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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 10 November 2020
Johnson finishes 5th in final race of NASCAR career

By JOHN MARSHALL "."
AP Sports Writer Johnson clinched his final
Jimmie Johnson strode into title in 2016 and won his last
the final news conference race the following year,
of his NASCAR career wear- putting his career-ending
ing a black hat with "One winless streak at three years
Final Shot" on the front. Told after Sunday's race at
he was the first driver in the Phoenix. He failed to reach
room after Sunday's race the playoffs his final season
at Phoenix Raceway, the in part because of a posi-
seven-time Cup champion tive COVID-19 test in June
had a quick response. that caused him to miss the
"I won something this year," first of 685 Cup races.
he said. Johnson led 103 combined
Johnson closed out one laps in 36 races this season
of the greatest careers in -- none at Phoenix.
NASCAR history by finish- He started 26th in his ca-
ing fifth at Phoenix — first reer finale and gradually
among the drivers not in worked his way toward the
the Cup playoffs. front at a track where he's
The 45-year-old spent some won four times.
of the final moments in his Johnson cracked the top
No. 48 car pumping his Jimmie Johnson, center, stands with his family on pit road prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race 10 after about 100 laps and
fist and shouting from the at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz. was third around 140 laps
window at Hendricks Mo- Associated Press before a round of green-
torsports teammate Chase flag pit stops dropped him
Elliott after the 24-year-old dreamed up, but I've expe- Fox Sports booth after 15 full Earnhardt are the only oth- to ninth.
won his first Cup champi- rienced the highest of highs Cup seasons and 10 career er drivers with seven cham- He rallied to finish fifth for
onship. and worked with the great- wins. A former Xfinity Series pionships. his ninth top-10 of his final
After his final news confer- est of people." champion, he won races Labeled boring early in his season, first since Dover in
ence, Johnson tossed cans Johnson announced last for Chevrolet, Toyota and career, Johnson proved to August.
of beer to his crew and year this would be his fi- then Ford after replacing be anything but, becom- "It definitely feels good to
toasted former crew chief nal NASCAR season so he Hall of Famer Tony Stewart ing a popular pitchman, run well in my final race
Chad Knaus back out on could spend more time in the No. 14 when he re- fan favorite and one of the here," Johnson said. "I've
the track. with family, run a partial tired in 2016. most well-liked drivers on got a tent full of family and
A solid finish to a stellar ca- IndyCar season next year A solid career, just not like the circuit. When Johnson's friends back there. I didn't
reer. and pursue other ways to Johnson's. final race was over, the re- have too much riding on
"It was nice to be com- keep the adrenaline flow- Johnson and Knaus spect was evident as crew- making sure I had a good
petitive out there, but my ing. teamed up to dominate members from every team run here because I always
bucket's full," Johnson said. Knaus also ran his final race NASCAR for more than a lined the wall to high five plan to run well in my head,
"NASCAR has been so won- Sunday -- he's moving to decade in the No. 48, pull- the popular driver before I always feel like I should."
derful for me. This journey an executive role with Hen- ing in a record-tying seven he rides off into the sunset. He almost always did, a big
has been more than I could dricks Motorsports -- as did championships, includ- "That respect from my peers reason why Johnson will go
have dreamed of or ex- Clint Bowyer, who finished ing a staggering stretch of and respect from my indus- down as one of the great-
pected. Last couple years 24th. five straight. Hall of Fam- try is something I'll never, est drivers in NASCAR his-
weren't as I would have Bowyer is headed to the ers Richard Petty and Dale ever forget," Johnson said. tory. q

Nats make their pitch to Biden, invite him to throw 1st ball

making their pitch to Pres- York Yankees on opening dents throwing out the
ident-elect Joe Biden. day at Camden Yards. The first pitch in Washington in
The Nats have invited right-hander threw a high 1910. Since then, every sit-
Biden to toss out the cere- fastball that brought O's ting president except Don-
monial first ball next season catcher Chad Moeller out ald Trump has thrown out
on opening day. Washing- of his crouch. a first pitch when Washing-
ton is scheduled to host Biden, a Little League ton had a major league
the New York Mets at Na- shortstop who later played franchise.
tionals Park on April 1. center, has frequently Trump attended Game
"We're excited to continue been around ballfields. 5 of the 2019 World Series
the long-standing tradition He saw the Phillies a few at Nationals Park and was
of sitting Presidents throw- times in the postseason, booed when introduced
ing out the first pitch at the including the 2009 World as Houston played Wash-
home of the national pas- Series, watched Philadel- ington.
time in our nation's capi- phia play at Washington in When there wasn't a team
In this April 6, 2009, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden throws tal," the team posted on 2012, has visited the Yan- in Washington, Gerald
out the first pitch prior to the Baltimore Orioles and the New Twitter this weekend. kees at spring training and Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ron-
York Yankees opening day baseball game at Camden Yards
in Baltimore. Biden last threw out a first attended the Little League ald Reagan, George H.W.
Associated Press ball as vice president, in World Series. Bush and Bill Clinton tossed
2009 when the Baltimore William Howard Taft be- baseballs while in office at
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals are Orioles hosted the New gan the tradition of presi- other big league parks.q