CALLER-TIMES «Sunday, October 4, 2015 « 3C sports Johnson to make 500th start Smith wins Xfinity ■ At 40, he’s Series race at Dover not looking to ■ He’s within retire just yet 36 points of By Dan Gelston Associated Press series leader DOVER,Del.— Jimmie John- By Dan Gelston son was still only a pros- Associated Press pect in NASCAR’s devel- opmental series when he DOVER, Del. — Regan Smith tried to work up the nerve could leave JR Motorsports to talk to Jeff Gordon. with one heck of a parting Johnson wanted to in- gift. troduce himself to Gordon Smith wants to stay with and ask for career advice, a his NASCARXfinity Series chance to pick the brain of team in next year, but if he AssociAted Press one of racing’s greats. has to go, he’d gladly take a regan smith shows the What he didn’t know championship trophy with trophy in Victory Lane after during that fateful August AssociAted Press him. winning the NAscAr Xfinity 2000 meeting was Gordon Jimmie Johnson (left) is set to make his 500th career start, and even with NAscAr mainstays Smith strengthened his series race saturday at dover already knew him. Not Jeff Gordon and tony stewart retiring at the end of this year, the 40-year-old driver isn’t plan- championship push with a international speedway. only did Gordon have ad- ning on filing his retirement papers soon. victory Saturday at Dover vice, he had a pitch — Hen- International Speedway Kyle Larson. drick Motorsports was go- Johnson’s numbers long 500 in 2006 and 2013; the nucleus of driver, sponsor and moved within serious “You can’t pass here. You ing to expand to four cars, ago stamped him a surefire Coca-Cola 600 in 2003, and crew chief has been striking distance of the know there’s no outside and Johnson was their man. Hall of Famer. Among his 2004, 2005 and 2014; and together since Johnson’s points lead. grove to get going on any- “From that moment on, achievements: the Brickyard 400 in 2006, 2002 rookie season. “I’m trying to figure some thing,” Busch said. my head spun around on my ■ 6. Johnson won cham- 2008, 2009 and 2012. “I definitely feel like I things out for next year, so Buescher finished eighth shoulders,” Johnson said. pionships in 2006, 2007, Johnson has at least one have received the credit I wins never hurt,” Smith and has a 24-point lead over Johnson’s been turning 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013, number he hasn’t thought deserve, the team has and said. “That’s never a bad Elliott. heads on the track ever putting him one shy of much about, like his re- it’s something that you thing going forward.” “There’s plenty of rac- since he landed a ride with matching Richard Petty tirement age. Stewart and earn as well,” he said. “I Smith won for the second ing left, and this thing is racing powerhouse Hen- and Dale Earnhardt for Gordon, who combined think the success we had time this season and moved far from over,” Buescher drick Motorsports. most on the career list. for seven championships, and the races we won and within 36 points of series said. “If we just go out and He started three times ■ 74. Johnson’s 74 wins are both 44 and said the the championships we leader Chris Buescher with run our race and try not to in 2001 and flashed some trail only Gordon (92) time was right to retire — won earned that respect.” five races left in the season. worry too much about the early championship poten- among active drivers. Gordon after this season, When the green flag He would love to add a points, we should be ingood tial with his first win just 10 He’s eighth on the career Stewart after 2016. drops Sunday, Johnson championship to his résu- shape.” races into 2002. With crew list and has Earnhardt (76) Johnson has earned $150 will become the 38th NAS- mé. He faces an uncertain Ty Dillon is in rough chief Chad Knaus call- in his sights. He’s won at million in purse money CAR driver with 500 ca- future with JR Motors- shape after he tumbled ing the shots, Johnson has least two races in every alone and sees no reason reer Cup starts. He’s fifth ports after the organization from second to fourth in driven the No. 48 Chevrolet full season, won 10 in 2007 why today’s drivers will in the standings headed signed Elliott Sadler for the standings after an early to six championships and and