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Biggest Loser
Monday, August 28, 2006
By Heather Pohlabel
For the past four years, NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson could literally be labeled at the "biggest loser". For four years in a row, the championship title was within reach. In 2002, Jimmie finished 5th in points, in 2003 and in 2004, Johnson finished second in points, and in 2005, the last race of the season knocked him down to finishing 5th in points. He was on the brink of the championship both years, but could not grab it. Is Jimmie Johnson going to let the championship title slip away yet again this year?
This year alone, Johnson has remained the top in points for all but two races, has four first place finishes, twelve top ten finishes (not including his first place finishes, and no did not finishes. These stats are more impressive than his 2005 stats, when Tony Stewart took the lead and would not give it back. Will the same thing happen again this year with former champion Matt Kenseth or even former Busch series champion Kevin Harvick? It is completely possible, and if history repeats itself, will Johnson be walking away without the championship title once again?
This year has been significantly wonderful for Johnson and the Lowes 48 team, winning Daytona, the All-Star race, and the Brickyard. Surprisingly, the number 48 car did not win at Charlotte, a race that Johnson had dominated, winning four out of the last five races there. Could the tides be turning and could Jimmie Johnson finally bring home his first Nextel Cup championship? Statistically, it is possible. However, in 2003, he was in the top ten in points for all thirty six weeks, but only walked away with the first losers spot, number two. In 2004, he had eight wins (in comparison to four this season), twenty top five finishes, twenty three top ten finishes, and one pole. Again, he walked away second for the season.
So what is the problem here? Why can't Hendrick's Motorsports and crew chief Chad Knauss get Jimmie Johnson his Nextel Cup championship?
What's lacking:
Team Effort
Jimmie Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon love to challenge each other for the higher spot. Very rarely will one of them buckle for the other to take the checkered flag. Every now and again they will draft with each other, but rarely will they block or allow the other to pass without a fight. The same can be said for the number 5 car of Kyle Busch. Busch wants to win so badly that he often times makes very careless mistakes that take out other drivers, including his own teammates. Busch does not yet have the team dedication that the least successful teammate Brian Vickers has. Unfortunately for Vickers, this has cost him his job with Hendrick's Motor Sports. Vickers is a talented drivers, but spends much time helping his more famous teammates and not winning races. Dedication and team spirit do not pay for Hendrick's Motor Sports car drivers.
An Aggressive Crew Chief
Chad Knauss is wonderful and Jimmie seems to respond well and work well with him; however, he doesn't have the authoritative push that Jimmie needs to win races. He's very laid back and often tells Jimmie to settle for a top ten instead of pushing him to make it to Victory Lane. Knauss often underestimates his team and his driver, and for this, Johnson often does not drive to his full potential or take risks to win races.
Friends on the Track
Thinking back to the 2005 season, Jimmie Johnson did not make very many friends. Even Mark Martin spoke out about his reckless driving. The problem with Johnson is that he never accepts responsibility for wrecking people and if he has a problem on the track, he immediately blames another driver, even when no blame is due. Take Michigan for example. Johnson got into the wall on his own when a tire went bad and he went on to blame a driver for getting into the back of him. After reviewing the clip several times, it was obvious that no car was near the spoiler of the 48 car. Jimmie is just a blamer, and these guys don't take too well to that.
Hopefully Johnson will not disappoint his fans this year. They deserve the win as much as he does and have been waiting for it for as long as he has. With a push from his crew chief and some more aggressive moves and less blame, Jimmie Johnson could certainly be the 2006 Nextel Cup champion and for once, not the biggest loser.
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