Proposition: Jimmie Johnson is the Greatest NASCAR Driver Ever

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

November 23, 2009 11:28 pm CST No Comments

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Mark Martin calls him Superman.

But his crew chief, Chad Knaus, gets almost as much credit for Jimmie Johnson’s success as Johnson does himself.

Johnson has won 47 times in 291 Sprint Cup starts. He is the only driver ever to win four straight Cup championships.

And he is resented for his dominance. No problem.

That, in itself, isn’t new to NASCAR. Half of the stands cheered wildly for Dale Earnhardt Sr in his heyday. Darrell Waltrip too. They still do for Jeff Gordon. The other half booed their voices hoarse for all three.

It’s different for Johnson. The water-cooler talk and internet buzz - blog posts and tweets - mostly blame J J for all of NASCAR’s problems. From declining TV ratings to empty grandstand seats; it’s all because Jimmie Johnson is too good.

“He isn’t flashy enough. He’s so perfect. Why doesn’t he wreck someone? Or flip ‘em off? Or punch ‘em? I’m so tired of him winning all the time! It’s that damn Chase! He wouldn’t win if it wasn’t for the damn Chase!”

That’s what they say.

I have watched Jimmie, and listened to him, up close. I’ve watched his eyes as he answered questions. Questions that, I’m sure he had answered a hundred time before. The sincerity that he displays is real. I am convinced that nobody who had the chance to observe him that closely, could come away disliking him. He’s a good guy.

He’s the greatest NASCAR driver in the sport today.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - On Pit Row

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Chad Knaus, Darrell Waltrip

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