008 Army ride with Aric Almirola. "I'm pumped about moving into our first full season with Dale Earnhardt Inc. next year. I think there are plenty of good things ahead for this team. I'm sorry we didn't get a win for our soldiers, but we'll come back stronger next season."

Post-Race Press Conference with:
JEFF GORDON, No 24 DuPont Monte Carlo SS, finished fourth in the race and second in the season-ending standings
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Monte Carlo SS, finished third in the race and 12th in the season-ending standings

THE MODERATOR: Okay, we're pleased to be joined by Mr. Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, finished second in points. Outstanding season, Jeff. You're the consummate professional, your thoughts as you look back not only at this race, but the 2007 season?

JEFF GORDON: Man, what a year. It really was an amazing year for me.

To be in my 15th season, and to still be competitive like we were this year and win races and battle for the championship, of course, becoming a first?time dad. I mean, to throw all those things into it and to be able to battle it out all the way here to the finish, it definitely was an awesome year.

I mean, we just put together one heck of a total year. You know what I mean? On one side, you know I love the Chase, I love what it's all about and the entertainment aspect of it, and I know it's the best thing for the sport. But when I look at our whole year, it's a little tough.

I'm a competitor. You know, I'm very happy for Jimmie and those guys, but I really wanted it for our team. I felt like they deserved it. They worked hard and did a great job this year. We came up a little short.

But it's been awesome, and there is nothing for us to hang our heads about. It's really been an amazing year.

Q. You talked a little bit about this after the race, the idea that maybe the philosophy of consistency, but do you think that will be the case going forward? Or do you think this is one of those things you'll never see again?

JEFF GORDON: I've always known it's possible for somebody to be aggressive like Jimmie and Chad, win races like they did. You know, you've got to push the limits to lead the laps and win the races like that.

You know, I mean, I think that what makes those guys so good is that they're able to push the limit and not make mistakes. You know, because the harder you push, the more risk you take, the more chances you take of making mistakes.

And so, you know, what they did this year is incredible. I'll be honest with you, I'll take a 5.1 average for the rest of my career in the Chase. I'm pretty sure that will win a few championships.

Just wasn't meant to be this year. Those guys really put it to us. And I think when we look back at it all, the last four races before this one, those guys got aggressive. We probably played a little too conservative. And they put themselves in position to pull off a couple of wins that maybe they shouldn't have. But then they got a couple that they really deserve.

Not saying they didn't deserve any of them, but they definitely got the wins at a crucial time when we got a little conservative. We didn't get the cars to where they needed to be. And those guys beat us, that is the bottom line.

So those are all things we're going to have to look at next year. With the points the way they are, it definitely pays a good on amount of points now to win races. Those are important things but it's always risk versus reward.

Other than trying to make the cars better, being a little more aggressive with the set?ups, I don't know that we can do a whole lot more on the racetrack to make up more.

Q. With the guarantee that you're going to finish no worse than second in that, how many chances do you feel like you guys took out there today? And did you all think about coming in and saying we've got nothing to lose, we need to gamble, we need to take chances?

JEFF GORDON: I think it started with the set?up. That's what I'm referencing, is that, you know, this weekend we were a little more aggressive with the set?up, and I think it helped us have a better car for the race.

Trust me, I know everything that's in that 48 Car, I know how he drives it and everything else. I watch Jimmie on the track, and I'll be honest, I really thought that as aggressive as they were being, you know, it was going to bite them.

And I guess I was just a little bit too confident in the whole consistency thing. I thought, that's all right, let's let them go do that, you know, and see what happens.

And man, if they didn't pull it off. So that's just how good they are. So, going forward, we recognize that we're going to have to push it a little bit harder in the set?up and get a little more aggressive with the set?up as well. We've got to have faster race cars.

We know what's there. We know we can have it, because we've seen it with their car. You know I got to on drive a set?up that's going to be a little freer through the corner, but that's what's going to make it faster. That's what I'm going to be working on through the off?season.

Q. It seems like as aggressive as Jimmie was leading into this race, it seemed the only time he was aggressive was on the first lap when he waited for the points. Then he seemed to settle back. Did you think he was a little more conservative mode protecting what he had here today?

