Observers believed the problem was in the drive train. “Drive line, drive line,” he called on his team radio. Johnson got his car into his pit, where crew members took a quick look. But then, the problem got worse. Johnson drove off pit road and headed for his garage, his crew running after him.
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Working on the rear of Johnson’s car during the Dover race. (via Twitter)
Johnson returned to the track on Lap 136, 36 laps behind the field. He was 13th in the Chase standings at the time and liekly needed a Chase contender to have major trouble. The problem, reports said, was the rear-end housing.
Johnson passed Jeb Burton, who crashed on Lap 186 and moved into 42nd. Driver still ahead of Johnson and running: Timmy Hill, Alex Kennedy, Josh Wise, Michael Annett and Reed Sorenson, who was 30 laps ahead of Johnson with about 240 of 400 laps run.
“Basically Jimmie,” crew chief Chad Knaus told Johnson with less than 100 laps to go, “we need to have two of the guys in the top 13 in points right now DNF.” Johnson was still 20 laps behind Hill, 24 behind Kennedy.
Johnson entered the race fifth in the Chase standings, after finishing 11th at Chicagoland and sixth at Loudon. He was a 10-time winner at Dover and among pre-race favorites. But significant time out of the race could drop Johnson, a six-time Cup winner, could push him out of the top 12 in points.
Dover was the last of the three first-round Chase races. The bottom four drivers in points were to be eliminated from Chase competition.
Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. also had problems early in the race. Starting No. 12 in the Chase field, Earnhardt was in danger of missing the Chase as well. Junior’s problem: loose lug nuts on the left rear.
Kevin Harvick, who started the Dover race 15th in the standings, was dominant in the race. He led 200 of the first 226 laps. He likely needed to win to advance in the Chase. Remember, Harvick had never won a race at Dover, in any NASCAR national series.
The driver in most danger of missing the Chase as the race reached its midpoint? Paul Menard, who entered in need of a great race. He was running near the middle of the pack.
Kyle Busch, entering Dover a point behind Earnhardt in the standings, was second to Harvick and four seconds behind near Lap 290. Johnson, it appeared, needed disaster to befall Harvick.
