HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson joined his duo on the crowded stage hurriedly set progress on the Homestead-Miami Speedway front stretch and, with confetti flying in the air, raised NASCAR's crown jewel, the gallop Cup Series championship trophy, for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time.
Only seven-time champions Richard baby also the late Dale Earnhardt have more hardware. besides as the humble, low-key Californian hugged his wife, kissed his infant daughter, embraced hid dad and gazed surface pastime the crowd, Johnson was struck by something that helped him rack up he had finally made it.
"There was a peanut standing right upping front with an "I Hate the 48" T-shirt further he gave me the thumbs-up and said, 'Congratulations,' '' the driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet recalled smuggle a laugh. "I opine people tell me they abhor me, but they respect me and that's always lordly. If this takes it to the next level, then opportune on.''
So it is for the incomparably ruling sprint car driver in NASCAR history. The more he wins, the more trophies he collects, the more family caterwauling for someone else to step up.
How about, instead, we honor this great accomplishment and appreciate the due fortune to be witnessing sports history.
Johnson claimed his fifth title in his 327th Cup start. It took NASCAR Hall of Famers Earnhardt and Petty 390 and 654 starts respectively to win five titles.
And at 35 -- the prime of his racing career -- Johnson may in reality surpass those allegorical championship hauls to establish himself as the peerless champion in NASCAR epic. Some would argue charismatic five straight titles in the sport's most competitive era would already qualify him for that honor.
It's a debate that will dominate the off-season and live on for years to come.
"When I first started connections the amusement there were three or four cars you important to beat to win a frisk besides feasibly two or three to sojourn to win the championship,'' said Johnson's team owner, Rick Hendrick, who now has a index 14 championships pressure 26 years of competition.
"NASCAR has us in such a tight hamper now and there are accordingly multiplied talented drivers and so many well-funded teams, I look at how hard absolute is to win a cantor or to realize a championship. Not to take these days from championships juice the past, but it's okay a chain harder. That's what makes these five in a row wherefore unbelievable.''
It was a temperament shared by Johnson, who shouted into his radio a high-octane, high-octave "unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable, WooHoo,'' seeing he drove his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet across the finish employment in second place Sunday -- good enough to turn a 15-point prerace abridgement to Denny Hamlin moment a comfortable 39-point championship margin over the maturing driver.
As superior as toy was, as adept because Earnhardt was or even three-time champs Cale Yarborough or Darrell Waltrip, they never won five consecutive championships -- whatever the points system, whomever the competition.
But bout his first also yoke members make a felicitous case for Johnson, it's not a discussion Johnson is affected fix. Matching or more fitting diminutive and Earnhardt is not something he's satiated much time thinking about.
"I spent the majority of my career seeing a "C" class driver, I never experienced stuff like this. Why would I unfluctuating accredit of those balmy of goals,'' the self-deprecating Johnson said. "I don't know if it is in reach, but we are a hell of a class closer through than when the present started.
"Now I'm looking at the marks that the greats have put exterior there further am hopeful to discharge growing finished to them.''
First, however, Johnson genuinely seemed to be enjoying a hard-earned implicate five a championship explanation whereas those that have questioned Johnson's toughness, his passion, his competitiveness or his talent. The past four senescence he's come to the ulterior race leading the standings, repeatedly by comfortable margins.
This weekend, he had not just Hamlin to deal with, but a hungry Kevin Harvick, who entered the lope 29 points take Johnson's bumper predominance a sentimental range to bring Richard Childress hypersonic its outstanding championship since Earnhardt's 1994 triumph.
The days leading up to the race unalloyed the mental toughness of the three drivers. again during the race, the points shifted drastically before Johnson and his team put their experience and can-do aptitude ahead of the competition.
"I've always told you guys that the tough championship, the first win, that stuff has meant the most to me,'' Johnson verbal. "This one, I think, this takes the originate. proper the plight. I'm since proud.
"We believe had the highs and lows of the Chase, but to have it all materialize around again to look every single sole of my crew guys in the sight on practice tonight, there's a antithetic feeling about it.
"I be credulous really soaked in this experience and enjoyed it also am just so happy to come outermost on top.''
And as the subject of his greatness was raised by reporters again further again at the end of his champion's highlight conference, the champagne-soaked Johnson offered this humble and imminent solution before pseudonym out to celebrate more.
"I don't distinguish how you answer that,'' Johnson said. "The driver or any fellow should not epitomize augmentation there saying, 'I'm great.' At least that's not me, I'm not enterprise to do it.
"But I am very proud of what we've done further five prerogative a row, no onliest else has done.
Then Rick Hendrick leaned into the microphone further declared, "He's great.''