JEFF GORDON: He ran a smart race. When you have an 86?point lead, you can do that.

I think that's what I'm saying. You know, what happened was they got behind in the points, they knew they had to be aggressive, and they did. And man, they just went on a streak and a terror. And that's where this championship turned around for them and for us. Then they came in here able to just really be conservative and play it easy.

I think he knew that Newman was going to put up a big fight there at the beginning. We talked about it in the meeting. We joked about it, actually. I told him just don't lift. So we knew that Newman was going to put up a fight.

But those five bonus points gave him an even bigger buffer, and he knew that. So it was probably worth being a little aggressive at the beginning, and then playing it conservative, keeping his eye on me all day long is all he had to do.

Q. You may want to think about this for a few days ??

JEFF GORDON: I prefer not to (laughing).

Q. Can you come to terms with yourself that as close as you were this year, you may not come that close again? I mean, this may be the closest you'll come?

JEFF GORDON: Hey, every race, every time you win a race, every time you win a championship you think this could be the last. We've heard Mark Martin say it forever. But I know what he's saying, I know what he means.

You're so appreciative. You work so hard, and you really just never know when it's going to happen again. And that, to me, is the toughest part about this year for me personally.

I'm not getting any younger. I put up about as good a numbers as I know how to put up, and it wasn't enough. And that's tough to handle as a competitor. As somebody that's been successful in this series in racing.

So, definitely you've got to dig deep and find out. You know, I was very committed this year to this team to give them everything that I had, because I really want Steve Letarte to be a championship crew chief. I think he's an awesome guy and deserves it. I felt like we had the team underneath us.

Now I'm just hoping we can enjoy this off?season and go into next season with the Car of Tomorrow, and the Impala, and do what we need to do to take it up one notch.

I don't feel like I'm done yet, but I know I don't have a lot of years left to be this competitive, either.

THE MODERATOR: Jeff, thank you very much. Tremendous season.

THE MODERATOR: Denny, third place finish tonight, you had a few wins this season. Your thoughts about your season this year?

DENNY HAMLIN: It was good up until the Chase started, for sure. We were right there, second or third in points most of the year. And, you know, we just failed to get the job done when it counted. Both driver and, you know, just it didn't ?? things didn't work out in our favor when it came down to the last 10.

It was nothing to do with performance. On the racetrack, things were really good. It just seemed like with a few laps to go with every race, we found ourselves in trouble, so...

It's a good accomplishment. We made the Chase both years that we tried. And now this is yet another good finish for us to build on for Daytona.

Q. I guess seeing what Jimmie did this year change the sort of thinking about the Chase, the whole idea that you can't make mistakes? Or was this just one of those times where it was an aberration and nobody's ever going to do that kind of thing again, win four in a row, do you think?

DENNY HAMLIN: This year, Hendrick Motorsports came out of the Chase stronger than anybody. And the way they came out of the Chase to win that many races, if you consider it, it's something that usually doesn't happen that that often.

I don't think the philosophy needs to change as far as you approach the Chase. He just put together that strong of a run, and there is nothing you can do about it. It wasn't a boring Chase, it wasn't a blowout. But to see a guy win ten races in one season, I thought that era was over.

So Jimmie should be congratulated. That team and the way they performed, they put together a stretch run that will probably never be matched.

Q. (Indiscernible).

DENNY HAMLIN: Well, I hadn't had any success the last few weeks. So I figured I'd go back to late model to see if I could win a race. So things just a little bit of wanting to get back to see some old friends that I used to race with.

Since I got the next week off, I ain't got to go to the banquet anyway, I guess, I'll go racing.

Post race interview transcript with championship-winning driver, crew chief and owner of No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet:
Jimmie Johnson
Chad Knaus
Rick Hendrick

Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and Rick Hendrick Championship-Winning Press Conference Audio File

THE MODERATOR: We've got our Championship Crew Chief in here for the second year in a row, that is Chad Knaus, Crew Chief of the No. 48 of the Lowe's Chevrolet. How does it feel to be Crew Chief of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion?

