DAYTONA PHOTO QUEST
Photo Quest Story and photos by Dwight Drum
© 2008 Dwight Drum Web work by Larsen & Drum
Jimmie Johnson appeared fresh and in no need of vacation time during January testing in a Daytona Prototype for the Rolex 24. A few days later he resumed his primary driver duty testing the 2008 No.48 Lowe's NASCAR Sprint Cup car.
The two-time, back-to-back returning champion helped prepare Hendrick Motorsports for a new season by testing with team members Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears.
Fans enjoyed the garage view from the elevated Fan Zone during Fan Fest days held throughout the Preseason Thunder schedule.
Bootie Barker, crew chief for Haas Automation, checked numbers at pit road wall. {Images Presented Below}
Reporter Dwight Drum asked Jimmie Johnson:
Very few drivers can ponder the possibility of a third championship. Do you want another one as much or more than the other two championships?
"More than. I've enjoyed this. These last two years, it would be hard not to. From the first championship to the second championship, I've had so much fun. The first year was so stressful. Being close, working on it, getting close, losing it. Then to get it done took a huge amount of stress off our shoulders.
"Last year we had a great time. I only anticipate this year being better. We feel, looking back on last season, we made some mistakes, and we can still be stronger yet. And hopefully we can apply that this year and be stronger and better. I think we're going to have to be.
"Looking at the Chase, how good Jeff ran, looking at the Roush cars coming on at the end, you know, it's going to be a long, tough year. I feel that we'll be there at the end and have a shot at it."
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