Due to his positive test for COVID-19, Jimmie Johnson will be forced to miss today’s running of the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400. About the only thing more shocking than the race’s name (seriously? Hand sanitizer?) is that this will be the first Cup race since the 2001 Kroger Supermarkets 300 that will not have Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel of the 48 Chevy. Here’s how things have changed since the last time Jimmie Johnson missed a race:
NOW: Today’s race is one of the few to NOT be rescheduled due to the Coronavirus outbreak, being held on Fourth of July Weekend in Nascar’s latest attempt to scare away fans from non-ISC or SMI-owned tracks.
THEN: The Kroger 300 was held on “Black Friday” due to its original race weekend being cancelled due to the September 11th attacks. Miraculously weather was pretty mild for a New England late-November afternoon, meaning that maybe Mother Nature DOES love Nascar, just not in 2020.
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| Jimmie's spot in the Hall of Fame is basically guaranteed. 2001 race winner Robby Gordon's spot in the Hall of Fame will be guaranteed when he pays for an admission ticket. |
NOW: Due to social distancing regulations, no qualifying was held and Joey Logano is on the pole today. Joey was 11 years old in 2001 and MUCH less insufferable.
THEN: Due to a condensed schedule no qualifying was held and points leader Jeff Gordon was on the pole. Jeff had already clinched the championship, but it would take a Roush Racing driver stinking up the show for Nascar to finally abandon its “consistency wins” points system.
NOW: Believe it or not the Playoffs are fast approaching, and Indy’s unique layout gives the opportunity for an upset win on the winding road co—WAIT, WAIT, no, that was Xfinity. Expect three hours of follow-the-leader and either a JGR driver or Kevin Harvick to win.
THEN: The race was won by Robby Gordon after tangling with Jeff Gordon, who was penalized for retaliating against Robby under caution. Today Robby concerns himself with his various business interests (including his Stadium Super Truck Series) while Jeff concerns himself with being dull on Nascar broadcasts.
NOW: As stated above, Kevin Harvick is a favorite to win today, while Matt Kenseth would need a win in order to have any chance to make the Playoffs. Unless, that is, some other driver makes a complete idiot of himself online and he slides over into THAT driver’s ride.
THEN: Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth are the only two drivers from the 2001 Kroger 300 still active in Cup racing full-time. My sincere apologies if that makes you feel old.
NOW: This race will be broadcast on NBC (their first race of the year) with two drivers who were active in that 2001 race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton, in the booth.
THEN: The 2001 New Hampshire race was the last of the first season of coverage by NBC. Bizarrely, Wally Dallenbach Jr. is the only one still active in sports media, with a lengthy career as an outdoorsman. Seriously.
NOW: Jimmie Johnson is currently on a lengthy winless streak, stretching all the way back to the middle of the 2017 season.
THEN: Jimmie Johnson was on an even LONGER winless streak after just three Cup Series starts, stretching all the way back to infinity.
NOW: Justin Allgaier will be running the 48 Ally Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports in place of Jimmie Johnson.
THEN: Justin Allgaier was fifteen in 2001, and the biggest substitute drivers at New Hampshire were brothers Kenny Wallace (in the DEI #1) and Mike Wallace (in the Penske Racing #12). Ironically Mike Wallace made a comeback just yesterday in the Xfinity Series race, proving that everything comes full-circle, even if those funny Geico ads still haven’t been re-run.