Kenny Bruce: Jimmie Johnson wins AP award, but what took so long?

By Kenny Bruce - Assistant Managing Editor

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Dale Earnhardt (left), Richard Petty (center) and David Pearson never won the AP Male Athlete of the Year, despite 17 championships between them.

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NASCAR Scene (Jim Fluharty, David Griffin, Jim Fluharty)

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How deep do we want to get into this? Is it enough to congratulate and recognize Jimmie Johnson for being named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year? Or should we note that it’s the first time in nearly 80 years that someone from the sport of auto racing has won the award?

Regardless, my first reaction was, “What the heck took so long?”

The Hendrick Motorsports driver became the first driver in the 62-year history of the sport to win four consecutive NASCAR Cup championships, which I’m guessing was the major reason for the award. He won as many races (seven) in 2008 en route to his third straight title; he won more races (a career-best 10) in 2007. But he became the first to win four titles, a feat that’s impossible to overlook.

Through the years, individuals from nearly every athletic endeavor imaginable have been recognized for their accomplishments. Major League Baseball players lead the way with 25 recipients. Ten have come from track and field, nine from professional golf, eight from college football. Boxers, tennis players and swimmers have won the award. Hockey (pro and amateur), the NBA and cycling have provided winners. Even horse racing – a jockey, not a horse, in case you were wondering – has been recognized for excellence on the playing field.

As far as I can tell, the only sports that have not represented at one time or another have been curling and ice dancing. And, until now, NASCAR.

Obviously, there must have been some pretty incredible performances in different sports through the years. Because there have been some unbelievable achievements in auto racing in general and NASCAR in particular.

So what kinds of performances overshadowed some of the best efforts of competitors from the NASCAR realm? I’m glad you asked.

Richard Petty, who put together a 27-win season in 1967, highlighted by a run of 10 consecutive wins, was overshadowed by Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. OK, Yaz was the last player in the American League to capture the triple crown, leading the league in home runs, runs batted in and batting average. He led the Red Sox to the pennant for the first time in more than two decades and was named the league’s most valuable player.

Four years later, Petty won 21 times in 46 starts en route to his third championship. But the award went to golfer Lee Trevino, who won six events, including two majors – the U.S. and British Open.

Cale Yarborough won 10 races and became the first driver to win three straight championships in 1978. Unfortunately for Yarborough, the sports world was watching New York Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry win 25 games, lead the league with a 1.74 ERA and earn the AL Cy Young Award.

What about ol’ Ironhead? Dale Earnhardt enjoyed one of his best seasons in 1987, winning 11 races and the third of his seven championships. He finished either first or second in eight of the season’s final 11 races.

Top male athlete honors for that year, however, went to Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who won the 100-meter event at the World Championships with a world record (9.83 seconds).

There have been other outstanding, noteworthy performances in NASCAR as well. Jeff Gordon’s 13-win season in 1998, which led to a third championship; Darrell Waltrip’s back-to-back 12-win seasons in 1981 and ’82, each of which led to titles; David Pearson’s 15-win season in 1966 and 16-win season in 1968.

And those are limited to NASCAR. What about A.J. Foyt’s 10 open-wheel wins in 14 starts in 1964? Mario Andretti winning six times in 1978 in Formula One?

Maybe Johnson’s four consecutive titles have finally broken the ice. Maybe now racers will be seen as more than folks who go for extended Sunday drives. Maybe a little recognition will go a long way.

If so, then maybe Johnson has done a lot more for the sport than most folks recognize. Only time will tell. Let’s just hope it’s not another 78 years before another racer gets his, or her, due.