Jimmie Johnson By the Numbers

The only thing that could change the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship picture this point would be an egregious violation of the rules.  Considering that Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus know their way around the rulebook better than most, just start calling him 6-Time.

Enjoy greatness while it’s here, because that 48 car ranks one peg below the famed 43 of Richard Petty for title achievement.  Also remember that the famed 3 driven by Dale Earnhardt was for 6 of his 7 title runs.

True greatness is achieved when the stakes are highest and as an athlete your performance is equal to the task.  Just looking at the nine races completed within the Chase for the Championship so far shows without a doubt that Johnson is deserving.  No finish lower than 11 is the first number that stands out.  Average finish 4.7 with 2 wins is further evidence of championship-caliber achievements.  This happened during the final stages of the season when the title is at hand.

Another mind-boggling layer to this accomplishment is no one else put together a 9-week stretch like that all season.  Not even Johnson prior to the Chase could string them like that.  Matt Kenseth from August 18 at Michigan through October 12 at Charlotte had an average finish of 6.3 with two wins.   Kevin Harvick starting at Darlington on May 11 through July 14 at New Hampshire averaged a place of 6.1 with a win in the 600 mile race.  In the Chase the 29 team has been almost as good averaging a 7th place finish with the two checkered flags.

Kyle Busch was never that consistent at any point through the year though always a threat to win.  Take out that blown engine in Chicago and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the other eight Chase races averaged a 5.9.  Hendrick haters take note.  The 48 and 88 cars come from the same shop.