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Top-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: Jimmie Johnson, first
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson pulls his car into the pits during the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Sam Cranston
NASCAR Scene
To fully appreciate Jimmie Johnson’s sensational 2008 Sprint Cup season – one during which he matched Cale Yarborough’s record of three consecutive championships – go back to the start of the season.
He finished 27th in the season-opening Daytona 500, and after a runnerup finish in the second race at Auto Club Speedway in California, he was 29th at Las Vegas, 13th at Atlanta and 18th at Bristol. After the first five races of the season, Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team weren’t even in a position to make the 12-driver field for the Chase For The Sprint Cup, standing 13th.
Many were wondering what was wrong with Hendrick Motorsports, wondering if Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus had lost their edge.
Clearly, Johnson, 33, answered the critics. By the time his 2008 season was over, Johnson had seven victories, won more than $15.1 million and secured his third championship in a row.
During the offseason, SceneDaily is taking a look at the top 30 in 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points. Here’s how Johnson’s season unfolded:
By the numbers: Johnson’s season totals weren’t quite up to his 2007 numbers, but they still were impressive: seven victories, 15 top-five finishes, 22 top-10s, six poles. In the Chase, as has become Johnson’s calling card, he was even better. In the 10 Chase races, Johnson finished 15th or better all 10 times, with three victories and six top-fives.
Season highlights: There were plenty, clearly, with seven wins. But the moment of the year may have been a race Johnson didn’t win. At Atlanta Motor Speedway in October, Johnson struggled most of the race, while Chase rival Carl Edwards was out front. Running eighth late in the race, Knaus decided to bring Johnson to pit road for four tires under caution. Johnson restarted 11th with 11 laps left but charged to second, passing Denny Hamlin for the runnerup spot on the last lap.
Key setbacks: In addition to his early season slump, Johnson had a four-race stretch later in the year where he finished 13th or worse four times, including finishes of 30th at Richmond and 39th at Charlotte – where he had his lone DNF of the season. And Johnson’s struggles at Bristol Motor Speedway continued, as he was 18th in the first race and 33rd in the second – eight laps down.
Newsworthy moment: During the awards banquet in December at the Waldorf-Astoria, Johnson was surprised by Yarborough’s appearance on the stage to help celebrate the 2008 championship.
In his words: “Yes, I want to win a fourth championship. Right now, I’m just part of history. I’d love to make history. I’m not pulling a Babe Ruth and pointing over the outfield fence and saying I’m going to hit it over here, but, yeah, I want to win a fourth championship. We’ll see.”
Mentioned Drivers: Jimmie Johnson
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Comments
40 responses to "Top-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: Jimmie Johnson, first ". Post a Comment.
Shirley Welborn said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 2:37 PMAs one of Jimmie's greatest fans, I will be pulling for the 4th in a row but there is a lot of competition out there. Carl Edwards is getting close to his first championship, and it would not surprise me if he wins next year either. Of course, there is always Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Kyle Busch lurking around the corner. The 12 that were in the chase this year are probably going to be there again this year, and it will be very interesting again to see if Jimmie can be the "Chase King" again. We shall see in November 2009.
Shirley Welborn said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 2:38 PMAs one of Jimmie's greatest fans, I will be pulling for the 4th in a row but there is a lot of competition out there. Carl Edwards is getting close to his first championship, and it would not surprise me if he wins next year either. Of course, there is always Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Kyle Busch lurking around the corner. The 12 that were in the chase this year are probably going to be there again this year, and it will be very interesting again to see if Jimmie can be the "Chase King" again. We shall see in November 2009.
Meg said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 2:50 PMHe who has the best crew chief wins ! Congrats Jimmy !
Kim Palmer said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 2:52 PMTime for the 24 team to step up to the plate and knock off the 48.
Pat Draper said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 2:58 PMPlease not again. I am not a johnson fan i really can't stand the man. He has such an attitude and ego problem that i really don't know how any one could like him. And chad is just as bad between them they have enough ego for the rest of the field. From what i have read in the past month there are a lot of poeple that don't want to see him get a 4th title, he's making the races boring. I like to watch the trucks and nationwide better then cup since johnson come into it. The trucks are more exciting and nationwide is good when Kyle is racing. He makes any race more exciting. I am not a big fan of him but he sure can drive a car and whip some b---. I guess johnson just doesn't have that flare to his driving its boring to watch him is the bottom line. I hope more that just Cousin Carl can give jimmy a run for his money.
