Dwyane Wade may have recently retired from his NBA playing career, but he plans to be on the court with Lakers star LeBron James at Staples Center often in the coming season.

Wade, who is now living in suburban Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times that he plans to work out with his former teammate before games, both at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo and at Staples.

"You're definitely going to see me out there," Wade said. "I'll be there early to work out with LeBron before the game starts. I just want to stay around it and be as involved as I can."

Wade also said he has "a great relationship with all the players" and has already worked out with Ben Simmons of the Sixers and Josh Hart of the Pelicans this summer.

Wade and James played together for four seasons with the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014 and briefly with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017-18. Now their sons will be playing together at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, where Zaire Wade is a senior and Bronny Wade is a freshman.

And while the 37-year-old is enjoying his retirement and not looking to sign with another team at this moment, Wade would not entirely shut the door on a possible return when asked if watching the younger generation could inspire him to team up with LeBron for another NBA season.

"I'm done, but my trainer is going to keep me in shape just in case something happens," Wade said while smiling, according to the Times. "I'm going to stay in shape because you never know. Never say never."

Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was held out of the starting lineup Saturday night against the Chicago White Sox with discomfort in his right toe.

Trout pinch hit in the ninth inning with two outs and a runner on first and was intentionally walked before being removed for a runner. The Angels won 8-7.

Trout left in the fifth inning of Friday's game after experiencing soreness in the toe. He said afterward that he would try to play Saturday, but manager Brad Ausmus decided to give his star center fielder another day to recover.

"He was a little sore today," Ausmus told reporters before Saturday's game. "It didn't recover like it normally does, so we're gonna give him the day and hopefully he's fine tomorrow."

Trout has been playing with the foot issue for a few weeks. He was given a day off Aug. 28 against the Texas Rangers after complaining of soreness in the foot.

"We're not really sure what makes it flare up, but when it flares up, it tends to get worse," Ausmus said.

Trout is batting .291/.438/.645 and entered the day tied for the major league lead with 45 home runs.

Brian Goodwin, who hit a game-tying, two-run homer after replacing Trout on Friday, got the start in center field on Saturday and went 1-for-5 with two runs scored.

After making his comeback from Tommy John surgery and a career-threatening broken humerus, Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett was consoled by manager Dave Martinez as he wept in the dugout following his first major league appearance in four years on Saturday.

Barrett faced four batters in a scoreless fifth against the Atlanta Braves, walking the leadoff batter before retiring the next three in order.

He was visibly crying in the dugout as Martinez brought him a towel and put his hand on Barrett's shoulder.

Barrett had missed two full seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015 and fracturing his right arm in 2016. He got back to the majors Wednesday when Washington purchased his contract from Double-A Harrisburg.

The Braves won 5-4 Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MILWAUKEE -- As if the Chicago Cubs didn't have enough to contend with -- including a scorching-hot Arizona Diamondbacks team nipping at their heels in the National League's wild-card race -- now they likely have to finish the regular season without last year's runner-up to the MVP, Javier Baez. A hairline fracture in Baez's thumb has thrust former All-Star Addison Russell into the spotlight.

Russell takes over for Baez in the Cubs' infield but is far from the player Baez is -- or even the player Russell once was. Russell undermined his once-promising career with his own problems away from the field, which led to an MLB suspension for domestic abuse. But now his team must count on Russell in a big way if it has any chance of making it to the postseason.

Despite hitting a home run, Russell failed in his first test as the regular shortstop. His throwing error in the ninth inning of a 2-2 game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday led to the winning run for yet another crushing defeat for the Cubs on the road.

"Even though the ball was struck pretty well, I tried to take my time," Russell said after the game. "I just sailed it. In that situation, you have to be on point, especially where we're at during the season."

It was Russell's third throwing error from shortstop in three games, which suggests the Cubs might end up missing Baez in the field as much as they do at the plate. Russell and his manager say he just has to get used to the throwing angles from shortstop again.

Russell had better do it fast, as time is running out on the Cubs, who continue to plug leaky holes in their game. At some point, they might just drown -- likely leading to massive offseason changes that will turn over the 2016 World Series champions.

"It's a huge blow, what happened to Javy," Russell said. "I'm happy to step up and take on that role. I have a lot of confidence in myself and my ability."

