Jimmie Johnson

Before you completely write my credibility off, or think I've totally gone of the deep end, hear me out. If I was betting the farm, I would take Jimmie Johnson. Luckily, there is no money on this, so I decided to go out on a limb, I mean Johnson has lose a championship at some point right? Seriously though, he will probably find another way to win his 6th straight title, but how boring would that be. It's more fun to talk about how last season showed, he does have some weaknesses.

It's the phrase everyone fears, NASCAR fans included, "It's time to have the talk. " Most of the time what comes next is never good. And unless you are a Jimmie Johnson fan, I'm afraid that is also true in this case. It's time to start talking about Johnson's place among the greatest of all time. He has 5 championships, only Petty and Earnhardt have more. But all of Jimmie's are in a row. That accomplishment would be impressive in any era, but with the competition level that exists today, its amazing.

No one saw this coming. No one.   Brad Keselowski won his first race in 2009 at Talladega Superspeedway, running a part-time schedule with single-car team Phoenix Racing. It was a nice story in a long season, one that ended with Jimmie Johnson winning the championship.   His second victory came in 2011 at Kansas Speedway while in his second full season with Penske Racing. That win moved him into 21st in points. Again, a feel-good story to weave into the year; one that culminates with Tony Stewart capturing his third title.

Okay NASCAR fans gather around, it's time to have the talk. I know many of you have been dreading it. But it's time. As Jimmie Johnson is creeping closer to a sixth title, we have to start embracing the possiblity that JJ belongs in he same mention with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. Here are the facts. Petty ran far more races than the the other two. It was just the way it was back then, so it's hard to compare wins. It did take Petty six seasons to get his first championship, 23 years to get his seven titles, it was 13 years between title number one and title number six. It took Earnhardt five years to get title number one, 19 years to get his seven titles, and it also took 13 years to get from one to six titles.

Sure Dale Earnhardt, Jr is having a career season, and Jimmie Johnson also sits in the top 10 of the Sprint Cup points standings. But something is missing this season at Hendrick Motorsports.... oh yeah...WINS. You have to go back to 1993 to find a season where HMS failed to win over the first 10 races of the season. Ricky Rudd got the team's first win at Michigan, week 14 on the schedule. Add to the fact to that the pressure that the organization has been sitting on win 199 since October 9th of last season (Jimmie Johnson's win at Kansas, some 17 races ago)

It's seems like you either love him, or you hate him. But no matter how you feel about Jimmie Johnson, it's hard to deny his place in NASCAR history. Think about this for a second, Johnson has made ever NASCAR Chase for the Championship, finished in the top 10 every season he has raced, and finished out of the top five only once. That's pretty dominate. After winning five straight titles, Johnson has finished third and then fifth in the points. But seriously, it's hard to believe you can keep a great driver down.

No one saw this coming. No one.   Brad Keselowski won his first race in 2009 at Talladega Superspeedway, running a part-time schedule with single-car team Phoenix Racing. It was a nice story in a long season, one that ended with Jimmie Johnson winning the championship.   His second victory came in 2011 at Kansas Speedway while in his second full season with Penske Racing. That win moved him into 21st in points. Again, a feel-good story to weave into the year; one that culminates with Tony Stewart capturing his third title.

Okay NASCAR fans gather around, it's time to have the talk. I know many of you have been dreading it. But it's time. As Jimmie Johnson is creeping closer to a sixth title, we have to start embracing the possiblity that JJ belongs in he same mention with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. Here are the facts. Petty ran far more races than the the other two. It was just the way it was back then, so it's hard to compare wins. It did take Petty six seasons to get his first championship, 23 years to get his seven titles, it was 13 years between title number one and title number six. It took Earnhardt five years to get title number one, 19 years to get his seven titles, and it also took 13 years to get from one to six titles.

Everyone is talking about Florida and Ohio, yet when it comes to the Chase for the Championship, Texas may be the true swing state. Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski have been the clear front runners for the chase from the beginning. But like any true underdog, both Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne have been hanging around ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness from the leaders. "Certainly one little slip up on either one of their parts then Kasey or I can be right there for the taking," said Bowyer.

They call the New Hampshire Motor Speedway the "Magic Mile. " I gotta be honest, I have no idea why. But can tell you that New Hampshire has the potential to be magical in both a good and bad way for most of the 12 chase drivers. If you are Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson or Denny Hamlin a win would make you look like a wizard after two weeks into the chase. If you are Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth or Kevin Harvick a bad run at New Hampshire to make your championship hopes disappear. "It was a disappointing result (in Chicago)

Just when you thought Tony Stewart had become some docile owner type, like manna from heaven...he's back! And as a fan who loves it when people stir the pot, it feels good. Even it you don't get my vague 90's reference (Tony, Toni, Tone', Google them), you had to have loved the fact that the helmet throwing finger wagging Bristol appears to be back, even if it is for one night only. "I saw him lingering, kind of waiting with his gear," said Jimmie Johnson. "I figured something was going to happen.  I heard he had a good toss on it. " Nailed the 17 dead on did Stewart and then vowed to wreck Matt Kenseth ever chance he gets.

Defending SprintCup champion Tony Stewart made a bold move to take the lead on a late restart and held off Jimmie Johnson for a redemptive win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.     Frustrated by a pit mishap at Las Vegas a year ago, Stewart dipped below the two leaders from the second row to take the lead with about 30 laps left in the 400-mile race. He pulled away from Johnson on three more restarts over the final 17 laps for his first win on the 1.5-mile tri-oval in the desert.