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Johnson Is Simply Money In The Bank

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2009

Updated: 02/15/2009 12:12 am

DAYTONA BEACH - Today we begin the countdown to Jimmie Johnson's record-setting fourth consecutive NASCAR points championship. The beginning of the countdown is also known as the Daytona 500.

Yes, everyone will go around and around, today and on a lot of other days, but they're chasing their tails. Because 26 races from now, the real Chase will be on and a red light will go on in Jimmie Johnson's brain and that will be that. If that sounds boring, well, it is. Dynasties will do that.

"We are very proud of what we've done, but nobody has the feeling that we've won three, so let's throw it up into neutral and cruise," Johnson said of his race team. "It's a simple mind-set for us. We just want to win. That's what we do."

Presumably out of sheer boredom, a media panel didn't choose Johnson as the favorite to win the 2009 title, instead picking Carl Edwards, a fine driver who happens to do back flips, get into dust-ups with wild Kyle Busch and be more quotable than Jimmie Johnson. Go stand next to your refrigerator. It's more quotable than Jimmie Johnson, too.

Me? I like Johnson fine, because real greatness is never boring. And in Johnson there is real greatness. The dude has been driving full time for only seven years and has won three titles, finished second twice and never been out of the Top 5. Everyone talks about the economic downturn and NASCAR's plight. Meet Jimmie Johnson - money in the bank.

Only all these NASCAR beer guts, track owners and all-around fuds want it just right. They're the same losers who openly moaned when Jeff Gordon, every hair in place, started blowing the doors off even Dale Earnhardt.

They want old school. They want red hot. They want the red rooster, Cale Yarborough, the only driver to have won three titles in a row until J.J. came along. They want 30 years ago at this same Daytona 500, Cale on backstretch, fighting the Allison brothers. They'd love to see Jimmie Johnson hop from his car today and punch somebody in the mouth.

Hey, let's not all breathe through our mouths at once.

Yes, our boy needs some work. He came back from the cleaners with too much starch. He can't even give a good answer when someone asks if his three-peat gets enough credit.

"I'm extremely thankful to my fan base and my growing fan base at the end of last year," Johnson said. "The things we use to show popularity and success, with souvenir sales and polling that have gone on, we've been No. 1, if not No. 2 to Dale Jr. in those areas, where normally we've been No. 4 or No. 5."

Polling?

Oh, never mind that. Jimmie Johnson might be missing those grand and glorious rough edges, but he speaks a language anyone who loves racing should love: winning. Think he isn't driven? Think other winners don't see it? Last year, right after title No. 3, Johnson was at an ESPN studio when he bumped into football guy Mike Ditka, Iron Mike.

"I saw you on TV," Ditka told J.J. "You are a dynasty."

It all blows the champ away sometimes.

"Truthfully," Johnson said, "I'm so far ahead of the goals I set five or six years ago, I'm just damn happy to be where I am."

Hey, did he just say a bad ...

"Oops, sorry," Jimmie Johnson said.

OK, maybe he should belt just one guy ...

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