Is Johnson’s dominance making fans root for Gordon?
Quote selected text Published November 6th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Jimmie Johnson may be NASCAR’s “Nice Guy.” But his corporate, vanilla personality has done the unthinkable - it’s made NASCAR fans actually consider rooting for Jeff Gordon.
For the second season in a row, it appears that Johnson has found the key at just the right time that will drive him to the NASCAR Nextel Cup title.
And with nine wins, including the last three in a row, a strong case can be made that Johnson is once again NASCAR’s best driver.
For most of the 2007 season, however, it looked like Gordon was NASCAR’s best - and he was on pace to win his fifth Cup championship, but his first since 2001. At 36 years old, Gordon has matured into the “total package.”
He looks like a champion, acts like a winner, is probably the most articulate driver in the garage area and understands his obligation to the sport, whether it be cooperating with the media or signing autographs for the fans.
Usually, when Gordon speaks, he says something interesting.
Johnson has many of those same qualities but far too often seems like a creation from the corporate boardroom. He says the right things all the time, while Gordon has shown flashes of peevishness, which only adds a little character to his persona.
“I’m just mad that we sucked tonight, that’s all,” Gordon said after finishing seventh Sunday night. “The car was good at the end. We just couldn’t ever get it right earlier in the night. I’m disappointed with that.”
There was a time when Gordon bore a striking resemblance to the cartoon character, “Speed Racer.” Johnson looks more like “Dave Matthews,” but probably can’t carry a tune.
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I think Gordon has come around and found his spot among those fans who used
to hate him…it’s no longer a “love him or hate him” thing…he’s married
to a great woman…seems to be a wonderful daddy so far…and has really
come around. I can say this because I used to be the ‘hate him’ fan…now
I root for him…unless Jr is winning! lol I would like to see Jeff
get the championship this year…
It’s funny cause I am a fan of both Jeff & Jimmy but I found myself hoping Jimmy would do bad in races so Jeff could win his 5th championship.
Johnson, Gordon, and Earnhardt all suck. I hope they all fall off a cliff
I am the same. I am hoping Johnson falters and Gordon can win this Championship. He has 400 more points than anyone this season. He would have won the 2004 Championship under the old system as well. He would have clinched his 6th Championship last week at Texas had NASCAR not gone to the Chase.
smoke_n_jr wrote:
Na their are still those includin me who can’t stand Gordon or Johnson and i’m not
a jr. fan. I am surprised people are still watching races now because I haven’t
watched a full race since talladega, their nothin but snoozefests anymore. NASCAR has
screwed up a sport that used to be fun to watch the entire race, not just the finish and even
that isn’t that great anymore.
And i’m sick of hearing “well if we didnt’ have the chase Gordon would have X championships”
Y’all still seem to forget how boring the final few races of 2003 was, it was nothin but
is Kenesth gonna wreck? Somethin gonna break on his car? If theirs one thing Brian France
has done right it is coming up with the idea of the chase, even though it needs work now
since they F’ed it up big time with 12 drivers.
they both suck and are single handily boring me to death! But I do find myself liking Jeff better than Jimmie down this final strech. Not that the drive
for 5 means anything to me, I would rather it be that than Jimmie back to back!
As a Gordon fan, I think this is pretty funny. I consider Jimmie one of my favorite drivers (or I did) but I’m gonna be ticked if he wins the championship again. It’s just amazing to me how he NEVER seems to have a bad race (I realize this has been Gordon this year, but I’m talking about the last several years), never has to do a lot to his car throughout the race to finish strong, and never has any of the issues most of the other drivers have. He’s too perfect. It’s boring.
