A Classic Tie

[Raceready]

What about the way the Jimmy Johnson group tied with old Dale Earnhardt with 76 wins? As I have researched it is in some 166 less races than it took old Ironhead with a dozen more pole positions to boot. All with great dignity and class! I believe that perhaps that the madness that is the chase was brought about as a way to slow Johnson down otherwise he might have had 8 championships by now.

[kidrock]

What about the way the Jimmy Johnson group tied with old Dale Earhardt with 76 wins? As I have researched it is in some 166 less races than it took old Ironhead with a dozen more pole positions to boot. All with great dignity and class! I believe that perhaps that the madness that is the chase was brought about as a way to slow Johnson down otherwise he might have had 8 championships by now.

I thought it's been said JJ wouldn't have as many Championships as he does now if they had the old points system. Not trying to take away from his accomplishments by any means.

[mudslinger47]

I don't think it makes a Nickels worth of difference.... JJ is good, probably better then ole #3 by a good bit... Earnhardt just had better publicity ..... NASCAR needed a hero villain, and Dale was it... he was good, brash and a fairly rugged individual... Bingo Instant Hero and villain, all in the same package...

[CIRF]

Championships, when the criteria and process is drastically changed, can become an apples to oranges thing when comparing driver resume's.

However, race victories are quite another thing. Jimmie has been the yardstick that all drivers are measured by for many, many years now and JJ is a relatively young man so he may not be done yet. Both JJ and Gordo got to 76 victories in significantly less starts than arnhead but haven't gotten the accolades that should come with accomplishing that feat.

And to reiterate what Raceready already said, JJ's done it with the utmost class, dignity and humility that true superstars in any sport seldom are blessed with. Although I've never been a huge fan of Jimmie's I must say he's been a joy to watch and a huge asset to NASCAR. Let's hope he continues his winning ways!!

Someday, after JJ's in the hall of fame we'll look back on his truly meteoric and exemplary career on and off the track and maybe we'll fully appreciate what he accomplished and what he stands for.

[formercrewguy]

Championships, when the criteria and process is drastically changed, can become an apples to oranges thing when comparing driver resume's.

However, race victories are quite another thing. Jimmie has been the yardstick that all drivers are measured by for many, many years now and JJ is a relatively young man so he may not be done yet. Both JJ and Gordo got to 76 victories in significantly less starts than arnhead but haven't gotten the accolades that should come with accomplishing that feat.

And to reiterate what Raceready already said, JJ's done it with the utmost class, dignity and humility that true superstars in any sport seldom are blessed with. Although I've never been a huge fan of Jimmie's I must say he's been a joy to watch and a huge asset to NASCAR. Let's hope he continues his winning ways!!

Someday, after JJ's in the hall of fame we'll look back on his truly meteoric and exemplary career on and off the track and maybe we'll fully appreciate what he accomplished and what he stands for.

Not to mention he has probably the BEST crew chief in all of NASCAR past AND present.





And a hot wife!

[CIRF]

A great crew and crew chief have been involved in all the great drivers careers. Dale Inman & The King, Ray Evernham & Gordo, Leonard Wood for many drivers but most notably David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and A.J. Foyt, and yes Chad Knaus & Jimmie Johnson.

That having been said, the crew chief cannot drive the car and make the instantaneous decisions and keep the car off the wall or out of harms way through an on track crash. That falls on the driver and the driver alone with the help of a competent spotter.

As has been demonstrated many times over the crew chief also has little control over how the driver speaks and conducts himself on and off the track and how he treats others. Jimmie was taught those virtues long before he ever climbed into a NASCAR racecar and it shows in a big way.

[Clayton_Wetter]

I thought it's been said JJ wouldn't have as many Championships as he does now if they had the old points system. Not trying to take away from his accomplishments by any means.

So what is your actual point, other than building your post count by volumes, but with no actual content?? lololol

[CIRF]

This is what Earnhardt Jr. and a few othershad to say about Jimmie tying ol' arnhead's win total. Pretty high praise and deservedly so!

Read it and weep.................again, muddy!! LOL! Sure don't hear 'em talkin' about pee wee jr. like this!



Gluck: Jimmie Johnson burnishes case as greatest driver
Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

HAMPTON, Ga. — There might be some holdouts who still refuse to admit Jimmie Johnson is the greatest NASCAR driver of all time. This despite six championships and 76 wins, the latest which tied Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s career mark Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

There are fans who want to hold onto the past, preferring to believe the days of Richard Petty and Earnhardt Sr. were tougher to win races. But even if that was true, there’s no denying this: Johnson is the by far the class of this era.

“I don't have a problem calling him the best of this generation — even as a competitor of his and having to go out there and race against him,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “Obviously he will credit his crew chief and his team. That all has been real consistent throughout his career — and they do deserve some credit — but Jimmie is just a phenomenal talent.”


