Chocolate, watches and the end of 2006
I'll admit it: I was rooting like heck against Jimmie Johnson all day Sunday. For the last 50 laps I waited for something to go wrong on his car -- an engine, a brake line, a piece of trash on the grill, a Travis Kvapil spin, anything.
But ... nothing. Johnson started toward the back, picked his way through the back and harrassed Kevin Harvick (who was just good enough to say ahead and not get wrecked) It was Race Car Drivin' 101, and Johnson did it flawlessly. Golf claps all around
Is Johnson going to win this thing? Probably. Does he deserve to win it? It's hard to argue against 11 top-2 finishes.
Will NASCAR fans like it? It's hard to say. I can't say I've met a Jimmie Johnson fan, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere. But I haven't met anyone who hates him either, not like some people can't stand Junior or Stewart or Gordon. I think NASCAR fans respect his talent and skill, but he doesn't seem to raise either your pulse or your blood pressure.
Around the Sports department, we've taken to calling Wake Forest "Switzerland" -- everyone has an opinion on Carolina and Duke and State, but no one seems to think much of Wake either way.
So maybe Johnson is NASCAR's version of a small neutral mountainous country. I just wonder if he'll show up at the NASCAR banquet in lederhosen.
More on the weekend from Dustin Long and Jaynelle Ramon (flip through there until you get to the picture of the tents on the hill - what a great spot).
Also, Matt Kenseth, who evidently took the white flag at the end of Sunday's race as his cue to surrender. Antonette has given up on Junior's chances (me, too), and the AP's Jenna Fryer trashes PIR (no permalinks, so look for the Sunday post).
Comments (5)
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I've never been to PIR, but it looks pretty good on TV. I would tell Ms. Fryer that it's a race track, not a candidate for a makeover on HGTV.
I would say she needs to take in the Mason Dixon Meltdown at South Boston the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Posted on November 13, 2006 8:14 PM
Hm, I must be neglecting my duties if you don't know I'm a Jimmie Johnson fan. Or did you mean you don't know one in real life?
Ah well, I'm a Jimmie fan and I'm freaking.out.about.Homestead. Either way it ends for Jimmie, I'm going to end up in tears. Yeah, I'm going to cry. So sue me. :-p
Posted on November 15, 2006 11:15 AM
Sorry, Carrie. I didn't realize that Robby Gordon would let you root for any other drivers.
That's one. Do I hear two JJ fans? Anyone?
Posted on November 15, 2006 12:27 PM
He started off on a bad enough foot being tagged Jeff Gordon's protege. Add the fact that he is just as conceited as Jeff, how could anyone except older ugly housewives or single women like him?
Posted on November 16, 2006 9:54 PM
Funny, I know plenty of good-looking women (married and not) that like JJ. What's missing is the drunken college boy & Earnhardt fan contingency.
Posted on November 17, 2006 6:57 PM