Jimmie Johnson – No. 81 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet Silverado

Round 16 of 25 – Bristol Motor Speedway: O’Reilly 200

 
Reigning back-to-back NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will make his Craftsman Truck Series debut on Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway as he pilots the No. 81 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet for Randy Moss Motorsports.

Randy Moss on Jimmie Johnson driving the No. 81 Chevrolet at Bristol:

“Jimmie is a great champion and we’re honored he thought enough about our team to drive for us. Jimmie isn’t going to want to come out in his first Truck Series race and be uncompetitive. It’s going to be a lot of fun for all of the guys on the team to get to work with someone with Jimmie’s credentials. I know my partner David Dollar has had a lot of experience working with Cup drivers through Chevrolet and he’s won races for them and I know our crew chief Eric Phillips will have our team well prepared as usual. We all look forward to a great night in Bristol with Jimmie.”

QUOTING JIMMIE JOHNSON:

What are your thoughts on finally racing a truck after all of these years in NASCAR?  “I’m excited. I got my start racing off-road trucks, so it’s going to be cool to be back in a truck. I’ve never driven one before. I’ve always wondered how they drive and what they’re about. I’ve spent so much time with (Ron) Hornaday and he’s been such a big part of my career, to be able to go out and race against him is going to be blast. When I look at the guys that run in the Truck Series - a lot of guys I’ve looked up to and respected throughout my career - I’m looking forward to getting out and having some fun with them.”

Are you looking for this truck race to help you learn some things that will help you in the Cup race? “That’s really why we’re running the truck race, so that I can get some more seat time on that track. The trucks are closer to a Cup car than the Nationwide cars are and Chad (Knaus) will be up there and involved. It gives us an opportunity to learn some things without the pressure of being in the points race. Everybody learns a lot more when the pressure’s not on, so it’s a good way to give me a little more experience and for Chad to adjust on the vehicle and learn a bit more about the track.”  

You race for a high profile NASCAR owner in Rick Hendrick. How do you think it will feel to race for a high profile NFL player who has crossed over to NASCAR as an owner?  “I’m very excited. I didn’t think there would be this much attention drawn to the fact that I’m going to drive for Randy in this event. It’s been flattering to see how much interest there’s been. And the fact that we’re going to go out and have fun and put on a good show and run hard… I’m excited. I really am. I hope to have a good run and get those guys some points and hopefully a trophy.”  

Are you an NFL fan?  If so, hopefully you are a fan of the New England Patriots?  “Without a doubt. Last year I took a lot of criticism for rooting for the Patriots in the Super Bowl. They are what our team wants to be and what we hope others see when they look at us. We want to be held in that same light. They’re a team that shows up year after year and puts up big numbers and wins championships and continues to be a threat. I got some grief for not rooting for the underdog, especially with me spending time in New York like I do. But I was rooting for the big team and wanted to see the domination continue.”

It is special to win at any time at any level in NASCAR, but what are your thoughts on the possibility of giving Randy Moss his first win as an owner? “It’d be awesome. I know how important victories are for a race team and to help them hopefully get their first win as an organization and get Randy his first win as a team owner would be really cool. I’m excited about it.”

Bristol Chassis: For Wednesday night’s race, crew chief Eric Phillips has chosen chassis MDM-043. This will be the fifth race of the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season that this Silverado has been driven, as it was piloted by A.J. Allmendinger at Auto Club Speedway (California), Scott Speed at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Landon Cassill at Kansas Speedway and Dover International Speedway. Cassill produced the best finish of thirteenth in April at Kansas Speedway.

Johnson at Bristol: Since 2002, Johnson has made 13 career Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol, recording two top-five and six top-ten finishes, with a best of third coming in the 2004 fall race. Johnson has completed 97.8% of the laps competed (6364 of 6510) and has led a total of 43 laps. In addition to his Cup starts, Johnson has also competed in four Nationwide Series races, recording one top-five finish of fourth in 2001. Earlier this season during the spring Cup race, Johnson qualified on the pole at the .533-mile oval.

Introducing the 2008 Randy Moss Motorsports Over-the-Wall Crew:

Led by Crew Chief Eric Phillips, with the No. 48 Sprint Cup Series
Over-the-Wall Crew (provided by Hendrick Motorsports)

 No. 81 Chevrolet Silverado NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 
Over-the-Wall Crew