CHAD KNAUS: It's absolutely phenomenal. I'm very proud and very pleased of what we were able to accomplish. And the 24 and 48 shop this year, it's amazing what can happen when you have a group of 92 guys that are going out there and not so much racing against once another, but racing against the competition. That is really what this team did this year.

We have a lot of guys at Hendrick Motorsports and guys and gals that contribute a lot and go in the same direction. But the heart and soul of the 24 and 48 shop is back in Charlotte right now celebrating.

I wish they all could be here, because if it wasn't for those people, we wouldn't be where we are today. It's been a phenomenal ride. Sad it's over, but I can't wait for Daytona now

Q. Can you talk about I don't know if difficulty is the right word or not, but to go through that stretch where you're obviously going for everything you can get, and then you come in here, and you have to basically detune the team?

CHAD KNAUS: It was really a lot of fun. We're pretty fierce competitors and what we want to do is win races. When we knew that was our only way to get back into the championship hunt was to win races, it was nice.

It was good that everything worked out for us. The cars were very fast. Jimmie did a phenomenal job. The pit crew really stepped up above and beyond the call of duty the last five races. They really did a good job.

Coming in here, you may not believe it, but we really wanted to win the race. That was the mindset coming in here. Obviously, by sitting on the pole, I thought that was a good show of faith that that's what our plans were.

We wanted to go and win the race. With the race trim, with a car that Jimmie was really comfortable with and he could do what he wanted, our plan was to go 200 laps and wait for that last pit stop. If we were in position to go for the win, that's what we wanted to do.

So that was the mentality when we came in. But the reality of it was once we got into the race and realized what a good car we had, he could just find a spot and ride, and ride safely in the Top 10, that's kind of how it all switched.

But it would have been fun, I would have liked to race with Matt and Robbie there. Congratulations to Robbie, by the way, his last race as crew chief with Matt, and to be able to win it. That's phenomenal. That's cool.

Q. Earlier tonight Jack Roush talked about this becoming a momentum sport. Earlier in the chase, Jeff Gordon had the momentum, and then Steve and you guys took it over. When did you feel that momentum hit you?

CHAD KNAUS: Obviously, I think a lot of it began at Lowe's motor speedway. Our car was so phenomenally fast. We were crushed a little bit by not getting that victory.

Unfortunately, we had some issues and didn't get what we wanted out of that race. But we were so strong and so dominant in that race that we felt really good going into the next week.

Obviously, winning Martinsville was a phenomenal kick-start after that. So once we got into that, and we knew that the race that we had coming up were going to be great races for us, it, you know, it just kind of builds.

It's one of those things that momentum and confidence can be a good thing or a bad thing. It's easy once you get confidence to go out there and miss something and not do what you're supposed to do. Make a mistake whether it's mechanic or driver, overly confident. So we had to temper it a little bit, but it was big.

THE MODERATOR: We're now joined by the Championship Owner, and our Championship Driver for the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet.

We've got Mr. Hendrick, who is the Championship Owner. And we have Jimmie Johnson, who is our Championship Driver.

Okay. We've got a Championship Team owner Rick Hendrick. Mr. Hendrick, this is your 7th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship. For Jimmie Johnson, it is back?to?back champion, that's outstanding. Outstanding job, Mr. Hendrick, how does it feel?

RICK HENDRICK: It's unbelievable. You dream about winning one of those, and doing it back?to?back, it's really special. Do have the two cars run like this all year it's great. I think the most gratifying thing to me was during the race and after the race the way the 24 team handled it.

I told them before the race that I was going to the guy that finished second first, and I did. And everybody just, they're happy for each other, and it's been a great night.

THE MODERATOR: Jimmie, for the second straight year, you're up here. How does it feel to be 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I'm so proud of this moment. I'm so proud of Chad, my crew guys. When I think of the year, and coming off the championship last year going through the off?season, staying focused on the right things. Working through the year, and just to be fighting for a championship let alone win the second one this year. I was going to be so proud of my guys before the Chase started. Then we got on the terror and won all the races.

We've had an amazing run. A great time together. Friendships and relationships from inside the 48 team have grown, and the respect we have for one another. Including Chad and I. It's incredible.

We look at the 24 team, and the way things have gone there. Everybody wanted to see a little ?? we thought Jeff and I were joking before the race started we thought we'd fight with Lennox Lewis standing at the top, give everybody something to talk about.

