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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
VENTURINI: ‘Real Deal’ With Jimmie Johnson
SPEED’s Wendy Venturini with Jimmie Johnson on this week’s edition of Real Deal...
Wendy Venturini  |  Posted September 21, 2009   Charlotte, NC
SPEED's Wendy Venturini. (Image: SPEED)
SPEED’s Wendy Venturini with Jimmie Johnson on this week’s edition of “Real Deal"...

Wendy Venturini "Jimmie Johnson is going for four championships in a row. There’s a lot of compelling stories for 2009. Will it be Mark Martin, will it be Jeff Gordon, will it be Jimmie Johnson going for four in a row? We caught up with Jimmie Johnson in New York City at the London Hotel on the 43rd floor high above New York City to check out his chances and his thoughts as we go into the final 10 race Chase..."

Wendy Venturini "Jimmie first off there goes another regular season and here we are in the Chase, a place you’ve been too many times. How do you feel about your chances on a fourth shot at a championship?

Jimmie Johnson "Truthfully, I feel good. I feel our chances are as good this year as really any other year. It’s been an exciting in regular season with big wins at Indy and some other great victories we had and something that got away, too, but we’re doing well and looking forward to the Chase."

Wendy Venturini "How is this Chase different?"

Jimmie Johnson "Every year is different. Every experience is different, and really, I’m not sure what to expect going into the Chase. I haven’t seen the team really separate themselves and be a clear favorite. There’s a lot of good going on a lot of teams. So I’m kind of under the impression it will be a gunfight to the end. It’s really going to be a tough battle."

Wendy Venturini "There’s a lot of compelling stories. You have the fact that you’re going for a fourth championship. The drive for five story with Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin’s first at his age, Tony Stewart as an owner/driver, which one is the most compelling story in your mind for a championship?"

Jimmie Johnson "Clearly I’m going to say mine is the most compelling. To have a shot at history like we do would be amazing but you know, you look at those situations, and you look at the guys in the Chase for the first time, teams, and mergers that have gone on and the challenges a lot of teams have had. It’s a very interesting year this year and I think NASCAR fans’ dream. There’s a lot of great stories."

Wendy Venturini "Three championships, 11 guys trying to knock you guys off the top, do you feel like you have a target on your back?"

Jimmie Johnson " I really don’t, mainly because it’s a new year, and what we did last year was great and the year before was great but it doesn’t mean anything for now. You have to perform today; we have to perform over these next 10 weeks. It’s a new year, and new circumstances. So, we’ll buckle down and see. I think that winning championships and being in the Chase helps you, because you’ve been there, done that and you have the experience in dealing with pressure or succeeding or failing for that matter is still a great experience to go through. So, I think there is some help there. But it doesn’t guarantee anything."


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