Tense battles a product of stage racing - Johnson

The recently highlighted battles between Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson are nothing more than a product of stage racing. Or so said the seven-time champion Saturday morning at Watkins Glen International when asked what has been going on between the two.

"It doesn't matter if it's Kyle Larson or Martin Truex, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, doesn't matter for me. There's that environment on the track," said Johnson (pictured below). "Through the course of the year it's been intense with the 42 at times, so I've been able to race him back the same way. Honestly, it's not singled out to just Kyle.

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"In stage racing today, we have to block and maintain and hold position more than ever and to see the extent some drivers have gone through, even myself, to maintain track position. I said it after Indy – Mark Martin would have a heart attack if he was racing in this era. The game has changed."

The addition of stages to each NASCAR race means teams have the opportunity to bag more points. Drivers can earn additional championship points by finishing in the top 10 in stage 1 or 2, as well as earn playoff points by winning a stage.

Johnson has 16 playoff points via three wins, which are worth five points, and one stage win, which is one point. Larson has 13 playoff points via two wins, and three stage wins. Johnson has earned 128 stage points entering Watkins Glen while Larson has the second-most at 224.

The implementation of stage racing has also resulted in teams using varying strategies through a race to either gain points or a win. And in addition to the hard battles for a stage win, there was the race where Ricky Stenhouse knocked leader Kyle Busch out of the way to get a lap back.

"I have had nothing personal against Kyle; I don't think he's had anything personal towards me, you just get in that environment of racing people how they race you," Johnson said. "And then certain scenarios exist where you need to fight for that position for whatever reason, and it is what it is."

In other words, as Johnson repeatedly said, it's just stage racing.

"So, I think NASCAR should be happy they've created a more intense environment, because that's really what it is."