Jimmie Johnson is Bad Business for NASCAR

How is that for a controversial headline for a controversial article? As I watched the race on Sunday, I began to strongly feel this way watching Johnson take the lead. I was reading tweets and most of them were complaints. As soon as I decided to write on this topic, I prepared myself for the hate and comments I will face for publishing this. However, I want to make it clear, that I have nothing but respect for Jimmie Johnson for what he has done and accomplished in his career. He deserves nothing but respect for his career and those accomplishments.

Feb 24, 2013; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson poses with the Harley J. Earl Trophy after winning the 2013 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

So what do I mean by Jimmie Johnson is bad business for NASCAR? Well, the fact that our sport has someone who can dominate at any track the circuit goes to and has won five consecutive championships and is always ready for his sixth one…is great. We have the next best ambassador for our sport and the next Richard Petty. Johnson is the modern era Richard Petty. You can’t argue that!

However, at the slightest mention of his name, Chad Knaus or his team…and the growls of the entire fan base of NASCAR with the exception his own fans can be heard around the world. You are either a Jimmie Johnson fan, or you do not like him. It’s a pretty simple and basic formula.

More people dislike Johnson then they like him. Why? Again, it’s another easy to understand formula. He and Chad Knaus win. They dominate. Of course you can’t leave out the fact that a good majority of NASCAR fans are proud to be fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Once Johnson grabs the lead and dominates in a race, there is a seventy-five percent chance in my opinion that you can forget anyone else having a shot to win the race.

Johnson and Knaus just know each other well and communicate well. That is their recipe for their success. Week in and week out they show up at each track to win. They are fast. They lead laps. They dominate. They have good pit stops. They win.

However, if Johnson continues to dominate like he has been since 2005, fans are going to grow tired of the sport and begin to lose interest in it. Seeing one driver and his team “run” the show each week and year is very boring, especially if you’re not a fan of that driver.

Yes, I know that Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski both have won the Sprint Cup Championship in the past two seasons since Johnson’s last crown. Still, he hasn’t been far behind them in points at the end of the season and was just points away from his sixth title. Not to mention during the season he always finds himself up front and leading laps.

There really is nothing NASCAR can do. It’s up to competitor teams to get their equipment as good as the No. 48 team’s is and begin to compete with him. Until then, we’re going to be seeing a lot of Jimmie Johnson whether you like him or not.

I’m not writing to bash Johnson at all. Just expressing an opinion.