But the dynamic between the 24 and 48 team has been phenomenal. With all the sport we've had, it's very, very special for me. I don't want to leave anyone out. I want to thank everybody for making this happen.

Thank Mr. Hendrick for believing in me and giving me a chance, Jeff as well. It's just a very, very special day.

Q. Jimmie, you're sitting there, basically you can put yourself in this situation but like last year when you had the hole in your car and all that stuff. It was as you said last week at Phoenix, 400 miles, that was unusual considering you had been spectacular for four weeks. Talk about the difference of sort of coming in here and trying to nail down a solid day after just being off the charts great the last four weeks?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Well, I think in the last four weeks, and anyone to win four races in a row especially with what's on the line is pretty amazing. We knew that streak would come to an end. I feel like we had a Top 3 car today.

I felt like the 17, especially late in the race was the best car, and the best car did win the race. We were being smart. Played our car smart during the race. Raced when I needed to do, and ran in comfortable air when I needed to.

But what I'm more proud of is the way we attacked this race weekend. Friday winning the pole, Saturday being strong in practice sessions. We made sure that we came in and had our bases covered.

We came in prepared, we came in ready to race for this thing. I don't think I could have won the race tonight, but I feel like we could have been in the top three if we needed to. And really, we just needed to be less than 18 positions behind the 24.

So the racer in me, I was trying to pass the 1 car on the last lap, and then I'm like what are you trying to do? Just stop. It's tough to not go. But it was a balance of putting up a strong performance tonight and finishing the season up right.

We would have loved to have won our fifth in a row, but the big prize was the Championship.

Q. The other day at the press conference on Thursday, it seemed like that you smiled and almost kind of blushed when someone asked Jeff if this is becoming the Jimmie Johnson era. I know you've talked about kind of the awkward feeling of the competitors praising your abilities and talents and success. Certainly two championships now with what you've done since you came into the sport as a rookie. Can you start to feel comfortable? What is it like now that that moniker's going to be placed with you now more and more often?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I'd personally like to go out and earn those things. And hearing Jeff talk about me in that way is flattering. I did end up blushing of sorts. It just caught me off guard to hear those things. It caught me off guard to see Jeff come into Victory Lane at Phoenix and wave the white flag and go through what he did there.

I think our team, and Chad and I, we like to go out and let our stats speak for ourselves. That's been my style and the way we've done things all along. We'll leave the opinions to everyone else, and hope that our record speaks for itself. We'll work hard, and do everything we can to win races and championships.

We're very proud of that. We're in elite company winning two championships, winning back?to?back championships is something I'm very, very proud of.

The good thing, I feel, is we're just really hitting our stride. I think we have a lot of good years ahead of us, and we'll be fighting for more championships and certainly winning more races as years go by. Hopefully we can be a three?time champion in the near future.

Q. Chad, we always hear the story about you dreaming to be top Crew Chief. How many championships would you win in your dreams? And after seeing the oldest, not oldest, but most veteran crew chief/driver combination up here with Reiser and Kenseth, and seeing that break?up, could you ever envision not being Johnson's crew chief?

CHAD KNAUS: There's a lot more championships, I hope, out there for us. I didn't put a number on it in my dreams when I was a kid of how many we'd win. I know that it's definitely a ride I don't want to get off of. I hope we can go three or four more, or three or four championships.

They say a dynasty is anything over three, and we're on two. So you know, we go for three, and then we try to break that. That is something that I would be very, very proud of.

The guys on this team worked real hard. They've done a good job. To be quite honest with you, to see Robbie and Matt break up, or not break?up, but Robbie say I've had enough after all these years of racing.

I remember racing with Robbie when I was a 14, 15?year?old kid up in the Midwest and he was racing super late models up there. This guy's been racing a long time. He deserves to take a break and spend some time with his son and his family.

As far as Jimmie and I, I don't know. I guess I'm stuck with him until 2010, right?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: At least.

CHAD KNAUS: Something like that. No, there is nobody else I want to work with. I can promise you that. He's a great guy. He's my best friend. He's a great race car driver. His wife, Chandra is phenomenal. It's a great thing. I really cherish it.