Russell might have more confidence in himself than anyone watching in Chicago. Russell isn't exactly a fan favorite after his 40-game suspension for domestic abuse issues, which was completed at the beginning of the season. The Cubs stuck their necks out for him, hoping first and foremost he would rehabilitate himself -- and then he could help them on the field again. From a baseball perspective, they couldn't afford to get rid of Russell, as he was their only viable backup to Baez at shortstop in case the worst happened this season.

Well, the worst just did happen. And now Russell will have to step up his game, both at the plate and in the field. According to ESPN Stats & Information, when Baez is in the lineup this season, the Cubs' defense has a 73% out rate on ground balls to the left or up the middle. When Baez doesn't start, that rate drops to 65%. That percentage took yet another dip after Russell's latest miscue.

"Just working on arm angles," Russell said. "The feet are fine. The glove is fine."

And we haven't even discussed the mental mistakes Russell has made this season, including admitting to not being "familiar" with the signs. A lot is riding on Russell's shoulders, just as it was when the Cubs won the World Series. It seems like forever ago, but Russell was the starting shortstop in 2016 and made his only All-Star team that year.

"I believe if I just get to work and fully commit into that, I can go back to being the ballplayer I know how to be," Russell said.

Teammate Jon Lester offered his take.

"Addy is fine. He's a strong kid," Lester said. "We have the utmost confidence he can play shortstop for us. He did it for us before.

"It's not like we're calling up a kid that can't handle the situation."

Lester and the Cubs probably have more faith in Russell than most Cubs fans -- or perhaps they know they have to back him, by default. Manager Joe Maddon has no other options and doesn't want to put all the pressure on the 25-year-old infielder.

"We definitely have a lot of other good names," Maddon said. "It's not like we're just a one-man band. Other guys have to take care of their component of the game."

That's true. But none of them plays the most important position on the diamond and none of them is filling in for the energetic and spiritual leader of the team that Baez is. Baez has an energy that can't be replaced -- though the Cubs are just looking for few more solid throws to first. Three bad ones in three days is the stuff of Little League.

"Whatever reason, it's fading on him," Maddon explained. "We can fix that."

They had better. Time is running out, so it better be a quick fix. A division title seems further away than it has ever been, and now a playoff spot could be in jeopardy. The Cubs can't take on any more than they've brought on to themselves already. They showed faith in Russell, and now he needs to return the favor or the season won't end well.

"I believe it's pretty close," Russell said. "I just have to get in some work here and there and I'll feel good. My arm feels fine. I feel like I'm strong. Just have to get in a little extra work over there."

Sheila Chepkirui and Dorcas Jepchumba both break 30 minutes, Geoffrey Koech becomes fourth-fastest ever and international half-marathon series gets green light in Czech capital

History was made during an eventful day in Prague thanks to a series of blistering 10km performances at the Birell Grand Prix and the launch of a new half-marathon series which will begin in 2020.

The Saturday evening races in the Czech capital saw two women running under 30 minutes for the first time ever in the same contest – and what a contest it was! Kenyan duo Sheila Chepkirui and Dorcas Jepchumba both clocked 29:57 as they crossed the finish line, but it was Chepkirui who just managed to break the tape first. Only Joyciline Jepkosgei has ever gone faster – when she clocked 29:43 to set the world record at the same event in 2017. Steeplechaser Norah Jeruto was third in 30:07.

“It didn’t seem to me as fast as the results are, but the second half of the race was really much harder,” said Chepkirui. “I believe that I can run even faster in the future and I believe it can be in Prague next year.”

The men’s race was very quick, too, with the top eight finishers breaking the 28-minute mark. Kenya dominated again as Geoffrey Koech joined Haile Gebrselassie with the fourth-fastest 10km time in history of 27:02 to take victory. Mathew Kimeli was five seconds behind, with teenager Bravin Kiptoo setting a world under-20 best in third place with 27:12.

“There is a lot of space for improvement but still I am very happy with my result,” said Koech.

These performances followed shortly after news broke of the launch of the new SuperHalfs international series – the announcement being made during the European Running Business Conference, organised by European Athletics, which has also been taking place in Prague.

