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Mind Games

NASCAR’s substance testing program doesn’t cover what’s inside a lot of people in the Sprint Cup garage area.

Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus.

With three wins in the season’s first five races and in pursuit of a historic fifth consecutive championship, driver Johnson and crew chief Knaus have gotten into the heads of their competitors.

“I’d rather lose to any of the 41 cars out there than the 48,” Kurt Busch said after Bristol, referring to Johnson’s Chevrolet.

Busch led the most laps but was passed by Johnson on a late restart and wound up third.

“I thought we had them beat,” he admitted. “I poured my heart out trying to beat Jimmie . . . and then to lose . . . that’s what is upsetting.”

Mind games have been a part of sports for as long as there’s been a stick, ball, or wheel.

Remember the legend of Babe Ruth calling his shot? Joe Namath guaranteeing a Super Bowl win by his New York Jets over the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts? Muhammad Ali’s pre-fight rhyming taunts? Wilt Chamberlain’s mere presence in front of the basket? Dale Earnhardt’s Intimidator’s stare?

Back in the day, Darrell Waltrip has said, he used his mouth as much as his throttle foot to beat Bobby Allison for the Cup. Waltrip’s “Jaws” act for reporters led to newspaper quotes that many think distracted Allison, whose frustration finally spilled out with this classic: “I don’t care if he says my grandmother wears combat boots.”  

Johnson and Knaus, though, are doing it on the track and in the pits instead of during press conferences.

If their rivals take two tires on the last pit stop, Jimmie and Chad go with four – and win. If their competitors take four Goodyears, they go with two – and win. If another driver finds speed in the low groove, Johnson goes high – and wins. If someone else gets slowed by lapped traffic, Jimmie finds an opening to scoot on by – and wins.

It’s no wonder the other guys are talking to themselves.

“I hope it frustrates them,” Knaus admitted after Bristol. “That’s only momentum for us. 

“Whatever it is, if you need that killer pit stop, if you need that spectacular chassis adjustment, if Jimmie needs to be fresh at the end of the race, if it's a real hot day, whatever situation it is, we try to prepare on all fronts.”

Johnson, fourth fastest to 50 wins, spoke directly to the issue.

“I get caught up in that mind game stuff and find a lot of satisfaction in it,” he conceded. “I told Chad before the year was over, I don't have a number of wins, but I wanted to win a lot to frustrate the competitors. I think over the last few years, we've been able to get in some guys' heads and I think it's been helpful. I don't want to lose that advantage if we can prevent it.

“Granted, it's awfully early in the year to think about that. If we can keep winning every month, every other month, stay at the top of people's minds as we get into the Chase, we know the Chase and those tracks are really good for us, and we withstand the pressure really well.”

How to turn this around? I’ve heard people say maybe the spoiler will do what no man has. Or maybe different tires for different tracks. Or some unexpected rules change out of Daytona Beach. Or that “Boys, have at it” will catch-up with the champion. 

I don’t think so. The only way to reverse it is when -- somehow, someday -- what Johnson or Knaus do doesn’t work. 

“I've watched from afar, before I was in the sport, people would say, ‘Anybody but the 3 (Earnhardt)’; ‘Anybody but the 24 (Jeff Gordon),’ Johnson said. “I'm awfully proud to be in that category where they're saying, ‘Anybody but the 48.’ I think it's awesome.”

Right now, the Jimmie Johnson-Chad Knaus mind game is more powerful than any substance NASCAR’s testers could ever detect.

[ Next column:  April 12 ]

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(I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.)