Q. Jeff just came in here and said that he thought that at some point you guys were being so aggressive down the stretch in the chase that you were bound to make a mistake. But he didn't think somebody could be that aggressive to go for wins like that in the Chase down the stretch without something going wrong. So he said, you know, he had miscalculated. He thought you guys were being too aggressive and would eventually fail at some point, and you didn't. How do you feel about that?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Well, from my standpoint inside the car, I know who I'm racing against. And I knew that I had to get on to a terror like that. I had to win races to stand a chance to beat Jeff Gordon, just plain and simple.

He had an amazing season the first 26 races. He just kicked everyone's butts, week after week. I knew going into the Chase that I needed to do everything I could.

In the closing laps of Texas, Phoenix, all those races, I knew that I needed every point. One, because I didn't know what would go on in this race down here. But that's Jeff Gordon, he's the best out there. I had to bring my A?game.

I felt like I was driving within my means in though races. I look back at the video, and maybe I was a little outside, but that's what I like to do.

Q. When it got down to those last 30 laps (Indiscernible)?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Well, when you're in the closing laps and you know what's on the line and you're in a safe position, it's not easy, but you can see the big prize and focus on the right things.

The thing that I'm most proud of today on top of the things we've done as a team and everything that's gone on, inside my own head today, I took ?? I learned a lot last year in experiencing the Championship and the stress that comes with it and what goes on out on the track and the doubt that goes through my mind. The ups and downs of the event. I learned a lot through all that. I just wanted to keep it simple today.

We all talked about it. We talked about it last week leaving Phoenix. It was something that we really wanted to do. In my own head today inside that race car, I executed that. It is something I'm very, very proud of, not only today in the race, but also Friday and Saturday.

I think that was something Chad focused on. The team did as well. Pit stops were awesome all day long. The pressure did not get to anyone. That's something as individuals we'll all look back and say we were in the fire and executed like we needed to. On top of the great things we've done as a team, I think individually we all look at our responsibilities today and say that we did a good job.

Q. (Asking about Chad preparing for Daytona)(Indiscernible)?

CHAD KNAUS: Yeah, I'm looking forward to Daytona. I really am. When you're fortunate enough to be with a group of guys and have an organization behind you like we've got right now, all you want to do is just keep going. I think there are more wins out there for us. I think there are more Championships out there for us.

Don't take that the wrong way. I'm going to enjoy the hell out of this Championship. It's going to be fun in South Beach tonight. New York next week, I'm going to have a blast. I'm looking forward to it.

But the thing is you can't lose sight of the fact that next year is coming. There is a next season. We have to make sure we're on our game, and I want everybody to know we're on our game when we get there. That is probably a message more to myself than anybody else to be quite honest with you. Making sure I did my own mental check there

Q. (Indiscernible).

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I believe so. Especially if the car was comfortable. At this don't think Matt was going to go down without a fight, especially the last race of the year. If we had been in position to come out of the pits in the lead. If we were coming into the pits in second or third, and took advantage of our pit stall location, came out in the lead, I would have been comfortable racing for it that way.

But to get there up and race Matt or still had a lot of guys in front of me there, it would have been tough. It's a tough thing. I mean, it was cool riding around. I can see the 24 right in front of me. The 1 car was real tight, and losing time off the corners.

You know, I could squeak out another spot here. So I would think I would have that same approach if I was up there fighting for the win. But I was just being smart today. I didn't have that opportunity to try to take advantage of.

Q. (Indiscernible).

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Well, I'm not sure it means as much. No, I guess it would. If a young driver is coming along, it's something that a car owner would pay close attention and look at. There are drivers coming from all forms of Motorsports coming into NASCAR.

We've seen the elite guys, like Juan Pablo and Dario coming in from Open Wheel. But you look at Tony Stewart's background, it was Open Wheel in the end coming from IRL.

But you look at Jeff's background, my background, Robby Gordon, Casey Mears, there are a lot of guys out there that have the ability. And really in the last 10 or 15 years, car owners have been able to see these guys running from Sprint Cars to Dirt Late Models, off?road trucks, whatever it may be. There is a lot of racing talent in Californian and Southern California.

