Hendrick Motorsports signs Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus to contract extensions

Interestingly, Johnson’s longtime crew chief Chad Knaus also signed an extension, but his deal runs through 2018.

Jimmie Johnson could have been the hottest free agent in the history of NASCAR and milked every second of it the same way LeBron James does seemingly every summer, but instead the 39-year-old Johnson decided to ink a two-year contact extension with Hendrick Motorsports to ensure he stays with the only Sprint Cup Series team he has ever known. He’ll be seeking a seventh championship when the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship opens Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

It solidifies a powerhouse team that has been together since Lowe’s came aboard in 2001 when Hendrick formed the No. 48 specifically for Johnson.

Lowe’s has sponsored Johnson since his rookie season of 2002.

The partnership has produced 74 victories in 14 seasons. He has reached the pinnacle of the sport with the same crew chief on his pit box from the start of his career.

A certain first-ballot Hall of Famer when he retires, Johnson owns multiple victories in NASCAR’s four major races – Daytona 500 (2006, ’13); Coca-Cola 600 (2003, ’04, ’05, ’14); Brickyard 400 (2006, ’08, ’09, ’12); and Southern 500 (2004, ’12). I couldn’t be prouder to represent everyone at Lowe’s and Hendrick Motorsports. We never needed that contingency plan, ” Tom Lamb, chief marketing officer at Lowe’s, told AP.

“We very quickly dropped that associate sponsorship on the 24 auto as unneeded”. That’s good news for Hendrick Motorsports and terrible news for the other 42 drivers Johnson faces on a weekly basis.

“The contributions Jimmie and Chad have made to Hendrick Motorsports can’t be overstated”. The relatively short length of the contract however isn’t indicative of the end of Johnson’s career. The father of two daughters turns 40 on Thursday. While Johnson has his name on a San Diego dealership, he will increase his portfolio as part of the new extension.

But Gordon was adamant in 2001 that Johnson could be something special, and so was Hendrick’s late son, Ricky, who had developed a friendship with the former off-road racer from California who had migrated to North Carolina to take a shot at stock cars. I somehow am able to put it together and in a convincing manner, through all my insecurities, say, ‘Absolutely. “But full steam ahead right now”.