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StumblePublished Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 | 5:24 p.m.
Updated Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 | 5:31 p.m.
A friend asked me this week if I thought a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson would be good or bad for NASCAR. “It will be good and bad for NASCAR,” I said.
Why is it good? What sport wouldn’t want a photogenic, articulate and polite athlete as its star performer? Especially in a time when there are so many professional athletes who are ethically challenged, have issues with law enforcement or are chemically dependent. As a four-time champion, Johnson would be a classy representative for the sport who would also help to debunk many of the stereotypes people apply to stock car racing.
But, unfortunately, some of the attributes that make him a positive for the sport also make him a negative for the sport. Johnson’s polite demeanor results in a charge, made by a large segment of the NASCAR fan base, that he’s too vanilla. As a result, he’s not as popular as he should be and doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Do his movie-star looks, beautiful wife and lack of a few rough edges make him a figure that’s hard for the majority of fans to relate to? Maybe. But there are athletes with similar attributes in other sports and they are adored by most of the fans.
At last week’s Cup race in Phoenix, Johnson received a mountain of boos during driver introductions. That’s unfortunate. Would fans rather see a more colorful driver competing for his fourth consecutive title? Suppose the very colorful Kyle Busch was on the verge of capturing the Sprint Cup? Many fans would be dismayed that someone they consider to be a jerk would be the champion.
And Johnson isn’t the first nice guy to come along in NASCAR. Bill Elliott is a nice guy who isn't know for being colorful in front of the TV cameras, but he has consistently been one of the most popular drivers in the sport.
I’ll admit that I like a driver who has a little edge to his personality. Dale Earnhardt was my favorite driver. But I can also appreciate what Johnson has accomplished and I can see where his type of charisma, which is much different than the late Dale Earnhardt’s, makes him a good representative for stock car racing.
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Regardless of his effect on the sport, Johnson may rewrite the history books this weekend at Homestead. That is a tremendous accomplishment that may take several years for another driver to accomplish. Johnson may not put more people in the stands, but he will represent the sport in a professional fashion that can only reflect positively on the state of Sprint Cup racing.
If Jr. would start winning some championships we wouldn't be having this discussion.
I gave up on NASCAR after the hendrick dominance started and they kept changing the rules to suit them. Theres really no reason to watch anymore because the parity is no longer there, the cars are no longer "stock" cars, the restrictor plates ruin competition, the competitive arguments/personalities are immediately quelled, the best team is the one that somehow finds the right loopholes around the rules on race day, tires that cant seem to hold up to a butter knife, just on and on. NASCAR is no longer fun.
I've stopped watching NASCAR. I can predict which racing organization will win. It will be either a Hendrick's race team or a team supported by the Hendrick's organization. Why would race fans waste their time or money to watch the races or attend the races to watch Hendrick's not only win the races but dominate the races.
Fully agree on the comments regarding Nascar's decline. I think 10-15 drivers, if they had JJ's equipment, could win the Cup. The remainder are all "Start and Park". Something needs be done, or Nascar is headed to being a regional sport again. For a real chuckle about Nascar, go to:
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/na...
Funny but sad...
I haven't watched NASCAR in years as I've moved on to supporting American riders in World Superbike and MotoGP.
Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, Nickey Hayden anyone? Bueller?
I challenge anyone to share a NASCAR race as thrilling as Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo's 2-lap dash for the cash at Barcelona:
http://e.blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplaye...
1st and foremost lets not forget when Rick Hendrick was indited on 27 counts of mail fraud. Paid his high priced doc to commit to him having leukemia back in the early 90's. The feds dropped 26 counts and let this creep on 1 year home arrest. He looks and IS healthier then you or me! The world really has forgotton what a dirtball he is! All you fans that know nothing about it ...Read Up!
That being said....
What sport lets a competitor get caught cheating then lets them continue to compete for the championship?? None I know of! The 48 team cheats, gets caught and can still compete for the trophy?? Somethings wrong with that alone!
4 in a row...NASCAR'S death roll for sure!
Watch the yellow flag at the end of the races. Who does it draw all the way from the back, right to the front of the crowd?? duh... um lets see...Jeffy and Jimmy..time and time and time and time again. When the TV cameras can't see what is on the track for those yellow flags thrown...there ain't nothin' there! Those cameras can see the threads in a lugnut 1 mile downrange! ....watch and pay attention to when that yellow flag flys and who it benefits!!
We need a new racing league without all the garbage thats gone on since Dale Sr. passed away! Get back to the beach in Daytona...That was racin'
"The Northern Hillbilly"
This year, I thought Dale Jr. had passed away.
Anyway, look at the ratings:
"So it's noteworthy that NASCAR this season finished with its Cup ratings down nearly across the board. The breakdown:
ABC's races averaged 3.5% of U.S. TV households, down 5% from last year -- and down 8% from two years ago.
Before that, TNT's races averaged 3.3% -- down 8% from both 2008 and 2007 levels.
Fox, which has early season coverage, averaged 5.1%, down 10% from last year and 9% from 2007".
I hope Jimmy J. wins another 4 in a row. By then, the closest Nascar race, other than LV, will be in Texas. 80G fans in 150G seat speedway. Pitiful mismanagement...