The five established half marathons in Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia are to come under one banner from next year, with the inaugural SuperHalfs series getting off and running in the Portuguese capital on March 22. The aim is to promote running, tourism and environmental sustainability at each of the events.

Participants will be given access to a number of benefits and, following completion of the first race, will receive a virtual SuperPassport, upon which will appear an e-stamp following each subsequent race. There is a 36-month window to complete the full series and, much in the same way as happens for those who run all of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series, there will be a special medal for those who run the whole set.

GB veterans win 18 golds on day three of the European Masters Champs in Italy, including eight at 1500m

Britain dominated the 1500m races at Eraclea and Jesolo and enjoyed plenty of success elsewhere in hurdles and the field and now stand just a single gold behind Germany in the medals table.

In one of the most successful days in the history of British masters athletics, the team won 18 gold medals, with Zoe Doyle starting the ball rolling for the 1500m runners.

The W40 world indoor champion was not at full fitness after having only been in training for five weeks after injury but she had sufficient speed on the last lap to win in 4:49.09 from Spain’s Raquel Hernandez (4:50.00).

Another multiple world indoor champion, Clare Elms, won Britain’s second metric mile gold in the W55 race.

Elms (pictured above) made her move only 500m out and though well within her comfort zone, she won by 12 seconds in 5:03.71 from Spain’s Esther Pedrosa Carrete, who had followed her home in Poland in the 1500m, 3000m and cross-country.

Christine Anthony gained a second UK medal in 5:23.01 as she won a sprint for third.

Elms’ Dulwich club mate Ros Tabor won the third British women’s gold at the W70 event. New to the age group, she followed multiple past champion Ingerlise Villum’s fast start before kicking away down the back straight to win in 6:14.29 from the Dane’s 6:17.33.

Penny Forse, who was running her 1976 Olympic event, was a close third in 6:17.95.

While the women competed at a quiet Eraclea venue, the men participated at the same time in a fantastic atmosphere at the main track in Jesolo and it brought out the best of British 1500m running as just as in Torun, the UK took the most golds in traditionally their best event of the championships.

M75 Victor Shirley was the first British men’s winner. He took the M75 crown in 5:51.56 to beat Italy’s Giovanni Melis who ran 5:52.72.

Ireland gained an on-two in the M65 1500m through Joe Gough (4:54.14) and Brian Lynch (4:55.21) but it was the other side of the Irish Sea that took the next three golds.

Paul Fletcher, who was third in Torun indoors, had his biggest win to date in an exciting M60 finish which had the top six finish within less than three seconds. He won in 4:43.31 just ahead of Italy’s Aldredo Bonetti (4:43.62).

Guy Bracken won in Torun and in Malaga and he kept his gold run going with a clear win in the M55 race in 4:23.04 three seconds up on France’s Xavier Lefay.

Mark Symes was chasing the same triple as Bracken and he too was less successful though not as convincingly.

Not at full fitness after coming back from injury, he ran a sensible race and though ahead in the last 200m, holding something back in the straight to win in 4:18.51 as Estonia’s Magnus Kirt caught Spanish-based Dave Cowlishaw on the line. The Brit was third in 4:19.45.

A Brit-free M45 followed but the golds returned in the next race – the M40s. Matt Barnes looked strong and in control on the last lap but Francesco Nadalutti sprinted past on the final bend but in the last 30 metres he tied up and Barnes kicked past to win in 4:12.95 from the Italian’s 4:13.66.

In an exciting finish Matt Barnes wins Britain’s seventh 1500m gold of the day with a win in M40 race in 4:12.95 to catch Francesco Nadalutti pic.twitter.com/C7yfdRTVVs

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 7, 2019

In the final 1500m of the night, Mike Cummings, in his vets debut finished second in the M35 race in 3:58.05 as Netherland’s Tom Disveld won impressively in 3:55.87.

Other British medals were won by Lucy Elliott, who bravely tried to front run the W50 event but had to settle for third in 5:00.69 as multiple world champion Eva Trost of Germany kicked to victory in 4:54.63.

Betty Stracey won a W75 bronze in 9:03.55. Similarly, Richard Pitcairn-Knowles won a M85 bronze in 10:03.73 as the race was won by Bruno Baggia’s European record 7:06.03.

British hurdlers almost matched the 1500m runners as they also dominated and won six golds.

