NASCAR: On Jimmie Johnson and Dynasties
What in the world is that smell? Is that musty beer burning in the infield fire pit? Could it be the mixture of Sunoco gasoline and rubber that comes from any NASCAR race? It could be…and probably is all of the above. But the most pungent odor I can smell is that of a dynasty. Not that long ago, I cried out about the injustices of racing dynasties, but have given that some thought. After reflecting on that issue for some time now, I am kind of, almost, pretty sure convinced that I like dynasties. Here’s why:
A dynasty takes a normal man, say the driver of the number 48 Lowe’s machine, and at first turns him into a Champion. Then the next year, the pressure is really on. Can this guy do it all over again? Is there anything left in the tank, or will the pinnacle of his chosen sport be enough of a reward to make him rethink doing it all over again? Yet, the #48 with Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel did in fact have enough left. In 2007, he won the Cup just like he did the year before.
And now, for the third year in a row, Jimmie Johnson stands on the verge of cementing his greatness at the top of his sport. Cale Yarborough won the Cup in 1976, 77, and 78. To date, Cale is the only driver to ever have three consecutive Cup championships. That small part of NASCAR history may get a bit more crowded this year.
It’s been exactly 30 years since NASCAR fans have had this rare opportunity to watch a dynasty happen right before their eyes. Arguably, Petty (7), Earnhardt (7), and Gordon (4) have their place in history for the grasp they held on the sport. Yet this year, the 33 year old from California is set to permanently mark his spot in history.
In Martinsville on Sunday, Jimmie Johnson was given the pole by rain, the first pit stall by points, and the win by the same disciplined driving that has gotten him on the brink of back-to-back-to-back NASCAR Sprint Cup championships. He led over 339 of the 500 laps, and not even the green-white-checkered finish was enough to make it close. Jimmie Johnson simply had too much power.
And this is precisely why I have sort of, kind of, maybe, perhaps changed my mind about dynasty drivers. Let’s just say that Jimmie Johnson, golden boy of NASCAR, wins three Cups in a row. With each victory he racks up, there are legions of NASCAR fans getting bored with the #48 car winning every damn race. And sooner or later, the same people who jeered Jeff Gordon, those same fans who hated #3, the same fans that wished Petty would just shave that ’stache and retire, will be turning on you too Jimmie. Ride the golden boy parachute as long as you can…they’re coming for you.
As with all sports dynastys…at first they are nice and shiny..but soon they rust and the world wants something new. As with politics, the incumbent will get beat eventually.
As Dwight Schrute said in an episode of The Office, “One day, we all will fall.”
Stay tuned later in the week for my preview of the next stop on the NASCAR calendar in Atlanta! Exclusively on www.midwestsportsfans.com
[tags]jimmie johnson, nascar, auto racing[/tags]
Tags: Auto Racing, Chase, Dynasty, Jimmie Johnson, Martinsville, NASCAR
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I always think that dynastic performances by either individuals or teams is good for sports, as long as they do not last for TOO long, as long as the dominance does not preclude others from at least being competitive. (At that point, it just becomes boring.) But there is something special about watching greatness, and about a succession of underdogs trying to “slay the dragon.” When it actually happens, and the dynasty is broken, it makes it that much more exciting.
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