And I also see a lot of crew members in the garage area from California. Not only just drivers, but there is a big racing group out there that is getting exposure to NASCAR now.

Q. (Indiscernible) if had you to race against this team, what would you do?

CHAD KNAUS: I am. I'm racing against the 24. It's about as close as you can get. I think the thing that we've done well as a team on the 48 tonight is we've looked back at our previous seasons and broken them down where we felt like we needed to improve.

Whether that was a particular racetrack or particular style of car or pit crew or whatever it was, then we've always really focused on that area. Not letting any of the other tracks go to the wayside or other areas, but really focus on the weak links.

I think that's something that maybe some of the other teams, I guess, should probably do. Whatever their weak links are, try to improve on those. But I don't want to say a whole lot. I don't want them to beat us, you know.

Q. You lost two close Championship runs earlier, and it prepared you for your first Championship last year. The lesson that you learned last year's first championship allow you guys to really hang it out this year to win this championship?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I think so. I think every year that the team is together, we're stronger, and we learn from the past season, and try to pick up, you know, our weak points. Like Chad just pointed out the question before that. We picked out tracks that are tough for us. We picked out characteristics in the car that we think have left us vulnerable, the mental aspect of dealing with the pressure, all the different things. Managing people, there are just so many different layers to a race team.

As each year goes by, and the core of the team stays together, we're able to make it stronger and stronger, and better and better. There are a lot of lessons, not just one specifically, but a lot of lessons learned last year that helped this year. Even losing those two Championships taught us a lot. It was painful. We went back and looked at it and tried to adjust and fortunately it's worked out and it's led to these two Championships.

Q. You've been part of some of the most dominant seasons in the history of the sport, where would you rank this year for the 48 guys in your estimation as far as overall dominance in years are concerned?

RICK HENDRICK: I think this has been the most unbelievable example of team work and dedication.

Jimmie's just getting better and better, and just phenomenal. He's so intense. He studies what he wants to accomplish or tries to accomplish. And Chad just eats, sleeps and drinks getting better every week.

For the level of competition to do what they've done and to do it in the Chase, it's as our organization and I look at it, I don't think I've seen a more dominant performance since I've been racing.

Q. Earlier today Brian France was in here and saw the run that you're on is pretty much the most dominant he's seen in the modern era you're now only the tenth driver in the history of the sport to win back?to?back titles. Can you put that in perspective? And also if you could just discuss what the lifetime contract over the off?season?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: It's tough to put into perspective, but I can tell you how proud I am to be in this position. To be considered or to earn our way, I should say, into the statistics and victories and being a back?to?back champion. Only ten teams having done that.

In my heart of hearts, it means the world to me. Since I was a kid, I just wanted to race. I wanted to be the best at racing. I didn't know where it would lead me or what was in store for me or where it would go, but I loved to race.

And to be here racing on the main stage of NASCAR, and to have the success of the championships means the world to me. It is something I'm very, very proud of and thankful of as well. And thankful for the relationships and friendships that I have. I look forward to the future, a lot of good times ahead of us.

As far as the contract, that is Rick's department. And it's a lifetime contract with unlimited budget, right (laughing)?

RICK HENDRICK: Yeah, that's the way it works, then I'm ready to sign up.

Q. How does that work when someone gets a lifetime contract at your place? I mean, truthfully you laugh, but it's been quoted. I'm wondering if you just get to a point where you offer it to a driver, and if that's what you want to see out of Jimmie to stay with you forever?

RICK HENDRICK: I just offered it to him. It's a commitment. Jimmie and I talked about it and Chad and I talked about it. You know, I want to do whatever I can do to keep it together.

When you've got someone that you really enjoy being with, and you see that they've got unlimited potential and he and Chad have got great chemistry. I try to look down the road as far as they feel comfortable. So we know we're going to be together for a few more years. I'm going to do everything I can to give them everything they need and whatever they look forward to in the future.

It's easy ?? not easy either ?? but when you see someone that has it all from the talent of how to handle the sponsors, how to represent the company, and has unbelievable talent and can make the whole organization better then you want to keep them in the fold, and that's what I've got here with these two guys.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: To add to that, to put Rick on the spot in that position, we ?? I think we all know and understand that we have a good thing. With Jeff Gordon having a lifetime contract, it's just unheard of in Motorsports anywhere. And there are special things that went on there, and times are different than they are now.

