“Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson”
2007:
“Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson”
2008:
“Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson”
2009:
“Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson”
2010:
“Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson”
These have been different movies that seem to have the same ending…a crowning of the #48. He is who we thought he is as Denny Green would say.
So much has the tendency to change over 5 years. Relationships, friendships, television, interests, economies, presidents, etc. Forget 5 years, so much can change in a span of 5 MONTHS.
Jimmie Johnson’s dominance over Nascar has lasted a little bit longer than 5 months. His 2nd place finish at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway sealed his 5th consecutive Sprint Cup Championship and an even clearer place among the sport’s all-time greats.
Listening to some talking heads after the race, you’d have figured that Johnson’s place in Nascar history was a race that may not get completed due to rain (in other words–in doubt). Let’s get one thing straight: He already cemented his status as one of Nascar’s greatest after last year when he won his 4th consecutive championship. In the long and illustrious history of Nascar, not Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, or Jeff Gordon had done what Johnson accomplished after last year’s finale at Homestead-Miami. Maybe the new Chase format that began in 2004 has something to do with it, but that’s a discussion between driver and crew chief for another track.
The new question is if he’s on Nascar’s Mount Rushmore.
I don’t think that neither Jeff Gordon nor team owner Rick Hendrick could’ve imagined the extent of the dynasty that was to ensue by teaming Johnson with Chad Knaus. Prior to Johnson joining Hendrick Motorsports, Knaus won two championships with Gordon and the #24. Johnson basically arrived into Nascar under Gordon’s wing. He’s gone on to surpass anything that Gordon had in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Let’s also remember that 2010 wasn’t exactly the best of his championship seasons.
Going into Sunday’s Ford 400, Johnson, Denny Hamlin, and Kevin Harvick were the main foci of fans. None of which had their best of days. Johnson’s was good enough to finish 2nd behind Roush’s #99 Carl Edwards despite a few issues in the pits. Hamlin on the other hand was spun out earlier in the race by the #16 of Greg Biffle. Harvick was booked for speeding on pit row. Then there was what happened between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch near the end of the race where Busch got rear-ended by RCR’s #29. They’d later trade shots at each other in the media, you know, the typical Nascar thing. That’s a beef that dates back to Pocono when Harvick delivered a similar PIT maneuver to Busch’s JGR teammate, Joey Logano. The young Logano later tried to confront Harvick in his own pit box and kick his rear end. Then there was what happened at Charlotte when hard racing between the #18 of Busch and the #31 of RCR’s Jeff Burton caused the veteran Burton to wreck (his chances of winning the race at Charlotte). They’d also have words after that race.
There is, of course, a lot of good in seeing the prolonged greatness of Johnson and his #48 team. If you were to ask some Nascar fans, though, there’s also a lot of bad. A good portion of fans aren’t too happy about Jimmie Johnson winning year after year after year. Some even believe that Nascar has rigged the races to make things easier at the track for Johnson and the other Hendrick cars. There are reasons-aplenty for this ongoing (unfair) negative sentiment expressed at the sport (by some of its own fans).
#1. The most obvious–Dale, Jr? Wherefore art thou, Dale Jr.?
No aficionado who knows anything about this sport will debate who is Nascar’s most POPULAR driver. The answer is not exactly Kyle Busch. It’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. by two Brickyard miles. For the most part, ever since moving to the #88 of Hendrick, Little E has not been as big as his late dad. He’s rarely competed for wins and has even remarked, emotionally, that he didn’t give a crud about being in the Chase for the Cup. Just what Nascar wanted to hear at the time…that their most popular (and marketed) driver didn’t care about being the best and following in his dad‘s tire tracks. Those comments were most likely in the heat of the moment, though. The bottom line is that, in my opinion, Dale, Jr.’s problems aren’t with the crew chief or Hendrick but, moreso, him than anything else. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to compete especially if his cars are made by Hendrick just like…say…Jimmie Johnson’s?
#2–Is the driver of that #48 one of us?
Jimmie Johnson is a California guy in a sport with a Southeastern base…not a good connection starter. There’s somewhat of a regional element to the sport that still exists today. Charlotte, North Carolina is home to Nascar’s headquarters and its Hall of Fame. Many of Nascar’s top teams also have their home bases in Charlotte. Many in the mainstream have lambasted the sport for being too regionally oriented. Remember this creative (and a little funny) acronym:
Non
Athletic
Sport
Created
Around
Rednecks
This has been an acronym that Nascar has tried to erase. It seems to me that whenever they make efforts to broaden the sport’s appeal past the Southeast, they raise a caution flag and send angry letters to Brian France’s Charlotte office.
#3–Rich, Greedy, Bastards!
The politics of sponsorships engulfs Nascar like it does no other sport. They change every year. At the beginning of 2010, this Bud (Budweiser) belonged to Kasey Kahne and the #9 of Richard Petty Motorsports. Kahne closed the year out driving the #83, formerly Brian Vickers’ car but Vickers was unable to drive most of the year due to a blood clot. He’ll return next year. Aric Almirola finished the year in the #9 but its sponsorship will move to Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick’s #29. Shell/Pennzoil will sponsor Kurt Busch as he goes into the Penske‘s #22 in 2011.
Many on Twitter made it a habit to complain that Johnson’s California demeanor is too calm, cool, and collected for most Nascar fans. They wanted hotheads like those who ran roughshod through the sport in the 70’s and 80’s. In a perfect world, they imagined Kyle Busch confronting Harvick post race and punching him Manny Pacquiao-style like Earnhardt would‘ve done. The fact that these drivers are representing big money sponsors has been cited by many as a reason for their constant cliché style, similar to that in other sports. The honesty and realness of certain drivers like Tony Stewart has been sapped by corporate money. In my opinion, the control of driver demeanor by sponsors is obvious. It is different than in the old days.
What baffles me is that wasn’t it the basis for Robin Pemberton’s “Have at it, boys!” edict delivered prior to Daytona? After the 2nd race at Dega in 2009, many drivers such as Ryan Newman criticized Nascar for over-regulating the sport and going too far with trying to protect the drivers. Safety is important, but drivers and fans alike felt the sport was going over the edge with it, perhaps coinciding with its initiative to expand beyond the Southeast. Drivers wanted the sport to return to its rough “rubbin’ is racin’” roots. So did fans. The finest (or not-so-finest) hour for “Have at it, boys!” came in Atlanta when Carl Edwards (out of rage) retaliated at Brad Keselowski (the Nationwide Series champion) by flipping him up and over into the safety barrier.
The unanswered question is that while Nascar was criticized, will the true honesty and fire of the drivers be ever fully seen again as long as they are controlled like puppets by big money and sponsors.
Despite all of this, there is a lot to look forward to as we drive the pace car into 2011. Vickers’ return, Kurt Busch and Harvick’s new sponsors. What will happen with both Penske and Waltrip’s teams? Can Carl Edwards continue his hot streak into Daytona 2011. He won the last two races of this year at Phoenix and Miami. What is the status of Mark Martin? And, most importantly, who will challenge the Johnson Dynasty for Nascar’s crown in 2011? Only time, fuel, pit stops, and laps will tell.
See you in Daytona in 3 months! Congrats to Jimmie Johnson and Team #48 on 5X!