Nisha Desai won her first major masters title as she took the W35 300m hurdles crown easily in 61.62, two seconds up on Croatia’s Martina Banovic.

Ed Betts was another British winner. Though down on his 2016 world record form, he still won the M45 at a canter in 57.37 ahead of Slovenian Rok Kocjancic’s 59.91.

The W60 300m hurdles world record-holder Jane Horder won her event by over two seconds in 52.44.

There was further gold for W55 Julie Rogers who was equally dominant with a 51.55 victory over Norway’s Heidi Barth (54.74m)

Ian Broadhurst won the M65 300m hurdles in 47.48, two seconds up on Poland’s Henryk Szymura (49.93).

Jean Fail won the W70 200m hurdles unchallenged in 49.42.

Andy Clements did not win but came close in the M35 400m hurdles with a 54.39 which was narrowly bettered by Poland’s Jakub Adamczyk (54.22).

Lisa Thomas, who is the British W50 steeplechase record-holder, showed good speed with a 50.51 silver medal behind Italy’s Maria Moroni (47.42).

Barry Ferguson won a M75 bronze in the 300m hurdles in 64.63 while Neil Tunstall took M45 silver in 63.65 just under a second down on Frederic Peroni of Italy’s 62.74.

Peter Benedickter was just a few metres from winning the M50 race but had to settle for third in 60.68 as France’s Antoine Abatucci took gold in 60.30.

Darren Towart won M40 bronze in 60.78 as Italy’s Aramis Diaz won in 55.15.

The field was not quite as productive as the track but there were still some exceptional performances with golds for Evaun Williams, Andrea Jenkins, Jane Willoughby and Anthony Treacher.

Williams won her second gold of the championships as she took W80 hammer gold with a 36.88m throw as all her four valid throws were well over seven metres superior to her competitors.

Jenkins won the W40 weight event. Narrowly behind after round one, a 13.62m second throw ensured a clear gold and she also had two more throws well in excess of the opposition.

Willoughby was a clear winner of the W55 triple jump with a British record 10.45m as Melanie Garland finished third with 9.48m.

Treacher won the M80 triple jump title thanks to a first round 7.54m.

John Watts gained a M80 silver in the weight with a final round 15.46m which fell just short of Austrian Walter Krifka’s 15.68m.

Lucy Marshall gained her second medal with a silver in the W35 weight with 17.76m to lead at halfway but she was overhauled by Portugal’s Vania Sofia Sousa Silva’s 18.62m.

George Perkins won a M35 hammer bronze with a 46.10m throw.

Adam Young won a M50 high jump silver as he achieved a final clearance at 1.79m but his main rival Ugis Lasmanis, who did likewise then went over 1.82m at his first attempt.

Brian Slaughter won a M60 decathlon silver with 6205 points behind Italy’s Hubert Indra’s 6425.

Other impressive winners at 1500m included Poland’s W35 Anna Rostkowska (4:36.34) while Germany’s Petra Herrmann won the W60 triple jump in a European record 10.31m.

The medal tables now have Germany ahead on 27 gold, 24 silver, 21 bronze from Britain’s 26, 17 and 25 and host Italy’s 25, 21 and 19. Finland, who were ahead of Britain until Saturday, are now a distant fourth on 12, 6 and 8.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Emerging from a two-lap shoot out to claim the checkered flag, Trans Am-Series driver Rafa Matos captured his second consecutive flag-to-flag victory in the TA2 powered by AEM class at Watkins Glen Int’l on Saturday.

Driving the No. 88 3Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro, Matos earned the maximum points for the weekend to close the gap on the TA2 powered by AEM points-leader Marc Miller. Matos’ perfect points weekend kept the defending champion’s title chances alive.

Scott Lagasse Jr. in the No. 92 SLR/Fields Racing/M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro matched his best result of the season with a run to  second place, with Thomas Merrill in the No. 81 Skip Barber Racing School/ Big Diehl Racing Ford Mustang crossing the line third to match his podium performance at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“Today was one of the hardest Trans-Am races I’ve done,” Matos said. “We were flat out from the start, we were expecting more yellows. When the yellow came with five laps left, I knew it was going to be tough to keep Scott (Lagasse) behind me. I wasn’t sure if I had enough there at the end because our car was set up for the long run, but it all turned out great for us. It was a good day.”