USA TODAY
Jimmie Johnson wins at Atlanta, ties Dale Earnhardt Sr. on all-time list

For some reason, that’s still hard for some fans to acknowledge.

Put him on another team instead of Hendrick Motorsports and he wouldn’t win.

Johnson wouldn’t have six championships if not for the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff.

Let’s see what would happen if he didn’t have Chad Knaus as his crew chief.

But the reality is this: Johnson is simply that good.

“Jimmie is pretty awesome, isn’t he?” Knaus said. “Let’s just be honest.”


Drivers don’t easily heap praise on one another, especially when it comes to declaring someone else is better than they are. But the stats don’t lie: What Johnson has been able to do in his parity-filled generation is exceptional.

This has been NASCAR’s most competitive era, with the most lead-lap finishes and the closest battles. And the common thread since Johnson entered the sport? Johnson celebrating in victory lane.

Just look at NASCAR’s Chase Era (2004-present). Johnson has 70 wins during that time, which is more thandouble his next-closest competitor (Kyle Busch, 34).

“In this generation? He’s first,” Busch said. “He’s the guy that’s a championship contender. He’s a guy that wins races. He’s obviously the guy you look at every year.”

But for now, even those hard-nosed competitors can look at the stat book and realize who they’re up against.

Six-time became a full-time Cup driver in 2002.

Six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, born Sept. 17, 1975, made his Sprint Cup debut in 2001. He became a full-time Cup driver in 2002.

What makes him so good? It’s not just what he can do on the track, Logano said. The way Johnson handles difficult situations and works with his team — a crucial aspect of today’s NASCAR — puts the 40-year-old above the rest.

“He’s probably better than everybody that way,” Logano said.

When Johnson won five championships in a row and six in eight years, it was actually easier to dismiss his success than it is now. That’s because achievements in a short amount of time can be twisted into writing it off as a hot streak, where sustained greatness is more impressive.

But just look at what’s happened in Johnson’s “down” years — a laughable term that can only be judged by his own high standards — since his last title in 2013.

Last year, he had five wins. The year before, he had four (and hasn't had fewer since President Obama’s first term).

And through it all, Johnson hasn’t changed as a person. Ask around, and you'll be sure to find Johnson has the most respect among his peers than any other driver in the garage.

“He just has a little more money in his pocket now than he did (when he started), but he certainly doesn't act any different,” Earnhardt said. “He doesn't get enough credit for that, because if I won five in a row, that would probably change me a little bit. But it's amazing — he's really down to earth, so you like to see him do well.”

Knowing the character of both his father and his teammate, Earnhardt Jr. said the Intimidator “would have thought the world of (Johnson)” and enjoyed being around him.

Well, except in one area.

“I think Dad would have liked Jimmie as a person, but he certainly wouldn't have enjoyed competing against him,” Earnhardt said. “I don't think any of us really (do). I mean, I love when we race door-to-door, but when he goes out there and spanks you, it's not a lot of fun.

[kidrock]

If Dale sr would have raced against JJ he would have slowed him down by putting the pumper to him a few times. You know rattled his cage.

In my opinion Dale sr. Was a better driver then JJ.

[CIRF]

And he'd get away with it, too.

It's been said before and will continue to be said (much to the chagrin of a few), we'll never be quite certain just how good ol' arnhead really was. Reason?.............because he had NASCAR and Billy France Jr. so deeply in his pocket that we can't fully know what were real accomplishments and what was due to the very cozy relationship with driver and sanction president. The '98 Daytona 500 is a perfect example, and there are many, many more.

[kidrock]

And he'd get away with it, too.

It's been said before and will continue to be said (much to the chagrin of a few), we'll never be quite certain just how good ol' arnhead really was. Reason?.............because he had NASCAR and Billy France Jr. so deeply in his pocket that we can't fully know what were real accomplishments and what was due to the very cozy relationship with driver and sanction president. The '98 Daytona 500 is a perfect example, and there are many, many more.

Although I agree with you he did have nascar in back pocket. I still believe he was one of the best in the business and for the record I wasn't even a fan of Dale sr.

[CIRF]

Although I agree with you he did have nascar in back pocket. I still believe he was one of the best in the business and for the record I wasn't even a fan of Dale sr.

Kid, he might have been but for the reason's stated above we'll never know for sure. Once again it's speculation, which is okay, but not definitive, by no means.

[kidrock]

Kid, he might have been but for the reason's stated above we'll never know for sure. Once again it's speculation, which is okay, but not definitive, by no means.

CIRF, in my opinion he was one of the best even though he did have NASCAR in his back pocket. I understand what your trying to say but i just don't see that taking away from some of things he accomplished.

And again that's my opinion

[drano]

The thing about nascar then was they needed Earnhardt.

[Clayton_Wetter]

CIRF, in my opinion he was one of the best even though he did have NASCAR in his back pocket. I understand what your trying to say but i just don't see that taking away from some of things he accomplished.

And again that's my opinion