QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE
Compelling questions … and maybe a few actual answers
Jimmie the Bubble Boy?
Not quite, but hes way too close for comfort were just one Alex Bowman victory away from seeing Jimmie Johnson take his precarious place atop the unsteady orb. A seven-time champ on the playoff bubble and therefore a potential playoff outsider? Its still a bit unlikely, but its mere possibility is a shock to the system. The slump is part of a teamwide struggle at Hendrick Motorsports, but no less striking.
Can Jimmie shake it?
This deep into the season, highly unlikely. Looking back at late spring, there was some mild optimism when he finished between third and 12th in a four-week span. Then he finished fifth and eighth over two weeks the following month. But over the past nine races, hes had more finishes outside the top 15 (five) than inside of it, with a best of 10th. He turns 43 next month, by the way.
Ken Willis, ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
GODWINS PICKS FOR BRISTOL
WINNER: Ryan Newman REST OF TOP 5: Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney FIRST ONE OUT: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. DARK HORSE: Daniel Suarez DONT BE SURPRISED IF: Newman uses the old chrome horn to bash and bang his way to a much-needed victory.