While Matos led the entire race with little contention, there was non stop action happing in his mirrors with drivers fighting for the last two podium spots. Three different competitors held second place and five different drivers maintained third as the TA2 class delivered another highly competitive race all the way through the field.

Early in the race, Miller, starting second in the No. 40 Prefix / Stevens-Miller Racing Dodge Challenger, shifted his focus from trying to snatch the lead from Matos to defending his starting position from NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Ty Gibbs.

Knowing the championship implications, Miller saw Gibbs take the spot on lap 8, but remained relentless in his pursuit of another podium as he pressured Gibbs. The pair eventually made contact entering the first turn in The Loop, which sent Gibbs spinning with Miller dropping four wheels off track into the grass. Both drivers continued but lost several positions, ending their chances at a podium finish. Mechanical issues stemming from the original contact saw Miller lose and regain positions until the race ended on his way to a ninth-place finish.

The battle between Gibbs and Miller opened the door for a prowling Lagasse Jr. The NASCAR veteran driver capitalized on Gibbs and Miller’s misfortune and slid into second where he stayed for the duration of the race.

“These things are fun around The Glen,” said Lagasse Jr. “Hats off to Tyler (Kicera) on his first race. He was fun to race and raced me clean and hard the entire round. I thought I had more for Rafa at the end, but he has raced me so clean for the last two years, I had to return the favor. We raced side-by-side and put on a show those last few laps.”

Starting from fourth, Merrill bounced back to fifth before taking third after the late-race restart.

Merrill made his TA2 debut driving in the West Coast Trans-Am Championship earlier this year and then moved to the national tour after winning the combined West Coast and National championship round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“The race was really exciting, super exciting, and I could not believe we didn’t have more cautions than we did,” said Merrill. “Sometimes there just isn’t enough race track and we only gained one position on the restart, but that was enough for podium today. I am having a great time and I have a lot more to give to these national drivers.”

Recovering from a qualifying incident that damaged the front end of his the No. 4 Carbotech Brakes/Kicera Motorsports Ford Mustang, series newcomer Tyler Kicera showed  his strength behind the wheel, capturing a fourth place finish. The hard work from his crew to prepare him for the race also yielded thee Cool Shirt Cool Move of the race for entertaining Watkins Glen race fans as he entertained the Watkins Glen fans with his veteran-looking drive against the TA2 regulars.

“We had a tough start, and was really at a deficit on the back straight,” said Kicera. “I bobbled a couple times trying to pass Scott (Lagasse) before the yellow and on the restart Merrill caught me on the back straight. But, it was a blast to step up and be here against this level of and to do as well as we did in our first outing is very exciting for our future.”

Doug Peterson in the No. 87 3Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang earned the TA2 Masters Award after finishing the race in seventh.

“It was a great race from my seat,” said Peterson. “The race got a bit dicey with drivers passing me in The Bus Stop and figured that this race could end in tears so I said ‘Grandpa’s had enough of this.’ So I flew by and held it to finish with a top-10 result.”

ROSSBURG, Ohio — Officials from the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series have revealed dates for several marquee events in 2020.

A look ahead to several of the key events on the 2020 tour schedule sees major races spread out over nearly every month next year, including back-to-back $50,000-to-win races, two deep-paying events to open the season, a $30,000-to-win staple in June and a number of $15,000-to-win specials.

The 2020 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series schedule will kick off with the inaugural Battle at the Border at the newly constructed, state-of-the-art Vado Speedway Park in Vado, N.M., on Jan. 2-5.

More than $130,000 will be on the line during the four-night event, opening with a full practice session Thursday, Jan. 2 for teams to shake down their new equipment. Three separate points races will follow, including two $5,000-to-win Morton Buildings Features, culminating with the $15,000-to-win, 50-lap main event on Sunday, Jan. 5. Never before has a World of Outlaws season kicked off as early in the calendar year, or as far west, as this new event.

Volusia Speedway Park’s longest-running racing extravaganza is back again for its 49th consecutive year. The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models will join the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, Super DIRTcar Series, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and Late Models and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All-Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 for a two-week stretch of racing, Feb. 4-15.

