Jimmie Johnson is looking to start his fifth straight NASCAR title this weekend, when he will participate in one of the most important NASCAR races, the Daytona 500.

But not everything is going well for the rider, who was involved in an accident on Wednesday during practice at the Daytona International Speedway. The damage caused to Johnson’s car was huge; for now, the driver will have to participate in the opening race in a backup car. The decision was made by crew chief Chad Knaus.

Kyle Busch and Joey Logano were also involved in the accident, the second in practice for the event. Mike Bliss provoked the accident when, as he was coming off a turn, he lost control of his car. Logano, Busch, and Johnson were all drawn in; as a result, Logano was forced to race on a backup car while Busch’s car suffered only minor damage. Busch will be able to open the event in his primary car.

There were other accidents during Wednesday’s practice, but none were serious.

The upcoming Daytona 500 will not be easy to win on a backup car, but Johnson has plenty of experience. He has been dominating Sprint Cup competitions since 2006 and he is planning on continuing to do so. Since 2006, he has won 26 races and posted 94 top-ten finishes.

Johnson competes in one of the best teams in NASCAR, one with plenty of resources and one of the best crew chiefs in the country. Hendricks Motorsports and Chad Knaus have been giving Johnson the confidence he needs to continue winning championships.

To most other drivers, Johnson seems unbeatable.

“I don’t even know how I’ve been doing it, so I don’t know how to beat it,” Johnson said. “I boil it down to a commitment from myself and from my teammates. The commitment that we have made to this race team has made the difference over the last four years. As long as that commitment’s there, I will be proud of whatever the results are. That’s the bottom line. I know at some point we’re going to get beat. It’s going to happen. I’m more aware of that than anyone else. I don’t want it to be anytime soon.”

Perhaps part of his success is keeping himself in good shape, as focusing on the details is such an important part of racing. Johnson’s commitment to his team is huge. At the same time, he recognizes that his fans expect a great deal from him, an added pressure to the driver, who gives the best in every race.

Johnson hopes to start the season opener race at the Daytona International Speedway on the right foot – that is, with a win.

He hasn’t won the opening race in all of the four seasons he won the championship; in fact, he did so only once, in 2006. He finished 39th in 2007, 27th in 2008, and 31st in 2009. The performances haven’t been the best, but he managed to go on in each of those years and take the championship.

Johnson joins Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and teammate Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win more than three titles in NASCAR’s top series. He is also the first to win four consecutive titles. Now, he’s on a quest for the fifth. We wish the best to him and the rest of the NASCAR drivers.

About the Author

Audrey Nolan has been a prominent writer on daily NASCAR races; sports news and the sports book industry for many exceptional sport web sites. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.