Long before Juan Montoya was perfecting points racing, Jimmie Johnson was an expert at it. That expertise has won him the last three championships and if you surfed around the internet yesterday, you might assume he’d won his fourth.
I promise you though the Chase is far from over. While there is certainly a spread between first and twelfth (189 points if you’re counting), there are still eight, yes eight, races left. That’s a ton of time to screw up, or to win a whole bunch of races and take the points lead.
I know Jimmie Johnson and the #48 team have been solid come Chase time the last three years. They know better than anyone how to shine at the right time. And this year might not be any different.
For those of you who follow us on Twitter you saw our best and worst of the weekend tweet. Some responded the Joey Logano event, both good and bad, but several others responded Jimmie Johnson winning was the worst thing of the weekend. I don’t know if I personally agree with that, but I think there are a lot of other people out there who feel this way.
Is four in a row good for the sport? It’s certainly good for Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and Hendrick Motorsports. You tell me.
Getting back to the fact that we have eight races left though consider the teams and drivers that have emerged this season.
After struggling the last two seasons Juan Pablo Montoya and (Earnhardt) Ganassi Racing have shown some solid consistency. While Montoya hasn’t won a race, he has four top-fives, 14 top-tens, two poles and an average finish of 13.1. They are peaking and competing for wins at the right time. He’s third in the points, only 65 back. I think they’re going to have to win at least one to have a shot at the Championship, but with the way they’ve been running that’s not a far off goal.
Or how about Kurt Busch. After being left out of the Chase last season he’s won one, has eight top-fives, 16 top-10s and an average finish of 13.4. Six of the last eight weeks Busch has finished inside the top-10 and might have run better the other two races if he hadn’t gotten caught up in wrecks.
And don’t forget Mark Martin. He is showing this season that there is life in this sport after 50. This is a guy who looked to be at the end of his career not long ago. He’s now rejuvenated and stronger than ever. After finishing second in the points race four times throughout his career, I guarantee he doesn’t want to make it a solid five.
The above drivers aren’t alone. While Jimmie may very well be on his way, don’t count anybody out. There are a lot of races left and a lot of time for anyone to make a run at this thing.
So now it’s prediction time. Who’s going to win it? Who’s your black horse? Will Jimmie go four in a row? Or can Mark Martin finally quit being a bridesmaid?
Related posts:
- Jimmie Johnson Back? Ha! He Never Left!
- The Jimmie Johnson Issue
- Does Anyone Care Jimmie Won?
- Guess Who Wins Without the Chase?
- Standings If There Had Been No Chase: Part 1
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on Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:20 am
If this was Tony Stewart or Junior, no one would be saying “Four is too much”. If Jimmy was a dirty driver, peeps would like him more. Sad but true. I hope that someday people realize the incredible talent we are seeing. I would love to see Mark Martin win the championship and I also think it would be awesome for Smoke to win in his first year as a car owner. Come on, there are EIGHT more races!!! Stop the moaning already. The points are close. This might wind up being one of the most exciting chases ever.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Wow it would be foolish to not pick JJ as the obvious choice, but as a Kasey kahne fan I’m not to happy about his chances so my black horse pick is JPM. He’s such a soild race car driver, he has so much dedication to auto racing(not to say otheres don’t) I think that helps him lot, and I think it would be awesome for NASCAR if a Hispanic driver won it all. Can you say “breaking the stereo-type?”
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 6:32 am
The yawn of the whole thing is that Hendrick won the first two, and will likely win much more of the Chase. A few years ago NASCAR panicked when Roush had 5 cars in the Chase. Now Hendrick has 5 cars in, will dominate (which Roush did not), and it will be OK.
OK for NASCAR, but not OK for those who tire of the same team every week.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I love Mark Martin, after Earnhardt was killed he became my favorite driver. After his “retirement” I moved on to Robby Gordon, but I still love Martin. I want Mark to win the title probably as much as he wants to win it. If he keeps up what he is doing he will be tough to beat. Mark is his own worst enemy is this situation. I fear if he has one bad race his emotions will get the better of him.
I was one of the people on Twitter who counted the worst of the weekend was Jimmy Johnson’s win. I can’t stand the guy, never have liked him and I refuse to admit he has any measurable talent at all. I won’t even shop at Lowe’s.
Fans of Mark Martin how about we get a pool going and hire Reed Sorenson to wreck Jimmy? I hear he could use some cash.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I’m a Jimmie fan so I hope he wins #4 but for those who don’t like it, what do they want to do with someone who excels? Kick him out of the sport? Make him drive with a handicap? Athletics is supposed to be about exceptional performance and that’s what Jimmie and Chad show year after year. I’d think that’s something NASCAR fans would celebrate, not denigrate.If you don’t want him to win, tell your driver to step up and beat him.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I think about Jimmy Johnson winning in two different ways. Obviously the 48 team from top to bottom is incredibly talented to pull off the type of consistency needed to win a championship, let alone three, and possibly four, in a row. But I’m a sucker for an underdog and very much dislike ‘era’ teams. Add that to Johnson apparent lack of personality in front of the camera and I’m just not a fan.