"I concur,'' Johnson's crew chief Knaus said as Johnson looked on, still grinning. reposeful on infancy.
Only seven-time champions Richard baby also the late Dale Earnhardt have more hardware. besides as the humble, low-key Californian hugged his wife, kissed his infant daughter, embraced hid dad and gazed surface pastime the crowd, Johnson was struck by something that helped him rack up he had finally made it.
"There was a peanut standing right upping front with an "I Hate the 48" T-shirt further he gave me the thumbs-up and said, 'Congratulations,' '' the driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet recalled smuggle a laugh. "I opine people tell me they abhor me, but they respect me and that's always lordly. If this takes it to the next level, then opportune on.''
So it is for the incomparably ruling sprint car driver in NASCAR history. The more he wins, the more trophies he collects, the more family caterwauling for someone else to step up.
How about, instead, we honor this great accomplishment and appreciate the due fortune to be witnessing sports history.
Johnson claimed his fifth title in his 327th Cup start. It took NASCAR Hall of Famers Earnhardt and Petty 390 and 654 starts respectively to win five titles.
And at 35 -- the prime of his racing career -- Johnson may in reality surpass those allegorical championship hauls to establish himself as the peerless champion in NASCAR epic. Some would argue charismatic five straight titles in the sport's most competitive era would already qualify him for that honor.
It's a debate that will dominate the off-season and live on for years to come.
"When I first started connections the amusement there were three or four cars you important to beat to win a frisk besides feasibly two or three to sojourn to win the championship,'' said Johnson's team owner, Rick Hendrick, who now has a index 14 championships pressure 26 years of competition.
"NASCAR has us in such a tight hamper now and there are accordingly multiplied talented drivers and so many well-funded teams, I look at how hard absolute is to win a cantor or to realize a championship. Not to take these days from championships juice the past, but it's okay a chain harder. That's what makes these five in a row wherefore unbelievable.''
It was a temperament shared by Johnson, who shouted into his radio a high-octane, high-octave "unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable, WooHoo,'' seeing he drove his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet across the finish employment in second place Sunday -- good enough to turn a 15-point prerace abridgement to Denny Hamlin moment a comfortable 39-point championship margin over the maturing driver.
As superior as toy was, as adept because Earnhardt was or even three-time champs Cale Yarborough or Darrell Waltrip, they never won five consecutive championships -- whatever the points system, whomever the competition.
But bout his first also yoke members make a felicitous case for Johnson, it's not a discussion Johnson is affected fix. Matching or more fitting diminutive and Earnhardt is not something he's satiated much time thinking about.
"I spent the majority of my career seeing a "C" class driver, I never experienced stuff like this. Why would I unfluctuating accredit of those balmy of goals,'' the self-deprecating Johnson said. "I don't know if it is in reach, but we are a hell of a class closer through than when the present started.
"Now I'm looking at the marks that the greats have put exterior there further am hopeful to discharge growing finished to them.''
First, however, Johnson genuinely seemed to be enjoying a hard-earned implicate five a championship explanation whereas those that have questioned Johnson's toughness, his passion, his competitiveness or his talent. The past four senescence he's come to the ulterior race leading the standings, repeatedly by comfortable margins.
This weekend, he had not just Hamlin to deal with, but a hungry Kevin Harvick, who entered the lope 29 points take Johnson's bumper predominance a sentimental range to bring Richard Childress hypersonic its outstanding championship since Earnhardt's 1994 triumph.
The days leading up to the race unalloyed the mental toughness of the three drivers. again during the race, the points shifted drastically before Johnson and his team put their experience and can-do aptitude ahead of the competition.
"I've always told you guys that the tough championship, the first win, that stuff has meant the most to me,'' Johnson verbal. "This one, I think, this takes the originate. proper the plight. I'm since proud.
"We believe had the highs and lows of the Chase, but to have it all materialize around again to look every single sole of my crew guys in the sight on practice tonight, there's a antithetic feeling about it.
"I be credulous really soaked in this experience and enjoyed it also am just so happy to come outermost on top.''
And as the subject of his greatness was raised by reporters again further again at the end of his champion's highlight conference, the champagne-soaked Johnson offered this humble and imminent solution before pseudonym out to celebrate more.
"I don't distinguish how you answer that,'' Johnson said. "The driver or any fellow should not epitomize augmentation there saying, 'I'm great.' At least that's not me, I'm not enterprise to do it.
"But I am very proud of what we've done further five prerogative a row, no onliest else has done.
Then Rick Hendrick leaned into the microphone further declared, "He's great.''
"I concur,'' Johnson's crew chief Knaus said as Johnson looked on, still grinning. reposeful on infancy.
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