Pat Draper said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 3:01 PMITS TIME FOR ANYONE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND KNOCK OFF THE 48.
Tom Meier said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 3:04 PMPAT, PAT, PAT!!! You are so funny!!!
Tom Meier said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 3:26 PMPat!! Pat!! Pat!! What is your problem? If you are so disgusted with NASCAR Cup racing, why don't you stop watching it and stop reading about it? Your constant criticism of JIMMIE Johnson and Chad Knaus is getting old. You should pick up a copy of the January 2009 issue of NASCAR Illustrated and read the article titled "Nice Guys Do Finish First...Again and Again and Again". You obviously know very little about JIMMIE. If you have an open mind, maybe this article will shed a little light on why JIMMIE is well-liked and respected by NASCAR fans and his peers.
Ray said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 3:44 PMPat: Read Tom's comment!! Why don't you just get over it. Jimmy is a smart driver. He saves his equipment for the end of the race where it counts. He lets the others wear their cars out. Yes they do wear out in 400 or 500 miles. We are really tired of your constant bit__ing.
Virginia West said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 4:05 PMI'm a Jimmie fan! Pat can just not watch the cup and concentrate on the lower level and the trucks....maybe Kyle will make it worthwhile and cousin Carl of course. It get's old hearing you say nothing good about the 48 team.........GO JIMMIE GO!!!!
Pamela Johnson said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 4:09 PMCan't wait for the season to start so we can watch Jimmie and Chad go for that 4th Championship! This driver and his team are the best! 4 time in '09!
Pamela Johnson said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 4:16 PMIgnore Pat folks. It's obvious she/he? hasn't taken the time to learn who Jimmie Johnson really is and doesn't plan to. In my opinion watching a great racer and race team making history is just as exciting as any other type of racing. Certainly it's more exciting than watching a Cup driver go to the NW series against guys who are less experienced or couldn't make it in Cup and obliterate the field. Certainly would be nice though if folks who seem to think Nascar is ruined and the racing stinks would just go find something else to do and read and leave those of us who still love it to watch and enjoy in peace.
Howard Englishman said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 4:21 PMBoy you really cant stand winners! Im sure if the name Dale Jr. was in place of JJ you wouldnt be sayin all this crap!Maybe if there were more smart drivers out there JJ wouldnt have 3 in a row! He does have to beat 42 other drivers every weekend so I guess he has what it takes. JJ is a great person and would do anything for someone and Chandra is a nice person too.
Jerry Allison said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 4:29 PMSome people just are'nt happy unless they can complain about something they don't understand,or are to bitter to accept a winner,right Pat ?Kick some more rear end JJ,good luck in 2009.
Robert Wingert said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 4:59 PMJimmie Go for 4 in a row and then Drive for 5... Pat you need to stay with KB fans. You say you are not a fan of his but you sure sing a good tune for him. You really know nothing about the sport and how hisortic winning 3 in a row is.
wayne scott said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 5:08 PMPat- Your comments are really funny. I don't know for a fact but I think Jimmie must have sliced your tires, kicked your dog or put a burning bag of pooh at your doorstop. I suggest you get a JJ 3 time championship t-shirt and wear it proudly. You will fell much better. I promise.
wayne scott said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 5:08 PMPat- Your comments are really funny. I don't know for a fact but I think Jimmie must have sliced your tires, kicked your dog or put a burning bag of pooh at your doorstop. I suggest you get a JJ 3 time championship t-shirt and wear it proudly. You will fell much better. I promise.
Vicki Williams said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 5:36 PMI agree - I find excellence exciting and that's Jimmie. All the drivers seem to respect him and so do the reporters. I'll be rooting for #4. Vicki
Sharon Ellison said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 5:43 PMPat, you don't even deserve a response to such foolishness. I would hate to pretend to be a Nascar fan with such little knowledge of the sport. Go JJ and Chad - the number 4 looks good to me!
Georgia Ross said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 5:49 PMWhat a great Champion and representative of our sport we have with Jimmie...a real gentleman (with a beautiful lady) and a very humble man who has helped entire communities and families that are far less fortunate. Our thanks to Jimmie and Chandra...you are admired by many of us. Congratulations and GO JIMMIE!!!!!!!