I’ve been a Mark Martin fan since I started casually watching NASCAR in the mid-90s. He’s clear my, and most people’s, sentimental favourite. I said to my wife the other day that if Martin wins the championship he won’t be able to give an interview for at least 24 hours because he’ll be too emotional. But he’ll deserve every bit of it!
My dark horse pick has to be JPM. He’s shown that he’s a true racer. He’s not afraid to speak he’s mind. Not afraid to use the “chrome horn”. But most importantly he’s learned how to point race. If folks were surprised that he made the chase it would blow them away if he won the whole damn thing.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I want Tony to win the whole thing. That to me is a much better story than the #48 winning 4 in a row. I personally am sick about hearing how the #48 team has it locked up or that if Mark Martin wins everyone will be ecstatic not me yes I know Mark is a nice guy, its been years and all of that but he is not my favorite racer and the CC of the #48 team is not my fave person in the garage the driver would be ok with another CC.Tony winning would be such an awesome boon to the sport. A driver with 2 Championships leaves a well established well funded winning team to go to a team that had to pray for miracles to make it to the top 35 in points place the right people inthe right job and start out of the box strong and have BOTH teams in the Chase the first year!
I am also very very sick of ESPN and other media sources cramming down my throat that the 48 is the best ever and handing the trophy to them after 2 races or to Mark just because he “deserves” it. To me you have to earn the Sprint Cup not only during the year( which Tony did he had the MOST points in the reg season just like Jeff did 2 times only to have it removed) but in the Chase so far Mark has 1 win and Jimmie 1 but at Kansas it could be Stewart,Newman, Biffle,Montoya etc would ESPN then start handing the trophy to them hell no…
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
You had it right in the title. Johnson has already won the championship. I know he still trails Mark by 10 points but let’s be realistic. He’s not just consistent in the chase, he dominates the chase. He’ll win 2 or 3 more races and have top 5′s in the others. No one else, not even Martin will come close to that kind of performance. Stewart and Gordon are both already 100 points back and neither Busch nor Montoya have what it takes to be as strong as Johnson will be over the remaining 8 races. Just give Jimmie the trophy now.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Wait a minute Nascar addict, they are dirty drivers or am I mistaken that this crowd was caught out and out cheating at Daytona, and what did Nascar do??? Gave Johnson the illegal car back so he could win the 500, see a problem here. If Johnson wins this title again in this hokey made up chase crap, Nascar is DONEEEEEE!!!!!!!
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 10:21 am
JJ, CK & co should win, because they have their act together.
MM can win & would be a most deserving Champ. MM should just not pts race however or he will “think” too much and change the approach that has netted him 5 wins.
JPM has a shot. Unlike MM, JPM will “need” to keep up his thinking game. Does the team have the notes to put a competitive “adjustable” horse under JPM for all eight? KB is a mere 10 back.
The rest is a crap shoot. Just hard to make up ground w/ pts system. If after 4, some have not made major pts gains, they’ll be throwing some trick stuff and strategies as a last reort.
I like the comments above, especially of Scott, vdeputy and Nascar Addict above. I too am amazed when fans criticize a driver for winning. I thought that is what we pay for, right?
I’m pulling for MM, expect JJ and interested to see reaction to a JPM title.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 10:25 am
People, there is no Jimmy Johnson in Nascar. Hendricks did have a team manager years ago but he died last year.
Now there is a driver whose name is Jimmie Johnson, not Jimmy.
How can you be a fan and not even know how to spill his name right?
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 11:57 am
hahahaha “spill his name right”
nice.
What frosted my cookies was Jimmie saying “I dont care that it was a boring race, I just like having guys behind me.”
(paraphrase)
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I start off by admitting I’m a JJ & CK fan. I think the two are a great combo. I think if JJ went with a different Crew Chief he would not be as good. If CK was a Crew Chief for someone else I don’t think they would do as good. Both guys are good, but together they are a great combo.
I don’t think JJ has already won the Championship. There are 8 races left, anything could happen. He could be 8th in points after Kansas, anything can happen. I think he is the driver to beat, going from all the drivers past history for the remaining races. Does that mean he will win it, no it doesn’t. Could Kasey still win, you bet, odds are not good since 11 other drivers will have to have some major problems, but he could still win it.
I think JJ winning the championship 4 years in a row will be good for NASCAR. It will bring in more / new fans. Look what Lance did when he won several in a row. People were following it more and more. You could hear little kids say they wanted to grow up and be like him. Notice how I didn’t say Armstrong or mention Tour de France by name. I’ll be willing to bet that 90% of you knew who I was talking about, and what I was referring to. Would you have even know what Tour de France was if it wasn’t for Lance? If he had won it 6 out 10 years would it have gotten as much PR?