God forbid a driver and a crew know what they’re doing. He has more DNFs this year than Gordon and he’s had them in other years. Two years ago he lost the championship because of a DNF. Maybe they’re just smart enough to know how to fix the problem.
imjust sick of both Johnson and Gordon!!!!!!!!!!! YUCK cant we see some
other names up there…. its so boring. I hope Clint makes a big run
these next 2 races so we can see someone new win a championship
I think that Chad just has it figured out. The 48 team has their stuff together….so that makes them too perfect? Isn’t that the goal of all teams- get it right to begin with so there aren’t problems???? I think Johnson has proved that he deserves to win the championship. If your driver was in Johnson’s place, I don’t think you would be criticizing like you are now. Suck it up….move on.
To all Jr fans- at least next year he will be with a team that has it figured out!
I think people who make comments about JJ & JG under the name guest are wimps. They got it together, no ifs ands or buts.
Funny thing, I’m losing interest the more these two dominate! It’s totally boring not unless your a fan of hendricks. I on the other hand could care less right now between those two who does what. If I don’t see more balance toward the beginning of next year, I refuse to waste more time watching this stupid chevy parade. If this was any other make Nascar would have put in the good ole boy rule of who ever is beating the chevy’s with a rule infraction.
I think all in all if you really look at it Gordon Jimmie J, and Dale Jr
are all three darn good drivers DaleJr. had so many DnF’s this year
with motors he would be in the running if not for those lousy motors
I hope Jimmie pulls this thing out and wins he is a clean driver
and has good cars and machinery. It should be interesting with
Gordon,Jimmie j, and Dale all on the same team next year.
Steve Landers
WRONG!!! All of this is making NASCAR the most boring thing ever! The Hendrick dominance is what’s making the t.v. ratings and ticket sales fall! Who wants to go to a race and see a boring battle between teammates?!
I hope that Gordon and Johnson wreck EARLY in the race at Pheonix and Homestead and Boyer or Stewart just come up up and take it! That would make it all worth watching!
It is amazing how much Jimmie has accomplished in his short career thus far. I have been a Johnson AND Gordon fan since Johnson debuted… but the past few weeks, I have been kind of “hoping” Gordon finishes in the top 10 and Johnson wins. I actually think Johnson is just as good if not a better driver than Gordon. Of course, he has great equipment, but so does Gordon. Knaus and Johnson are a match made in Heaven. It’s obvious. If they pull off this championship like I have a feeling they are, then they have well deserved it. They aren’t going by the “old” points anymore… they have a chase. Deal with it. Johnson is the points leader. Maybe he’ll get 7 Championships by the time he retires. Go 48.
Personally, Jimmie Johnson’s dominance is not making me want to root for Jeff Gordon. I think it makes racing boring because it is turning into a Hendrick dominance.
This is racing, everyone is going to hate each other more as the season comes to an end. everyone had their chance to prove what they’ve got. just so happens that the Hendricks team are really good and know their stuff. ginn and childress racing had their dominance, its just a matter of time when Hendricks dominance will decrease,now isnt the time. let the better driver win.GO 48!!
all i have to say is GO 24, HES NOT OUT OF IT TIL THE LAST LAP AT HOMESTEAD. I STILL HAVE FAITH IN MY DRIVER. IM THINKING THE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE DETERMINED BY THEM FINISHING IN THIS CERTAIN SPOT OR HIGHER….LIKE RICHMOND WHERE ONE DRIVER HAD TO ATLEAST LEAD A LAP AND FINISH 5th OR BETTER
What in the world are all of you talking about? Both Jimmie and Jeff are awesome drivers and they both have incredible talents and wonderful attitudes, they are always positive. I’m not really a Jeff fan. (mu hubby is though) But I have to admit Jeff’s a good guy and he’s great at what he does. Jimmie, for me is #1. He’s just awesome out there! I like Dale Jr. too. He is really good and his step-mother is making a huge mistake. But I’m sure he will benefit and if he moves over to Hendrick, he will surely excel. These are all great NASCAR drivers and highly respectable men! (plus did you ever notice the fact that Jimmie is so HOT!!!?) I see no reason for talking down about any of them. Would you just rather they not try and race their absolute best? Because they deserve these wins, they worked hard.
