24/7 Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona - Part 2

So, before I begin this review, I must mention something. It is something personal but known to most of my NASCAR buddies out there. Yes, I love NASCAR. I live it, I breathe it, I schedule my life around it. I have my favorite driver (not Jimmie Johnson) but Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, is my favorite person in all of NASCAR. Possibly, in all of sports. He might even top Derek Jeter for me. Yes, I said that. Did I? Gosh, I did. Chad, to me, is the Jon Bon Jovi of NASCAR. He lives the 48, he loves the 48...HE IS THE 48. And without Chad, there would probably be no Jimmie Johnson. I sat in front of my computer recently retweeting a tweet to win his autograph – which I did – and it was like winning the lottery. I look up to Chad because he started at the bottom and worked his way up and he's put his personal life on hold for his career dreams. Not to mention, I think he is beyond gorgeous, especially when he puts on that Lowe's firesuit and hat every week.

With that being said, I will now get down to the nitty gritty of what I have to do, now that I've wiped the drool off my keyboard. I should also warn you this is a pretty Knaus-centric episode, with bits of Johnson mixed in. The episode opens up with Johnson driving around and we get to listen to the radio with guys calling in on who can beat Johnson and how. Can they do it? For now, instead of focusing on the Daytona 500, Johnson is going to Daytona for the Grand Am Rolex 24 Hour, a race that happens once a year at Daytoa but mostly on the infield tracks. Oh, and this year is the 48th running of it. A sign? Maybe. Next, a beautifully edited overlapping scene of Johnson getting on the plane to head off to the track while his crew does Yoga (it's funny, although not meant to be) while Enya plays in the background. Not for nothing, but these editors are fabulous! Then we get a few scenes of a seriously concentrating Knaus, who is watching previous Daytona races (they didn't do so well last year - 31st place). The car built specifically for the race is finished and we get to see how they paint it.

Meanwhile, Chandra (Jimmie's wife), is heading to the airport to pick up her mom while Johnson is at Daytona testing out his car. Johnson, in an unusual red Lowe's firesuit, heads out for a practice run. If you haven't heard yet, 19 minutes later he comes back with a totaled car. Yep, that's right. Totaled the car, but he's okay. He's bummed out because he ruined the chances for the team, especially at qualifying for the pole position. Since this is Johnson and he has a private jet at his hands, he uses his jet and has it go back to NC to get parts to help rebuild the car. The team works into the early morning hours and is hopeful they will make it in time for practice.

Without Johnson, things still go on at Hendrick, with Knaus leading a team meeting/lunch, although it's not so much a lunch since a notebook and pen is required! Each member of the crew is divided into a set of four skills – directness, extrovertness, pace and structure. Everyone balances each other out, which is why the team is so successful. After the meeting the pit crew begins their practice runs (12 seconds is their goal) and they are not hitting their marks exactly. Keep on going guys! At Daytona, the car is almost finished and Johnson visits with his dad, Gary, who will be his spotter for the race. Gary gives us some background on Johnson and growing up on dirt bikes and we see a little Jimmie riding them in his little yellow firesuit. Adorable. Simply. Practice goes well but on race day, rain pours down. In the NASCAR world, this stops a race, but in the Rolex race, this doesn't happen. They throw on race tires and go at it. Johnson will be the second driver to go out, after they started last and worked their way towards the top. Johnson starts running some of the fastest laps and then makes a mistake, missing a turn on the track. He finishes his three-hour stint in the car, with the car in first place (did you expect anything less from a four-time champion?). He has five hours to rest before he gets back in the car.

Now, this next part may get a bit biased and emotional. It's all about Chad. He pours wine, alone in his kitchen and we learn about his past. His father drove cars when he was younger but they didn't have the money for him to do so. He drove a bit but wrecked them, then discovered he was good at working on them. He kept going down that path and now he's where he is. Liev (the narrator) says Chad has a girlfriend who lives in Chicago, but I say no way! (Or I hope...) He says he wants a wife and children, but his lifestyle right now doesn't allow that to happen (he has been quoted in the past as saying he is “married to the 48”). He makes himself a plate of pasta and eats his dinner. Alone. Now, here's the deal. As a Chad researcher, I can tell you that in December, he was single after a recent long-term relationship ended. Is Liev really trying to tell me Chad's “date” to the banquet all of a sudden became his girlfriend in just one month? I don't think so. Maybe they're just trying to keep the girls away from him...you know, the girls that call themselves “Chad researchers...” Just kidding. :)

Anyhoo, Chandra and her mom go to the opera. Couldn't they have invited Chad since he's so lonely? Just a joke, I know it was a girl's night. It's time for Johnson to get back into the “Red Dragon” at 3:30 AM, halfway through the race. Sidenote: This show is really in real-time, as this race just happened on Saturday/Sunday. Less than 20 minutes into his turn, Johnson pulls the car into the garage because of a gear problem. He returns to the track with no problems and he gets up to 6th place, 10 laps behind the leader. Victory Lane looks far away. With three hours left, the entire car dies and the car is done for. Hopefully, his next race at Daytona is a bit better than this one. Johnson hops on his jet, grabs a beer, calls his wife and heads home. Meanwhile, his car is back at the shop and is getting its final paint put on it as Knaus looks on with a cheesy grin while his crew trains. Johnson lands to an empty runway (Chandra eventually arrives) and they drive off into the … sun. (It wasn't a sunset yet.)

So, this week wasn't as exciting as last week, but more informative about how the team functions and is chosen. Also, if you watched the Rolex 24 it wasn't that interesting to watch that part either. I might have been a bit overprotective of my Chad Knaus, but he gets a bad rap and well, he's MY Chad Knaus. Again, JUST KIDDING (Dear Hendrick Motorsports: I am harmless. Thank you, Farrah.). Next week is all about the Datyona Speedweeks, which starts this Thursday. That editing and footage should be amazing.


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Photo courtesy of Farrah Kaye from the 2009 Champion's Week FanFest at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.