has four this season. follow the lead of the ones into the first Chase for the next season. JRM also fields wreck dropped him to 28th 74 career wins, including ■ 1. Crew chief. Not from a generation before Sprint Cup championship a car for defending series in the race. Dillon’s No. 4 a track-record 10 at Dover counting some races him and drive into their 50s. cutoff race. The bottom champion Chase Elliott and Chevrolet blew a tire and International Speedway. missed because of suspen- “I have always been curi- four drivers out of the 16 in has a multidriver car. smacked the wall. As NASCAR champions sion, Knaus has been a con- ous. Why, when, what tells the field are cut and gone Crew chief Jason Burdett “All of a sudden I heard, Tony Stewart and Gor- stant presence atop the pit you to stop,” he asked.“Mark from the title picture. Matt picked up a win — and an ‘Pow!’” he said. don ready for retirement, box for Johnson since 2002. (Martin) tried a half-dozen Kenseth and Denny Ham- impostor. The man, who He was out of the car the 40-year-old Johnson Johnson and Knaus were times to retire and couldn’t lin won the first two Chase was not identified but said before the rain hit that red shows no signs of follow- almost split by Hendrick walk away. I want to make races to earn an automatic he was a big NASCAR fan, flagged the race for 31 min- ing their path and calling it after the 2005 season, but sure I do it once and not keep berth into the next round. sat at the Dover media cen- utes. Smith took the lead off quits any time soon. He’ll Hendrick made them hash coming back. What I am Johnson is a sure thing to ter news conference table the restart and led 80 of 200 make his 500th career out their differences over a looking for is that moment. make it on points, but with and answered three ques- laps. start Sunday at Dover af- snack of milk and cookies. That moment that you say, his track record at Dover, tions before he was shooed Sadler, who finished ter recently signing a two- They went on to win a re- ‘All right, it’s time’. ... Then I the odds are strong he’ll away by a NASCARspokes- ninth, held the lead when year extension with team cord five consecutive titles. will step down.” park again in victory lane. man. the race was halted. Sadler owner Rick Hendrick. ■ 10. Johnson has mas- Lowe’s, his primary “I still couldn’t have Denny Hamlin was sec- lost the lead moments be- “The racing gods have tered the art of winning sponsor, was on the car dreamed this big and have ond, followed by Joe Gibbs fore rain hit, and caution smiled on me and this NASCAR’s crown jewel when Johnson ran three this much take place for us,” Racing teammate Kyle came to deny him a win in team,” Johnson said. races. He won the Daytona Cup races in 2001, and the he said. Busch, Ryan Blaney and the 2009 Daytona 500. Golf roundup High school football results/schedule EUROPEAN TOUR FOOTBALL VE — Dylan Moeller 47 fumble return VM — Jackson Vice 24 run (Romario PASSING — VMHS, Mora 9-15-0-258. p.m. FRIDAY’S LATE SUMMARIES (Graci kick), :07 Perez kick), 11:08 Woodsboro, Wren 15-32-2-193. DISTRICT 15-3A, DIVISION I Miller VEast VM — Paul Almandarez 1 run (Perez RECEIVING — VMHS, Aaron Lugo S.A. Brooks Academy at George West, VICTORIA EAST 73, MILLER 14 First downs 12 21 kick), 4:55 4-94; Woodsboro, Mayes 7-108; Hugo Olesen takes 3-shot Rushes-yards 29-117 27-225 Second quarter Ayala 1-3, Rivera 1-17, Esparza 1-23, 7:30 p.m. Miller 0 7 7 0 — 14 Passes 9-20-1 15-19-0 VM — FG Perez 34, 5:43 Spears 1-3, Hunter Rifenburgh 1-18 DISTRICT 16-3A, DIVISION I Victoria East 28 28 7 10 — 73 lead at Dunhill Yards passing 174 370 W — Roberto Esparza 23 reception Beall 3-21. First quarter Aransas Pass at Falfurrias, 7:30 p.m. Punts 5-25.2 1-38 (2pt conv good), 1:10 WEEK 7 SCHEDULE ST.ANDREWS,Scotland— Den- VE — Brandon Tumlinson 12 run (Jack San Diego at Bishop, 7:30 p.m. Fumbles-lost 5-3 0-0 Fourth quarter THURSDAY’S GAMES Trougott kick), 9:07 mark’s Thorbjorn Olesen Penalties 2-15 3-25 W — Anthony Mayes 78 pass from DISTRICT 28-6A Lyford at Santa Rosa, 7:30 p.m. VE — Bryce Martinez 40 pass from Bai- INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Jaden Wren (run failed), 11:34 Carroll vs. S.A. East Central., 7 p.m., DISTRICT 15-3A, DIVISION II shot a 7-under 65 at St.