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Just How Good Is Jimmie Johnson?

Written by Rocky Kitts · September 7, 2008

NASCAR traveled cross-country this week, from Fontana to Richmond, but when the day ended, the same car was in victory lane.

Jimmie Johnson turned in another strong performance at Sunday’s, one-day late, Chevy Rock-and-Roll 400, as he held off Tony Stewart for another win, and there is no doubt that Johnson made a serious statement in the last two races of the pre-Chase season. That statement?

In case you’ve forgot I’m pretty good.

Johnson is more than pretty good, and with his recent accomplishments, I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to put him in a very short list of drivers that have a shot at winning the Chase this season.

That would be three in a row.

Put that into perspective. There are several very good drivers that have two championships. One of those drivers, Tony Stewart, is also in the final 12, and this discussion could also be applied to him. There are only seven drivers that have won more than two championships, and should they win Johnson and Stewart would find themselves in truly elite company. We know about Richard’s seven, and Dale’s seven, and Jeff’s four, but the fact that Johnson could win three in a row is pretty special.

How special? Well, here are the drivers that have won three championships in a row:

Cale Yarborough.

Discussion over.

Jimmie Johnson has often been over-shadowed on his own team. Hell, being Jeff Gordon’s teammate is kind of like being Peyton Manning’s little brother. No matter how good you are, you’re always going to be compared to big brother. Now, there’s no doubt that Johnson has cemented himself as a great driver. He’s accomplished that feat whether he wins this season or not.

But if he does win the Cup this season, his place in the record books will be locked down, and Jimmie Johnson will have to be listed as one of the most successful drivers ever.

Rocky Kitts can be reached at wwwthreestrikesandout@yahoo.com or by visiting the website of the same name.  He thinks that Johnson is an even better driver than he was a coach of the Dallas Cowboys (what do you mean that was a different guy?)

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