This is home to me. Hendrick Motorsports is home to me. I don't need a lifetime contract to say that. I know where my home is. I know where I want to drive and who I want to work for. I have a contract through 2010. And after that we'll figure out what is in store for us for the future.

But this is home for me. It's family, it's great.

Q. Rick, as successful as your organization has been, these guys get to leave here and go celebrate and enjoy until the start of next year. Are you the guy that heads back to the shop and starts worrying about what the other guys are doing, and how much money they're spending and what you can do to maintain this level?

RICK HENDRICK: Absolutely. While they go out partying, I'm going home to go to bed.

I was thinking about it tonight. I talked about it earlier. You see a lot of the teams, you see the Roush guys getting better here in the Chase, you see the Penske guys, you know. There are so many people.

The biggest motivation in Motorsports to me is going to New York and sitting out in the audience and watching somebody get the trophy. I've done it before. Man, it fires you up to go to work.

These guys in the garage area, they have a ton of smart people. We can't come back just like we are this year. Chad and I were talking about it and Stevie (Letarte), and Jeff Gordon and I talked about it this morning, we're going to have to be better. We're going to have to look at every area of our company and all of our teams and figure out where we're a little weak, and come back better. Or we're not going to be able to compete at the level we have this year.

So absolutely, we've already started.

Q. I hate to look ahead to next year, but your good buddy Felix Sabates said your toughest challenge will be next season with Dale (Earnhardt), Jr. What can you say to that?

RICK HENDRICK: I don't see that as any more of a challenge than I had this year or we've had.

I've talked to Jimmie, and Chad, and Jeff Gordon and all of the guys in it, and they've already started to work together. Tony (Eury) Junior has been there. I don't foresee any problems at all.

Maybe that would be a good question for Jimmie or Chad. I think the pressure's on me, because of his fan base expecting him to do well. And I said it before, if he does well it's because of his talent. If he doesn't, it's going to be my fault. That's kind of the way it works when you have multiple cars.

But I don't see that as ?? we've been through a test. He was there. He's contributed. These guys have welcomed this deal with open arms. We all decided this was something we should do and could do.

So I've got their support. It's not like this is something that we're going to have a bunch of hiccups on. I just don't foresee it. I think it's going to be fairly smooth. And I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Q. (Indiscernible).

RICK HENDRICK: What I said to Jeff was I was proud of him, and he should take a lot of pride in this because I was proud of him and how he handled things. That was basically what I said.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I would thank him, and I did when I saw him, thank him for the opportunity. Thanks for believing in me. Thanks for being a mentor and a great friend and teaching me a lot inside and outside of the race car.

He's a great guy. I mean, he's put a lot of faith and belief in me, and given me a great shot. He's opened up and shown me a lot of different things that I'm not sure anyone else would. He's been a great teammate and great friend.

Q. (Indiscernible). Did you think the last ten races would have got you where you are tonight?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I guess he would have had to do better. He's done an awesome job. He put up great numbers. We just got on a terror that is unbelievable. I'm not even sure what our end number ended up being. 5.0, wow, just a little bit. And I'm not even sure ??

THE MODERATOR: Jimmie's average finish was 5.0.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Wow! Jeff's was 5.1.

He has had an amazing season, an amazing Chase. We were just for whatever reason, able to squeak out a little bit more and get the victories. The victories made the difference.

If we didn't win four in a row, this race would have been a much different race. Not saying that we wouldn't have been in position to still win t but we needed every point coming in here, and that's why I was attacking like I was.

Q. With you and Jeff Gordon era, do you see this now as becoming the Jimmie Johnson era?

RICK HENDRICK: You know, I really do. Jimmie's just when you look at being a really smart driver and a really aggressive driver, and Chad the same way, I think his talent and the way he approached racing. The fact that he goes Monday morning and works out after a race on Sunday, he's as determined as anybody I've ever seen sit down in a race car.

