UNB! NETWORK STAFF REPORT
Jimmie Johnson knew he wasn't leaving Hendrick Motorsports, even as questions began to swirl when negotiations on an extension stretched deep into the final year of his contract. "In my heart, Hendrick is my home, Lowe's is my sponsor and I certainly hope it stays this way until the day I quit driving," Johnson told The Associated Press. In addition to the extensions for Johnson and Lowe's, crew chief Chad Knaus had previously inked a new three-year deal through the 2018 season. It solidifies a powerhouse team that has been together since Lowe's came aboard in 2001 when Hendrick formed the #48 specifically for Johnson. The company had been involved in NASCAR at various sponsorship levels for decades, but was persuaded by Hendrick to take a chance on an unproven driver in a new fourth team for the organization. Lowe's was on the car when Johnson ran three Cup races in 2001, and the nucleus of driver, sponsor and crew chief has been together since Johnson's 2002 rookie season.
So with all parties so pleased with the arrangement, what took so long to get a deal done? Part of the negotiations this time around included Johnson receiving a stake in Hendrick's automotive arm. The team owner has done similar deals with Terry Labonte, Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., all coming in as partners with Hendrick on dealerships. Johnson currently has his name on one dealership, Jimmie Johnson's Kearny Mesa Chevrolet in San Diego, but will increase his portfolio as part of the new extension."That's income-producing for life," Hendrick told AP. "Jeff's involved in three or four (dealerships), and that's income. I've got Earnhardt involved, and we're going to expand Jimmie's deal. When they retire, they like cars, they can be involved if they want to, but it's a business that I know and I can run it and they can be a partner in it and continue on."
This newest contract is far shorter than previous ones signed by Johnson, who said his preference is long-term deals. He indicated the shorter terms on this extension are tied more to getting a deal that all parties could agree upon than it did his desire to reassess his future in the next two seasons. "It's wild, I'm 40 this year, Jeff's retiring at 43 and there's a lot of guys in their 40s who are all starting to plan the next two or three years," Johnson said. "I guess it's out there someday for me, but it's not on my radar yet. I would assume after '17, I'll have to start planning at that point. But full steam ahead right now."
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| Jimmie Johnson |
So with all parties so pleased with the arrangement, what took so long to get a deal done? Part of the negotiations this time around included Johnson receiving a stake in Hendrick's automotive arm. The team owner has done similar deals with Terry Labonte, Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., all coming in as partners with Hendrick on dealerships. Johnson currently has his name on one dealership, Jimmie Johnson's Kearny Mesa Chevrolet in San Diego, but will increase his portfolio as part of the new extension."That's income-producing for life," Hendrick told AP. "Jeff's involved in three or four (dealerships), and that's income. I've got Earnhardt involved, and we're going to expand Jimmie's deal. When they retire, they like cars, they can be involved if they want to, but it's a business that I know and I can run it and they can be a partner in it and continue on."
This newest contract is far shorter than previous ones signed by Johnson, who said his preference is long-term deals. He indicated the shorter terms on this extension are tied more to getting a deal that all parties could agree upon than it did his desire to reassess his future in the next two seasons. "It's wild, I'm 40 this year, Jeff's retiring at 43 and there's a lot of guys in their 40s who are all starting to plan the next two or three years," Johnson said. "I guess it's out there someday for me, but it's not on my radar yet. I would assume after '17, I'll have to start planning at that point. But full steam ahead right now."
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