| Winning back-to-back championships is a rare feat in | | | | the final Sprint Cup standings. It is apparent that |
| NASCAR these days. Prior to the recent Jimmie | | | | Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus have this |
| Johnson ascendancy, the last driver to win | | | | NASCAR thing down pat. They lead the list of |
| championship is succession was none other than Jeff | | | | favorites in 2009. |
| Gordon in 1997 and 1998.Many fans and analysts | | | | How would a fourth consecutive championship affect |
| perceived three consecutive championships in | | | | the sport of NASCAR? Would it be good for the |
| today’s NASCAR as virtually impossible to | | | | sport? It is a double-edged sword. It would be good |
| accomplish. Cale Yarborough won three | | | | for the sport because it has never been |
| championships in a row in 1976, 1977, and 1978. Many | | | | accomplished, and may never be accomplished again |
| will contend that NASCAR was a different sport | | | | in our lifetime, meaning that we would be witnessing |
| during that stretch of time. There were fewer teams | | | | one of the most impressive achievements in Sprint |
| with powerful resources. There were only a handful | | | | Cup history. It could also present a negative affect |
| of teams capable of winning on a consistent basis. | | | | on the sport based on the lack of parity. While |
| In our current era, the competition is tight; | | | | Johnson has a respectable fan base, the majority of |
| nevertheless, if a team discovers a technological | | | | fans have not embraced Johnson the way other |
| advantage, it can make a huge difference on race | | | | champions have been embraced. Some fans just |
| day, and that team can leave the competition in the | | | | simply want to see someone different hoist the |
| dust. That seems to be the case with Jimmie | | | | championship trophy at Homestead in November. It is |
| Johnson and the No. 48 team. The Hendrick | | | | becoming habitual for Johnson to sit at the head |
| Motorsports team won championship in 2006, 2007, | | | | table during the December awards banquet, and fans |
| and 2008, making him only the second driver to | | | | are starving for a new champion. |
| three-peat. Even prior to his championship seasons, | | | | Winning four championships would be unbelievable, |
| he was winning, and winning often. In fact, ever since | | | | perhaps the second most impressive NASCAR |
| Johnson arrived to NASCAR’s highest level of | | | | statistic behind only the seven total championships |
| competition, he has finished no worse than fifth in | | | | won by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. |