Anna Fie said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 6:06 PMJIMMIE JOHNSON IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY FAVORITE DRIVER. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF HE WON THE FOURTH CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DRIVERS RIGHT BEHIND HIM DETERMINED TO WIN. JUST BE CAREFUL, JIMMIE AND BE SAFE. REMEMBER, YOU ARE THE BEST NO MATTER WHO WINS.
Tom Meier said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 6:13 PMPat!!! I was just wondering, have you noticed the lack of support you are getting with these comments??? I wonder what that means.
Keith Johnson said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 7:02 PMJimmie and Chad have it together and are winners together. If they separate they will be like Jeff Gordon and Ray Everham. However! Jimmie's 3 championships of only 30 chase races total doesn't hold a candle to Cale Yarborough's 3 championships and never will. NASCAR needs to go back to a yearly champion. NASCAR is not football!
Tracy McKay said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 7:04 PMRobert (#14) I am a huge Kyle Busch fan, but I also have a #48 die cast and a Jimmie Johnson Beanie Baby. I am a NASCAR fan which means being able to like more than one driver, and enjoy watching every driver. I don't know why Pat has such a dislike for JJ.....I am trying to think of some examples of this ego and attitude that people talk about. Could someone let me know where I can find some? I have never seen or heard him be anything but gracious
jessica said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 7:07 PMPat doesn't have the first inkling who Jimmie is. From his humble roots (hard working class parents) to his work ethic, he is a champion through and through. Also, he is the nicest and most sincere person to his FANS!!! (Yes, I have met him) All I can say is Pat, if you want something that isn't "boring", them someone should figure out how to BEAT him!!!
Bernadette Motherway said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 8:15 PMI'm so glad that the comments posted are ones that I agree with. It's about time Pat hears from the rest of us. I think it's great that I have been able to see history being made during different eras with Cale and Jimmie. For those of us that are open minded, it would be nice to see the 48 win a 4th, but let's take one race at a time. Remember! Jeff Gordon is part owner of the 48! He's still earned his championships in my book!
Barry Meares said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 8:31 PMI have been a fan of the 48 since he won his first pole at Daytona. I have a 48 cap signed by him before he got his sponsorship from Lowe's. I don't usually respond to these but found this interesting. I have followed NASCAR since the days of Petty, Allison, Yarborough, DW and Dale Sr and Jeff Gordon. I must confess the name JJ is not out of place with the entire group. Pat, it does not bother me you don't respect JJ because there are millions who don't. That only gives him more incentive for more. I'm not greedy but to do something never done before is impressive. No disprespect to Cale because I think he could have also won 4 in a row but I DO think JJ winning three in a row in the Chase format is more impressive than the three Cale got in the mid-seventies. Cale never had 11 cars within 100 points of him with ten races to go. Also collectively, the best 20 drivers today are far superior to the best 20 drivers of any other era. So everyone have their fun while they can in this bleak economy. I am still the biggest JJ fan I know but I quietly just let JJ do the talking for me on the track. He is still California cool in my book.
DEBRA CHESSANI said:
Jan 6, 2009 at 10:00 PMAs a huge Jimmie Johnson fan I just want to say to all the Jimmie Haters out there... BRING IT!!! From the sounds of his quote, he has his eye on #4.. any true Jimmie fan knows that when he sets his mind to do something, he usually can accomplish it.. He IS RACIN' BABY!!! CONGRATS TO TEAM 48~ I'm counting the days to Daytona.. I hope all you haters are listening when Jimmie is announced this season.. as the not one, not two, but THREE TIME CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON!! HEAR IT.. JIMMIE IS JUST BAD A*S!!
Janice Marler said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 12:03 AMYasir, this is a forum to discuss racing NOT advertise your website on.