I can’t stand either of them, but I would rather see Gordon than Johnson win the cup!
The 48 team has it together so good now , I think Hermie Sadler could win in that car. So if Chad can make it past Homestead without getting caught , then unfortunately JJ will win back to back Cups.
Without getting caught? That’s just ignorance on your part. For the last time. THEY ARE NOT CHEATING. Nascar isn’t going to let just them cheat. They are just flatout a better team than any of the others. Deal with it…because you’re going to have to.
Hendrick has their stuff together but the fact that they are so dominate is BoRiNg. I usually don’t tune in anymore because I know the outcome of the race before it even starts. If I HAVE to pick one I say I’d rather see Gordon win it. Jimmie’s team cheated once and regardless of whether they are doing it now or not, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Not that I liked Jimmie before that though, haha.
OK OK I have been outed. I’m a true blue Jeff Jordon hater and I have been ever since he started driving.
The 1st time he whined about someone getting in his way of a win.
The 1st & 2ond and 3rd time he blubbered on stage at the awards banquet like a little girl.
The 1st time he RUBED his way to a win over another driver.
The 1st time he blamed every one else for his problems. Whiner, Whiner
And most of all when he cheated on his 1st wife (that worked out well for him didn’t it)
I belong to the “let any body but Jeff win” club so if Jimmy Johnson wins so be it but I would much rather see Clint (07) win the chase.
Now all you blubbering Gordon huggers can let it fly all you want over this but you know I’m right …
I just find myself seeing what else is on TV. Or better yet, I shut it off and pay attention to my family. I actually found myself watching the Lions slaughter Denver.
It’s turned into: “Who won the race…Jimmie or Jeff?”
Admittedly, 24/48 has their stuff together this year. However, I’m not a fan of either…so with that I say “BFD”.
Bring back the 80’s and the 90’s, that’s when racing was fun to watch, from flag to flag!
Stuff Brian, stuff the Chase, stuff the CoT!
Bring back the manufacturers. Wouldn’t it be awesome to see Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Ford, Mercury, Dodge, Plymouth…………….and Toyota, competing against each other?
Half the fun of watching the races, was bouncing the remote off your friends head when the car you have sitting in the driveway, just passed the car he has sitting in the driveway! Sure, they’re nothing like what they raced, but they LOOKED like what was being raced!
It’s the reason I got into Stock Car racing. It’s the same reason that got lots of people into Stock Car racing. Hey, I drive the same car as Richard Petty, or Bobby Allison, or Harry Gant, or Dale Earnhardt, or Bill Elliott! My point is, people can relate!
Whatever happened to win on Sunday, sell on Monday? How many of you here have even heard the expression? Probably not many, because the era is dead and gone, over. Anybody know where I can buy a CoT?
Lets give the cars back to the teams and the Engineers. How in the world did we ever get to the point where NASCAR tells us what springs and shocks and chassis and bodies we can use? How did we ever let that happen?
Let the teams build the cars and if a manufacturer lags behind, too bad! Back to the drawing board and better luck next year. Therein lies the beauty of having all the manufacturers involved, better competition.
Let the drivers drive the cars and take the microphones out of their rear ends! If they’ve got something to say to one another, let them say it. If they want to push each other around a bit, let ‘em! They did in the old days and they’d be fishing and hunting with each other the rest of the week. These guys are so tied up and twisted inside, it’s a wonder they can even race at all. It’s not a weekend tea social out there, it racin’!
And what’s all this crap about hating drivers? The longer you’re in this sport, the more drivers you should like. Not hate them! Some of the comments I read here are unbelievable.
I was introduced to this sport by Junior Johnson. So, I rooted for his drivers, Neil and Darrell. Neil and Darrell left and along came Terry. I still rooted for Neil and Darrell AND Terry. Terry left Junior, so I rooted for his new driver, Jeff. But, I still liked Neil, Darrell and Terry. Then Junior got Bill, Sterling, Hut, Jimmy. I liked them all! I’m supposed to hate drivers because they don’t drive the car I root for anymore? It’s all about racing, not hating! All I want to see is a good race!
