Johnson in context
After Monday's race at Talladega, Dustin Long and I debated the lead of the story he was going to write. Dustin asked: Was it overstating the case to write this? Jimmie Johnson is a championship away from greatness.
Nope, I said, and that's how it ran. (Here's the story.) When you think about it -- and as much as it pains me to say this -- Jimmie Johnson might be the best driver on the Cup circuit right now, and he might become one of the best of all-time.
Here's the thing: NASCAR fans have some trouble dealing with Johnson. He doesn't have a famous racing father. He's from California, like his mentor and team owner Jeff Gordon. (He also looks like Gordon.) He isn't really controversial or mean or reckless (except maybe at Daytona, but he has a 500 win). And his quotes don't translate into print. When you hear him speak, you know what he's saying. On paper, they're just words strung together.
Jimmie may have some fans, but I haven't found them. Googling Jimmie Johnson fan club leads you to an MSN groups site that hasn't been updated since last year sometime. A link from Jayski leads you to a blank page. His official site is slick, but you have to register to read anything. Jerks.
In other words, Jimmie Johnson is either (a) too dull to get excited about or (b) a creation of corporate marketing. I'm tempted to vote (c) both.
But, man, that guy can drive. If you have a chance, watch the end of Monday's race again. Johnson led just three laps all day - laps 123-24 about two thirds of the way through, and the last one. He ran near the front all day (he was in the top 15 all but three laps; only Jeff Gordon had more, 186). At the end of the race, Johnson went into the middle with teammate Brian Vickers, then ducked low around him and passed him. Half a lap later, Tony Stewart set him up to do the same thing, but Johnson felt it coming and blocked him. Ballgame.
Johnson already has three wins this season, more than anyone else, and he comes into a Charlotte-Dover stretch where he could pick up two more easily. Johnson also has 21 career Cup wins -- he's tied with Bobby Labonte, one behind Terry Labonte, two behind Ricky Rudd and four behind Tony Stewart. That's pretty good company. That's really good company when you consider that only four full-time active drivers -- Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Stewart -- have more Cup wins than he does.
It gets better. Here's how Johnson stacks up against other drivers after their first 156 races, which amounts to about four-and-a-half full seasons of racing:
Jeff Gordon - 29 wins, 74 top 5s (2 titles)
Jimmie Johnson - 21 wins, 58 top 5s
Tony Stewart - 16 wins, 58 top 5s (1 title)
Ryan Newman - 12 wins, 53 top 5s
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 11 wins, 42 top 5s
Kurt Busch - 11 wins, 37 top 5s (1 title)
Matt Kenseth - 9 wins, 35 top 5s (1 title)
It's way too early to say that Johnson is going to be one of NASCAR's greats. But all signs point that way, especially if he rips off another 3-4 wins this year and takes hope the Cup title.
So am I building a statue to JJ too soon? And, please, no shots at "convicted felon Rick Hendrick." He got a pardon, which means he's not technically a felon. That stinks if you hate Hendrick, but, hey, I didn't write the Constitution.
Comments (4)
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Jimmie J, like Jeff G (thanks for acknowledging he's a native of California and not Hoosierdom) is blah during interviews but does his talking on the racetrack.
However, based on performances this year I feel that it's Tony S's - cringe - to lose. Hendrick Motorsports has the restrictor plate races as well as the short tracks figured out, but the Gibbs team with Tony S has just about all of the race venues under control.
A good barometer of greatness is how long does it take to win your first championship. Three years in the case of Jeff G (1995, four years for Tony S (2002). Jimmy Johnson 5 years (roundedup) 0.
In my opinion, once a felon always a felon.
Posted on May 5, 2006 2:07 PM
Geeesh, nothing like throwing out some bait for the "JJ haters." And note this one doesn't count: "In my opinion, once a felon always a felon," it's off topic, out of line and childish.
JJ certainly stacks up well against his contemporaries with the only thing missing is the Championship. And that looks to be a duel between Smoke and JJ, again.
Posted on May 5, 2006 7:33 PM
I'm a huge JJ fan but even I get tired of his PC banter while in the drivers suit. My favorite moments, aside from all the times he's visited victory lane, are the ones where he's come slightly unglued i.e. flipping Robby off at Bristol, dedicating the 500 win to the haters.
That said, anyone with a subscription to XM knows that Jimmie's a totally different guy when he's not trying to please the sponsors. He's humble (according to some he's cocky *shrug*), not too PC and flat-out funny.
His driving speaks for itself and it's no fluke, no matter what the haters say. He will win many championships before it's over.
Posted on May 8, 2006 11:12 PM
Hey Carrie - I'm glad you've seen an unguarded side of JJ. I think I've caught glimpses of it, but mostly he keeps himself on a short leash.
Speaking of championships, how he drove Sat. nite at Richmond is how you do it. His car stunk, but he fixed it, made up his lap and had a decent finish rather than a rotten one. In the short term all it means is that Tony Stewart will pass JJ for the points lead later than sooner. Long term, it's that sort of patience that wins championships.
Posted on May 9, 2006 9:10 AM