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SPORTS Monday 11 February 2019

Johnson triggers wreck, then wins Clash at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)
— Jimmie Johnson's young-
est daughter prays every
night for Daddy to win a
race. When Johnson scuf-
fled through the worst sea-
son of his career, he felt the
strain of not reaching vic-
tory lane.
"It was putting some pres-
sure on me," Johnson said.
Johnson called the invoca-
tion "cute to hear."
He didn't feel the same
about critical comments
saying Johnson was past
his prime. The 43-year-old
Johnson tweeted "I'm far
from done" in the offsea-
son, and with a risky move
in the rain, he showed
there's plenty left.
Johnson triggered a wreck
that wiped out nearly the
entire 20-car field at Dayto-
na and zipped to the lead
to win the rain-shortened
exhibition Clash on Sunday.
The seven-time Cup Series
champion failed to win Jimmie Johnson, center, celebrates with car owner Rick Hendrick, left, and crew members after winning the NASCAR Clash auto
a race for the first time in race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
his career in 2018, but a Associated Press
dose of aggression put him
back in victory lane dur- rain. With more rain loom- gels together It's made that Busch said team owner up in many crashes in the
ing the opening weekend ing, Johnson dipped low transition a lot easier." Chip Ganassi complained Clash, failing to finish on
of Speedweeks. Johnson's and tried to side-draft Me- Johnson and longtime to NASCAR about Johnson the lead lap in each of the
win capped a banner day nard as they battled for the crew chief Chad Knaus split driving below the double- seven exhibition races. He
for Hendrick Motorsports: lead. But Johnson turned at the end of last season yellow line to make the was down at least 25 laps
teammates William Byron Menard and started a after seven championships. move. But Johnson was in five straight Clashes,
and Alex Bowman locked chain-reaction accident Knaus beat Johnson in the not penalized because he and understands just how
in the front row for the Day- that left cars sideways and race to the first race day wreck forced him that low. quickly a race at Daytona
tona 500 earlier in the day smoking behind the No. 48 bash — by just a few hours. "I think Johnson had a le- can change. "I have a split-
in qualifying. Chevrolet. But the race to victory lane gitimate run to go for the second decision to try to
"It's been a pretty awe- "I looked in the mirror and in a race that really counts lead," Busch said. win a race, and I set up the
some day," Hendrick said. there were a lot of cars comes in the regular sea- Menard was positioned pass and got position on
"I hate we had the wreck caught up in it," Johnson son, and Johnson hasn't to win for Wood Brothers him clean, "Johnson said. "
there at the end, but it's said. won a Cup race since June Racing only weeks after I don't know what triggered
been a really good day for The rain that ended the 4, 2017 at Dover. the death of team founder his car wobbling and then
the team." race hit not long after the "We still need a points race Glen Wood. Wood was 93 the accident started from
The celebration at Daytona decisive move and John- win to say we're back in and had been the oldest there." Johnson had al-
comes with a caveat: the son won for the first time victory lane," Johnson said. living member of the NAS- ready proved at Daytona
last Daytona 500 pole-sitter with new crew chief Kevin "But it was a great first step CAR Hall of Fame when he he was good on the long
to win the race was Dale Meendering and new pri- today." died last month after a long run — and with the 48 in
Jarrett in 2000, and John- mary sponsor Ally. The wreck came 55 laps illness. the garage. He competed
son's victory doesn't count "I inherited a great core into the 75-lap event, and "I felt like it was aggressive in the 40 to 44 age division
in the official NASCAR re- group of guys with the 48 the race was called just side-drafting," Menard said. early Sunday in the Day-
cord book. team," Meendering said. four laps later. Kurt Busch "I got turned to the inside tona Beach half marathon
Paul Menard led 51 laps "There's a strong foundation was second, followed by and hooked to the right and finished with a time
and controlled the race there, and the team really Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and all hell broke loose." of 1 hour, 34 minutes, 18.4
interrupted three times for works well together, and it and Bowman. Johnson had been caught seconds.q