Janice Marler said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 12:08 AMWell, ya'll can start on me, too, like Pat because I don't like JJ either. He's too plastic and is just a clone of his boss Pretty Boy Gordon. Yes, he's a great driver and Chad's a great crew chief, but I like rooting for those that dominate. That's why I don't like the Yankees either. I look at the commercial where Chad tells Jimmy to get in the car and think he treats JJ just like a child. Oh, well, I'm ready to get my comments.
said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 5:02 AMJimmy is a good driver, but Kyle Bush was the better driver this year. 21 wins in 3 different series, and with different teams in the Nationwide Series. Put him in anything with wheels and he can win with it. Jimmy proved that he can be just as dismal as anyone given substandard or poorly setup equipment. If it had not been for the so called Chase System, he would have only placed first in the Cup championship standings once. Don't compare him to Cale Yarborough when it comes to winning three in a row, especially when the rules of the game aren't the same as they were before the chase. Don't forget that Carl would have won the Cup last year if it had not been for the Chase. I wish that the media would stop hyping JJ and move on to other stories of interest because I'm sick of hearing how great he is.
Robert MILLER said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 7:38 AMPAT: With a comment like you gave you must be a real DUMB @#$ KYLE BUSH DRIVES LIKE ONE.
Barry Meares said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 10:07 AMAs much as I like Cale and the old school drivers, it was a different era back than. You can't compare athletes of different eras. You don't see college football teams winning 56 straight games anymore. That is why as much as I like Jack Nicholas in golf, if Tiger matches his record, it will be a greater accomplishment. Why? Because there is only less than 1/10 of 1 per cent difference in the physical skill level of any golfer on the tour. The main difference is degree of desire and the will to win. Dale Sr. always said, finishing second is the first loser. JJ runs clean, the 48 is the most closely inspected car in NASCAR and even if you don't like the team, everyone is trying to copy what they do to try and win the title. We don't have fist fights at the end of the run anymore but with all the cautions it is more difficult to win.
Barry Meares said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 10:20 AMAs much as I like Cale and the old school drivers, it was a different era back than. You can't compare athletes of different eras. You don't see college football teams winning 56 straight games anymore. That is why as much as I like Jack Nicholas in golf, if Tiger matches his record, it will be a greater accomplishment. Why? Because there is only less than 1/10 of 1 per cent difference in the physical skill level of any golfer on the tour. The main difference is degree of desire and the will to win. Dale Sr. always said, finishing second is the first loser. JJ runs clean, the 48 is the most closely inspected car in NASCAR and even if you don't like the team, everyone is trying to copy what they do to try and win the title. We don't have fist fights at the end of the run anymore but with all the cautions, the generic equipment and drivers coming up through trucks and Nationwide series, resulting in better training and conditioning it is more difficult to win today than in was back in the day.
Tom Meier said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 10:46 AMKyle Busch is a good driver. It still seems a little strange that he was not a factor in most of the races after the Gibbs' infractions.
Jerry Allison said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 4:26 PMMe too,who is this goober Yasir ?
Darla Afable said:
Jan 7, 2009 at 5:56 PMso wonderful to see so many comments defending JIMMIE!!!! he is a GREAT driver. cup series drivers are the cream of the crop...but not one of them can hold a candle to Jimmie when it comes to keeping his cool on the track and getting the job done. Time and again we have watched obstacles get thrown in his way and watched him come from behind against all odds......case in point...the Atlanta race of the chase! He is also the same person on and off the track....something very few other drivers can say. Not a single one of the people associated with NASCAR has anything bad to say about Jimmie. I have been a fan of his long before his NASCAR career even began....and I will be cheering for him, Chad and the entire 48 crew to take home their FOURTH Championship Cup in 2009!!
Rex Lee said:
Jan 12, 2009 at 5:31 PMAll ya'll don't worry or have any fear. They'll not be any stress for any of you non-Tony Stewart fans.Smoke's going to be running them down and beating thier fenders off and reminding them of thier i-q's while he's working his way through traffic for the win!!!! Second place is ya'll's best shot! IT IS ON!!!!!
Scottie Moretii said:
Jan 16, 2009 at 8:49 AMBut his sponsor, treats people last. www.lowes-lawsuits.com www.lowesceo.com
CRAIG FORD said:
Jan 17, 2009 at 5:08 PMEnvy is a green eyed monster as to be witnessed by the comments of the JJ haters...at least be truthful in your hate...JJ is kind, polite, compassionate, considerate and seriously underrated most of the time not aggogant, dangerously aggressive or trying to bolster his ego by racing with the guys trying to get started (NW) and robbing them of their winnings and time in the sun.........learn to gie credit where credit is due and criticism where it belongs..........