While pointing his way in is an option for Johnson, who comes into Saturday four tallies below the cut line, the only guarantee for the El Cajon, Calif., veteran to assure himself a playoff position is by winning the race.
That’s what Johnson is aiming for, as he seeks to snap a winless drought of more than 100 races.
“I’m just going to lay it all out on the line,” Johnson said. “We have a lot at stake and, again, it could be a great storybook ending for my last full-time race or race on an oval at Daytona. We all understand the storylines. I’m excited, I’m ready to go.
“I’m not one to spend too much time getting overly sentimental. I’m more excited about the opportunity to go racing and drive that 48 car,” he continued. “I’m just excited to get there and get to work.”
Though on the surface, it might appear Johnson and Byron are pitted against one another in their quests to make the postseason, Byron was quick to point out that the pair actually has a strategy to work together if they can. After all, there is a scenario where both of them could make the playoffs.
“We’re going to race and try to push each other towards the front and try to get both of us into the playoffs. I think we have a chance and an opportunity to get both Hendrick cars in and be able to bump the No. 21 (of DiBenedetto) out,” Byron said. “That’s kind of our goal and, hopefully, it works out that way. Speedways are really unpredictable.
“It’s all situational, so hopefully we’re together at the end, we can push each other to the lead and hopefully finish one-two.”
While most of the eyes will be on the trio of DiBenedetto, Byron and Johnson, it doesn’t mean they’re the only ones who could factor into the final outcome of the playoff picture.
Under the “win and you’re in” format, the likes of Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell and even rookie Christopher Bell — all of whom have proven to be proficient superspeedway racers — could spoil the party by winning Saturday’s race to steal a playoff spot.
But Knaus — who has been on both sides of the playoff bubble and worked with both Hendrick drivers in question — admitted he hopes that Johnson can shine both Saturday night and beyond.
“I’m hoping Jimmie makes it. I hope to hell the man goes out there and wins the championship, honestly,” Knaus said. “That would just be spectacular to see him be able to do that, and knowing that I was a part of that would be really awesome, right? But we’ll just have to see how the cards fall.
“It’s a tough spot. It’s a tough race. It is what it is.”
At the end of the day, that last mantra – it is what it is – will likely be the catchphrase no matter who’s inside the playoff grid and who’s left on the outside looking in after 400 miles on Saturday at Daytona.
After all, with the draft being an often-talked-about equalizer, anything can – and likely will – happen.
Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m., with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.