Maybe one day we’ll get back to good racing. But, for now, eh.
Go Clint!
NASCAR CHASE IS FOR THE BIRDS. IT IS SUCH A MIXED UP MESS, A LOT LIKE THE BUSH RACES. THE CUP GUYS SHOULD NOT EVEN BE IN IT. THE TOP 5 WINNERS IN A RACE ARE ALL CUP DRIVERS, NASCAR SHOULD NOT LET THEM IN ,BUT THEY SELL MORE TICKETS THAT WAY. MONEY,MAKES THE DRIVERS GO ROUND AND ROUND!!!!!!!AND AS FOR J.J.- HE HAS BECOME SO BIG HEADED BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE HE IS “KING” OF ALL . A NICE DRIVER?WRONG, HE IS A CHEAT JUST LIKE HIS CREW CHIEF.AS FOR JEFF GORDON, HE IS THE ONE THAT RULES, AND HE ADMITS HE IS A WHINNER, PLUS, HE HAS SPIRIT, AND GOD IN HIS LIFE. THATS THE #1 TOP MAN, SO IF GORDON, JOHNSON, BOYER, WHOEVER WINS, IT IS MEANT TO BE.I WILL PULL FOR MY DRIVER,JEFF GORDON, MY DEAR HUSBAND WILL ALSO BE PULLING FOR HIM. MAY WE ALL ENJOY, AND HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT DURING THE RACE.MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN OUR 70′S, BEEN TO RACES, HAD GREAT FUN, WE CANNOT GET TO THEM ANYMORE BUT ENJOY WATCHING. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERANT FEELINGS ABOUT ALL OF THIS,AND THATS A GOOD THING.DON’T YOU THINK????
I don’t care that he wins alot of races.. well actually I sorta do, but I hate him mostly because he doesn’t have a personality.. he is so boring to watch after winning a race it just makes me shut off the tv each time he wins now. He does that little finger thing each time he wins. Seems that he is never excited after winning… it’s like.. it’s just another win to him and it ain’t nothing special. Well.. there’s my 2 cents of the deal. Peace.
Well, all in all, NASCAR has allowed all of this to grow into a Sport that has become so one sided that they are losing Money, Their own God.
As for JJ and JG with Hendrick, who’s to say will win, who really cares at this point, one of them will. The year is done and finished and the other 40 drivers that have driven their asses off are not even spoken of on TV coverage. It’s like there are onlt two cars on the track. We need to get back to the Sport of Racing Stock Cars NASCAR.
I think the fans are so bored and fed up with the whole process of this new way of racing and generic driver and car that it’s all just flat in color.
So, here goes, JG won his CC with TC, known fact. If you are any driver from the 80s and 90s and raced. JJ is doing the same. NASCAR is allowing all of this to happen. You have some of the biggest cheaters in Stock Car History all over the Same Roof and they are Winning, does that tell you anything.
We may not be able to take the cars apart piece by piece to put our hands on that TC but we were not born yesterday……………..
JJ cars rides on Rails, He never searches and his car is never loose. Remember last week when he was racing Matt for the lead… Just not that week but all the races…………. At the last of every race JJ just drivers to the front to win. DUD………
Ya,Ya, I’ve hear it before.
The answer to the question is yes. When Jeffy was upstaging DW, Rusty and Big E, we thought it was cute. Then he just drove Big E a crazy. Before we realized it, Jeffy had become a star. He won championships running against Rusty, Big E, the Labontes, Jarrett, and Elliott when they still had talent. No easy task! Then Jimmie comes along and upstages Jeffy. Jeffy isn’t about to give up. He will put the boots to Jimmie if he can get that next title this year! I am hoping Jeffy beats Jimmie because a driver as good as Johnson doesn’t deserve the great racing luck he’s had!