Who I think will win is JJ. If JJ does not win then I think it will be Smoke, I can see him getting a hot streak like he had earlier this year. My dark horse to win the thing is Denny Hamlin. I can’t see how people call MM a dark horse when he is currently leading the points.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
What’s the point? You go to watch the race & in the end it’s the same or basically the same, a HMS driver in the front. Sure they have their act together but wasn’t that the reason for all the changes? To help bring parity to the sport. Yea there are different drivers & teams in the chase this season but you still the have the “top-dogs” running or ruining the show (however you choose to view it). We noticed Sunday (Dover) the battle between Newman, Kahne & Biffle went on for many laps. Biffle was given the thumbs up & Kahne went unnoticed for his efforts. Guess his team doesn’t rank high enough.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
For me, there’s 2 issues here. Why I dislike the 48 team and why I think a 4peat is bad for the sport.
First, the dislike. I’m sick of them..pure and simple. The media doesn’t help. I really don’t care about his lack of personality, but there’s an air of entitlement about the team (mostly Chad) that gets under my skin. I root for the underdog…I hope Jimmie hits the wall the next 8 races.
Why is it bad for the sport?
NASCAR can try and market itself as the biggest and most exciting thing out there, but the reality is… it’s not. The races are predictable and boring. The same driver winning all the time makes it much worse and almost makes it look (dare I say it?) fixed. The last few laps are the most exciting part of the race..sometimes. The double file restarts are fun to watch(when ESPN-ABC actually show them—but that’s another issue) The 48 team is probably NASCAR’s worst nightmare.
Yes, there are 8 races to go, but the luck of the 48 team is uncanny…watching him come from the back time after time, avoiding wrecks and always being in the right place at the right time. Talent yes, but also very lucky…lets see if it runs out.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
If you haven’t been living under a rock .. then you should know we are allowed to to turn off our tv’s or NOT attend the races if we choose to.. Jimmie Johnson IS the best in my opinion {another right we all have is to have our fav driver} I can’t believe some of the comments people put on here. If you find boring to watch the best driver win {then maybe change to another sport} Someone has to win and someone has to lose in Nascar like other sports. So get used to it! {4 peat } is coming !!!
Go Jimmie !!
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
jerry,
it’s hendrick. not hendrickS.
and as far as the title goes…. who cares really. i am a very big mark martin fan and would love to see him bring home the title but as jeff gordon has pointed out it just isn’t the same. putting together a 10 race run for a championship will just never be the same as winning it under the previous points system where you had to be solid through the entire season.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
It is what is is. Jimmie should hoist his 4th straight cup in Homestead if he earns it, and the Nascar world shouldwatch in awe of the determination, and the talent, of this driver and this team. He’s not my favorite, but he is, right now, hands down “THA MAN”. He is an unbelieveable talent unlike any than we may have ever seen. Only time will tell just exactly how deep his talent runs, but he’s sure not showing any signs of letting up. Like i said, not my favorite, but i certainly do not have a problem acknowledging what we’ve all been watching for the last 5 years. For those of you that wanna spread filth and ignore the obvious, that’s your choice, but life sure is short.
on Sep 29th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
There is a lot of money up for grabs in this joke Nascar calls the chase, thier playoff format. They have left the door WIDE OPEN for teams like Roush, Gibbs and Penske, to level the playing field and using thier non chase drivers to make it not so one sided because of the stupid points system they think is so far and great. The 18 takes out the 48, the 77 takes out the 5, and the 6 takes out the 42. Now the the other 9 are back in the picture. The 9 car has one bad race and he stands no chance to get back in it when the leaders can just ride around and point race. I’m not much of a tennis fan but it is a hell of a lot more exciting then what Nascar has turn racing into; a CIRCUS.
on Oct 4th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Hendrick teams, counting the 14 and 39 too because they are basically Hendrick cars, have won half of the races so far.
When Roush had 5 teams in the chase, that set off red flags at Nascar……..but when Hendrick dominates, Nascar does nothing.
When Hendrick teams are caught cheating they are simply told not to use that car again but Carl Long and his 358.17 cid engine was suspended till he paid some astronomical fine…..that was BS. Hendrick owns Nascar and the only ones who don’t see this are Hendrick followers and worshippers.
Nascar is losing fans rapidly….no wonder.
on Oct 4th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I think that Jeff Gordon is gonnna win it all…
on Oct 4th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Bob O you sure missed the bus on this one. The 48 car is the premier Hendrick cheater car and put any mid pack driver in that ride and he would start winning.
Just because a driver wins all the time means nothing as far as the driver talent goes……how good is the car and how much of a sneak the crew chief is pretty much is the whole ball of wax.
Jimmy was a crummy Busch Grand national driver and was no better than anyone else in IROC.
Mark Martin was washed up and just a field filler….put him in a Hendrick cheater car and he is the points leader 3 weeks into the chase.