Daytona 500 Qualifying: NASCAR Needs Poor Session from Jimmie Johnson

The last thing that NASCAR would ever want would be any uncertainty around how clean the biggest race of the season is. So finding problems with Jimmie Johnson's car is leading to a potentially dangerous situation for the qualifying. 

The Associated Press wrote that crew chief Chad Knaus will likely face disciplinary action, although that won't come until after the Daytona 500. In the same report, they detailed the specific problems that they found on Johnson's car. 

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The No. 48 Chevrolet had illegally modified sheet metal between the roof and the side windows—the area known as the C-posts—that was found in Friday’s opening day inspection.

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If Johnson goes out and does well in qualifying, there will be a perception (fair or not) that his car was illegal and that he achieved that under shady means. That is not something that any sport wants to deal with. 

So, when Johnson is out there qualifying in a pure speed scenario without anyone to race against him, it wouldn't be the worst thing for NASCAR for Johnson not to do well. Long term, it would actually be the best thing for Johnson as well. 

In a bad qualifying session, the infractions just look like an isolated incident. But coming out in your first qualifying after being caught and doing well, it looks like something is up. That isn't to say that Johnson or anyone is really trying to cheat, but perception trumps reality by a long way here. 

I can certainly understand someone thinking it's laughable that the best thing for him would be to qualify poorly at the biggest race of the year. It isn't quite so black and white for NASCAR, though. 

If Johnson, one of the sports biggest stars, comes out and has something illegal found in his car then turns around and does a great job his next time out, suspicions are going to arise. That isn't something anyone wants to deal with. 

The best thing for them would be a poor qualifying run from Johnson. If he wins from the back of the pack, there isn't as much of a problem. However, a strong qualifying session from Johnson would open the door for a particularly weird early season in terms of coverage. That is a bad thing.

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