Jimmie Johnson Kansas Speedway Preview
CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP: RACE 3

Jimmie Johnson and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series travel to Kansas Speedway this weekend for the third of the ten 2007 “Chase for the Nextel Cup” races. Johnson is fourth among the 12 “Chase” drivers but trails leader Carl Edwards by only four points. Although he has led 126 laps, Kansas Speedway is the only race track where the 2006 champion has failed to post a top-five finish in his career.

DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:

KANSAS SPEEDWAY: “Obviously, with the crazy weekend we had (at Dover) and being four points out of the lead after what we went through, is exciting for us. I think Kansas is one of our better tracks. We ran really, really well there last year. Unfortunately, we had a tire problem, which seems to have happened to us here lately. We had a tire problem that kept us from having the finish that we wanted. But we led a lot. I think we led the most laps, so we’re excited. I’m excited and looking forward to getting to Kansas.”

WILL THE “CHASE” STAY TIGHT UNTIL HOMESTEAD? “I think it’s going to stay close for a long time. Once we get down to two races to go, there might be more of a clear favorite. But if you look at where Denny (Hamlin) is in 12th, granted 11 guys could have a bad day, but he’s not that far out. I was a lot further out and came back over five or six races or whatever it was last year. So, I’m not counting anyone out. I do think that it’s tougher this year. You have two more cars in the mix. It’s a much more competitive Chase. I think it’s going to keep us talking each and every week as to how things unfold and where people are. And I think it’s going to be deep into the Chase before we have a clear favorite.”

CAN YOU GET AWAY FROM RACING DURING THE WEEK? “Yeah, Monday usually ends up being my off day to do anything from hanging around the house doing nothing to playing golf and visiting with friends. So Monday is kind of my fun day or my off day. I can take that for myself in most cases.”

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CHASSIS