The Morton Buildings Late Models will hit the track on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and continue through Saturday, Feb 15, for four 50-lap, $10,000-to-win races, run in conjunction with the three races at Vado Speedway Park to create a best-three-of-seven series at the year’s first two events.

Offering up another special event format for the Outlaws to tackle, Farmer City Raceway will host another 25-lap, $6,000-to-win feature on April 3 before the 75-lap, $12,000-to-win finale on Saturday, April 4.

Pennsylvania’s richest Dirt Late Model race returns to the Lernerville Speedway in 2020, where the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series will come into town on June 25-27 for a three-night racing party.

The Prairie Dirt Classic hits the track for a two-day weekend on July 31-Aug. 1 at Fairbury Speedway, with $50,000 going to the winner. A record-breaking car count in 2019 will foster an even bigger field for the big jackpot next season.

As is the norm, the Can-Am World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte will close out the year on Nov. 5-7. The annual event will again feature the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and Super DIRTcar Series.

INDIANAPOLIS – For nearly every season of Jimmie Johnson’s spectacular career in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, he has been a central player in the championship battle.

This year, however, he may not even make the NASCAR playoffs.

Johnson enters Sunday’s Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard 18th in points with one race remaining to determine the 16-driver playoff field. He is 18 points below the cut line, so the only way Johnson can guarantee himself a place in the field of 16 is to win Sunday’s 400-mile race – a contest he has won four times in his career.

“It would be a heck of a story to tie Jeff (Gordon) with five (wins) here and to come through a drought and all the things that we all know,” Johnson said in response to a question from SPEED SPORT Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “You guys (media) had to write about it and talk about it. To have all that come to a conclusion and lock myself into the playoffs would be one hell of a story. Hopefully, that is the story.”

Johnson hasn’t won a Cup Series race since Dover on June 4, 2017 – 84 races ago.

He was a Cup Series rookie in 2002 and has been part of the championship conversation practically every year since, winning seven titles to tie NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most series championships.

There is a very slim chance that Johnson could make the playoffs based on points, but the drivers ahead of him, including Daniel Suarez and Ryan Newman, would both have to experience major setbacks in the race for that to happen.

The top 14 drivers are locked into the lineup based on wins and points. Positions one through 10 are race winners, with Busch leading the standings with four victories and 983 points and last week’s winner at Darlington, Erik Jones, the last winner to be locked in with a victory. He is currently 10th.

Positions 11-14 are locked in based on points.

Clint Bowyer has position No. 15 with 625 points, Suarez is tied with Newman with 617 points each, but Suarez gets the position based on a tiebreaker. Johnson has 599 points.

Luckily for Johnson, the must-win situation comes at one of his best tracks.

“I don’t mind coming here at all,” Johnson said. “I love the history of this track and love being here. Making a lap here is really special. It’s a place that drivers all aspire to come and compete. But, if I could pick a track, it would probably be Dover. So, it would be different if I had a chance to pick myself. I love it here. It’s a great place. The car is really fast, and we’re excited about the weekend.

“Of course, I’m going to be aware and of course I’m going to be fed information. So, we’ll just see how it unfolds. But, it’s pretty simple with just a couple of guys to worry about. And, I know that I need a lot of points in one afternoon. So, we’ve only discussed about how fast we’re going to be and how aggressive we’re going to be. Hopefully we have a victory and just eliminate any need for points. We know that the best plans don’t always play out, so we’ll see. But there will be some information coming in at times. But hopefully we have a fast-enough car that we won’t have to worry about it.”

Earlier in the day, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott said it was important for the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization to get Johnson into the playoffs. He remains the senior driver on the team and has the greatest history in the organization.

Cliff Daniels took over as Johnson’s crew chief before the Watkins Glen race on Aug. 4. Since then, he has been experimenting with ways to get more speed and performance out of the No. 48 Chevrolet.

“It’s pretty amazing to see the time and effort,” Johnson said. “And all of that has added up over the last couple of weeks, where our guys have been able to spend more time on the car that we brought here.

“So, it’s hard to just look at any given week and say hey, we’re going to do more because you don’t have the time. The truck’s got to load and leave and all that stuff. But, weeks back, things started clicking, which have allowed really every car that’s gone to the track in the last three or four weeks to have more detail and more time spent on it.”

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