Chad's the same way. Chad is like always thinking. We fly home together at night, and it's 1:00 o'clock in the morning, he's got his computer out, and he's dissecting the race.

So I just don't see anything that is going to slow Jimmie down. He just gets better every time I see him get in the car

Q. Jimmie, for bringing such a disciplined approach to everything you do, I'm just curious how you got ready last night and today? Did you change your routine? Did you go to bed early? Did you get up early? Did you have butterflies while you were shaving, anything?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I at times would go through periods of being nervous. I wouldn't call Rick back is what he said. We played phone tag.

I went through periods of being nervous and other periods of being comfortable and confident because of the way Friday and Saturday went. That's what I was really trying to put my brain into. The fact that we did a great job on Friday, great job on Saturday. We had a great race car, and just focus on the things I could control.

Last year I worried myself to death about things I couldn't control. I just came to grips with that this weekend, if I can't take care of it or control it, why worry about it? Not saying that my mind wouldn't slip into it, but I really did a good job with is it in general.

I wish I could have slept in longer this morning. I was up at like 7:00 a.m. on the dot, just sitting there wide-awake like man, I've got a long time to be anywhere. I wish I could sleep until 1:00 o'clock, and roll out and get to work.

But the morning went well, just kind of relaxed. Chandra and I hung out, spent some time, just chilled out and tried to approach today like it was another race day. Trying to keep it simple, and it worked.

Q. Right after the race, I think it was Alan Bestwick trying to get a comment from you. Everybody was jumping around celebrating, and you were in the box looking at a notebook. Why was that so important at that moment?

CHAD KNAUS: Honestly, it got knocked out of my hand. And there were papers and stuff strewn about. And I wanted to make sure I had everything so none of the competitors could get them. I wanted to make sure everything was present and accounted for before I moved on.

Q. Willis says you're now the No. 2 as far as car owner champions with 7 behind Petty. So could you comment on that? CHAD KNAUS: If you grew up like I did, idolizing the Pettys and Junior Johnson, and the Wood Brothers and that ballpark, it's just hard for me to even take it in.

I hope I'm around to see these guys right here win a bunch more, and Jeff, and I'd love to see Casey up there and love to see Junior the same way.

I'm so proud of the organization. When I see guys like Stevie and Chad and Jimmie, I remember when I was 16 years old. And Herb Fishel told me you need to look at this guy. I just hope we can keep it together and we can do some phenomenal things in the future with these guys.

But I just don't ever look at myself as being in the same category with Richard Petty and what he's done in Motorsports. I don't feel worthy, I guess is what I'm trying to say. He's done so much for the sport. I hope to ride his coattails and try to get 10. Can we get 10, guys? Okay, we're going to get 10.

Q. More for Chad than anybody else, you were talking about your notes, not losing your notes. How much concern or how much nervousness is there because you're going full?time with the new car next year? Is there any concern? Because you've been pretty powerful with it. But it was a part?time this year, next year it's full?time. This is one race that you haven't raced it at. How comfortable or nervous are you about that?

CHAD KNAUS: We're real fortunate. We've got guys that are full?time testing, working on that stuff right now. David Green's been driving a car for us. Rex Stump and Jim Long have been working on that car.

I think things are going really well. Obviously, when we broke it out this year, it was good out of the box. We needed to make improvements to it, we did and the car got better. But the thing that we've got to make sure we take note of is a lot of the competition's gotten an awful lot better.

We have some weak tracks that we need to get better at. We're going to have to get to work. Bristol was probably our weakest. The Road Course was probably our second weakest. I think Dover we struggled just a little bit. So some of the other guys were a little bit faster.

The thing we've got going for us is we have a new car that we're working on testing right now. We've got some other new things coming down the pike. So we're really excited about next season. Really, really looking forward to it. I think we're going to have a good product out there.

Q. Jimmie, you improved your performance in the second Chase. Do you have any plans to improve your golf cart acrobatics in the off?season?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Man, if I can make it through this off?season without a broken bone, it will be a successful year (laughing). I don't have any time to go golfing. And the Hamptons Golf Tournament was this weekend, So I won't have an opportunity to go get hurt in Florida again.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations.

Q. What are you going to do in South Beach?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Watch the sun come up and smile.