HOMESTEAD, Fla. — It’s too soon for Jimmie Johnson to contemplate his place in NASCAR history. He’ll save those conversations for a time long after the champagne has stopped flowing on his record fourth consecutive championship.
But after charging his way into the elite club of drivers with more than three titles — Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon — Johnson can’t escape the debates over where he stands among the all-time greats.
“It’s tough for me to really reflect on it when I’m still competing,” he said. “Toward the end of my career, I’m sure I’ll focus a lot more on it. But right now, we’re just kind of in a rhythm of things, and I hope to keep it going.
“There’s no guarantees it will continue. But I’m just trying to keep the same mind-set, same work ethic, same focus and just see how long we can keep this thing moving.”
Another long year over, and Johnson heads into another offseason still plotting how to keep his spot atop the Sprint Cup Series.
But it’s hardly a case of “Groundhog Day.” The 2009 season was unlike any year in recent memory.
It will, of course, be remembered for Johnson’s historic march.
And the late-season emergence of Brad Keselowski as NASCAR’s newest polarizing figure is certainly fresh in everyone’s mind.
But NASCAR faced a lot of challenges between the February opener at Daytona and last weekend’s conclusion at Homestead. Many remain unresolved.
There’s the ongoing saga of driver Jeremy Mayfield, who has refused to go away quietly after becoming the first driver suspended under NASCAR’s toughened drug policy. The drama consumed NASCAR all summer, and just when the controversy finally seemed to simmer, Mayfield hired high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos and ramped up his fight another notch.
Now it will drag on through the offseason, as Geragos attempts to introduce aspects of NASCAR chairman Brian France’s personal life to the case. Just this week, NASCAR asked a federal court to prevent Geragos from collecting information and documents from France’s ex-wife.
NASCAR also is still feeling the pinch from the economic crisis.
Teams still struggling to find sponsorship continue to fight for their survival, with mixed results. The organization known as Gillett-Evernham Motorsports this time last year is now a shell of its former self, currently existing as Richard Petty Motorsports but with a third of its former employees.
Attendance at tracks all over the circuit has been down this year, as have television ratings. Unlike previous years, NASCAR is taking a proactive approach to its problems.
NASCAR listened to its fans when when it implemented midseason double-file restarts and worked with its television partners on establishing universal start times in 2010. The sport leadership also held at least two unprecedented town-hall meetings with competitors to discuss what’s ailing the sport.
Although no major tweaks have come out of those sessions, NASCAR is considering changes to the current car, which many consider the catalyst for many of the current problems.
Drivers complain the car is too difficult to drive, while fans insist it has dulled the action. All the talk had seemingly fallen on deaf ears until recently, which, if nothing else, is a sign of NASCAR softening its stubbornness.
There’s still work to be done at Daytona and Talladega, which were marked by three violent last-lap accidents. NASCAR made a reactionary decision before last month’s race at Talladega to ban bump- drafting, and the end result was a dulled version of what had typically been one of the most exciting races of the year. And, by the way, two cars still went airborne.
The problems of 2009 weren’t limited to the governing body.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the circuit’s most popular driver, had a horrendous season, and many can point to the decline in overall NASCAR interest to his fall. Fans love Earnhardt, and when he’s not running well, many simply don’t want to watch.
In the most trying season of his career, he went winless and finished 25th in the standings, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammates went 1-2-3.
Then there’s Keselowski, who has asserted himself as NASCAR’s newest star. He’s aggressive enough on the track that he has aggravated several competitors.
Keselowski has vowed not to back down to anyone, and that hard-nosed style has everyone looking forward to what 2010 may bring.
NASCAR/At a glance
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
Chase for the Cup
1. Jimmie Johnson 6,652
2. Mark Martin 6,511
3. Jeff Gordon 6,473
4. Kurt Busch 6,446
5. Denny Hamlin 6,335
6. Tony Stewart 6,309
7. Greg Biffle 6,292
8. Juan Montoya 6,252
9. Ryan Newman 6,175
10. Kasey Kahne 6,128
11. Carl Edwards 6,118
12. Brian Vickers 5,929
Also ran:
13. Kyle Busch 4,457
14. Matt Kenseth 4,389
15. Clint Bowyer 4,359
16. David Reutimann 4,221
17. Jeff Burton 4,022
18. Marcos Ambrose 3,830
19. Kevin Harvick 3,796
20. Joey Logano 3,791
FINAL MONEY LEADERS
1. Jimmie Johnson $7,333,309
2. Matt Kenseth 7,081,632
3. Tony Stewart 6,828,246
4. Jeff Gordon 6,472,385
5. Kyle Busch 6,180,677
6. Kevin Harvick 6,098,420
7. Kasey Kahne 5,756,061
8. Carl Edwards 5,601,229
9. Denny Hamlin 5,470,139
10. Jeff Burton 5,459,434
11. Joey Logano 5,375,109
12. Mark Martin 5,274,928
13. Juan Montoya 5,270,120
14. Ryan Newman 5,006,232
15. Kurt Busch 4,987,409
LAPS-LED LEADERS
1. Jimmie Johnson 2,238
2. Denny Hamlin 1,380
3. Kyle Busch 1,157
4. Jeff Gordon 827
5. Mark Martin 805
6. Kurt Busch 738
7. Greg Biffle 551
8. Tony Stewart 414
9. Juan Montoya 388
10. Kasey Kahne 248
11. Matt Kenseth 245
12. Ryan Newman 214
13. Martin Truex Jr. 184
14. Carl Edwards 164
15. Kevin Harvick 159
POLE WINNERS
1. Mark Martin 7
2. Brian Vickers 6
3. Jimmie Johnson 5
4. Tony Stewart 4
5. Martin Truex Jr. 3
6. Jeff Gordon 2
6. Juan Montoya 2
6. Ryan Newman 2
6. David Reutimann 2
10. Kyle Busch 1
10. Denny Hamlin 1
10. Matt Kenseth 1
MANUFACTURER
STANDINGS
(Wins in parentheses)
1. Chevrolet 262 (18)
2. Toyota 207 (11)
3. Ford 164 (3)
4. Dodge 159 (4)
