Need for Speed
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jared Turner
Jimmie Johnson's dominance could be a historical achievement
So you’re bummed about the blowout championship races in all three of NASCAR’s national series?
Take heart and pay attention.
It could be worse. Much worse.
Oh sure, it’s not exactly optimal for business that the closest margin between first and second in any of the top three series is the 184-point gap between Sprint Cup leader Jimmie Johnson and his closest challenger, Mark Martin.
That the Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series titles could all be decided before the season finale for each of the respective divisions certainly hurts the hype surrounding the annual Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
But as lackluster as all of the championship battles are shaping up to be, we should find consolation in the fact that we are on the cusp of witnessing history.
It starts with Johnson, who is on the brink of becoming the first driver to win four straight Cup titles in the 60-year history of NASCAR. No one ever thought that Cale Yarborough’s mark of three straight championships could be matched, but Johnson blew that theory out of the water in 2008.
Now the Hendrick Motorsports driver is about to move into a category all his own. Love him, hate him or fall somewhere in between, it’s hard to argue at this point that Johnson isn’t one of the 10 greatest drivers of all time.
And we are getting to watch the 34-year-old in the prime of his career.
On the opposite end of the career spectrum is Ron Hornaday, who is poised to capture a fourth Truck crown three races from now.
Hornaday, 51, has a few more miles under his belt than Johnson, but his years haven’t hampered his progress one bit. Hornaday, who is currently tied with his old rival Jack Sprague for the most Truck titles, is set to not only break the record for championships but also become the oldest Truck champion in the series’ 15-year-history.
On the Nationwide side, the story line isn’t as compelling. Kyle Busch, a Cup driver, is running away from fellow Cup competitor Carl Edwards in the standings. Not since 2005 has a Nationwide-only driver won the championship in NASCAR’s No. 2 series.
But let’s face it: Watching history be made in two of NASCAR’s three national series isn’t all that bad.
Jared Turner
Jared Turner has written about NASCAR for the past three seasons. He joined SceneDaily as a staff writer in February 2008.
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Comments
6 responses to "Jimmie Johnson's dominance could be a historical achievement ". Post a Comment.
48princess said:
Nov 5, 2009 at 10:44 AMThank you for this blog. GO JIMMIE GO!!!!! It would be wonderful for Jimmie to win a 4th Championship in a row. The race for the chase has been a little crazy this year. I plan to enjoy the rest of the remaining races this year. I will be thrilled if Jimmie Johnson wins this year, as any other #48 would be!!!!
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
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» Confirm Abuse Reportl84somewhere said:
Nov 5, 2009 at 4:16 PM"One of the 10 greatest drivers of all time"? How does one judge greatness? Subjectively, or by actual statistics? If you dismiss emotion and look at hard facts, it's very hard to argue that he's outside of the top 3. He's on the verge of doing something that NOBODY in the history of the sport has ever done, in fact, something that many said COULDN'T be done.
Report as AbuseAt this point it's more likely than not that history will remember him as THE very best.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRelentless said:
Nov 5, 2009 at 4:24 PM"Could be" historical?? What other back-to-back-to-back-to-back champion is there?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportvermontcritter-1 said:
Nov 5, 2009 at 8:37 PMPersonally, I'm sick and tired of all the hype. Take Chad Knauss out of the equation and see what happens. Great drivers aren't just born, they are made and nurtured by caring owners, crew chiefs, and team members. What about Jeff Gordon? He has a huge stake in JJ because he's his owner. Don't give JJ all of the credit for his accomplishments because one man does not a team make.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRonSchwalbe said:
Nov 6, 2009 at 8:38 PMSo a CUP driver will win the Nationwide series - - Hooray !! maybe the STEELERS can win the BCS College football championship - wouldn't THAT be an "accomplishment" ? !
Report as AbuseAt least Johnson and the other PROFESSIONALS - stay in the series they BELONG in - - unlike the other EGO seekers.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 10:50 AMYou act as if there is any reason to want to see Jimmie Johnson or Hendrick Motorsports succeed. There isn't. Hendrick is a crook and a cheat who bought his way to success and Johnson rode that coattail. We can argue he's not one of the greatest of all time because all of his success came because of Hendrick and GM engineering and money.
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