The Real Problem With Jimmie Johnson

WhiningSmoke

WhiningSmoke

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Jimmie Johnson is the best driver in Nascar today. He won a record five consecutive championships. Everybody knows that, whether or not they want to admit it. He hasn't had a bad season since he debuted in 2002. The problem with Johnson isn't that he wins a lot. If Clint Bowyer won five championships in a row, would anybody have a problem with it? What about Brad Keselowski? The answer is for the most part, no.

The problem with Johnson is that he has no personality. He's a robot. He never gets mad, never acts sad, and is never glad. He doesn't show emotions, and people can't connect with him. We as human beings, have highs and lows. Johnson doesn't have highs or lows. We can't connect with him, he's just always winning and not caring. He's too politically correct. The thing is, he didn't start that until he won the championship. Back from 2002-2006, Johnson didn't have any haters. He didn't really have any until he won the 2007 championship.

On the subject of the 2007 championship, people feel he cheated the system and he took that from Jeff Gordon. He scored 56 more points than Gordon over the last 10 races of the season. In total, Jeff outscored him over the season by 353 points, which is more than two races. Yet Johnson won the championship. People feel Johnson cheated the system and took what was Jeff Gordon's. In addition to Johnson losing his personality, this one catalyst is what turned Johnson from fan favorite to villain. He doesn't have "haters", which implies the people who hate him are just jealous of his winning. He has people who genuinely hate him. Despite being a 5-time champion, he did it all under the hatred of the fans of Nascar, so he will never get the credit he has coming to him.
 
I think that's part of it, but not all of it. I think most fans feels like he and his team gets away with a lot regarding rules, penalties, etc. Some fans just don't like the Hendrick organization because of Gordon and now Johnson.
 
A little over stated perhaps, but I agree he's too in control. We all need something to complain about, and winning too much and being a robot is all we get to complain about with JJ. Sr understood the need to put on a show and played his mostly faked Jeff Gordon rivalry to a tee. He didn't care that he was showing personality while pissing off the JG fans because he knew it sold tickets.

By the way, "He never gets mad, never acts said, and is never glad." was my favorite part because it brought me back to my Dr Seuss days. ;)
 
My problem with Jimmie Johnson is that he has Chad Knaus. If you remove Knaus I think Jimmie falls to earth a little bit. I do think Johnson is a championship driver without Knaus, but maybe not 5time. It kind of bugs me the Knaus hasn't moved on yet. I don't know why. It is kind of like, yeah I've read this book, or seen this movie already. It gets old. I think it would be different if Knaus moved to another driver, or Jimmie got another crew chief. The pair makes it look too easy, and it just gets boring. I mean good for them I guess, but it just doesn't look challenging from them any more, and I think that kills some of the flavor for me.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
I thought Matt Kenseth was the robot?
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I've always seen Jimmie as the Matt Kenseth of Hendrick/Chevrolet.

I like his cool, calm, "robotic" demeanor. He just goes out there, does his thing and, for the most part, stays out of trouble. Everybody can't be Mr. Personality like Bowyer, Stewie, Kyle, Kez, and Harv - we need the Johnsons and the Kenseths to balance them out. I like Knaus and I respect the five championships that he and Jimmie have won together. I don't care if their team frequently gets caught cheating. They all cheat at times.

For me the problem is the simple fact that I have a hard time cheering for the guy that wins all the time. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
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In racing dominate drivers will have to deal with those that don't like it, locally or at the Cup level, that is just the way it is.....
 
I think it's what JJ represents and how he carries himself.

He represents the richest and most powerful team in the sport. We as humans always like to root for the underdog and curse the powers that be. He's the top dog right now so they'll always be people hating on him for it. Much like when we aren't happy with our government we focus our attention on the President or Prime Minister, but what we find is after they've been replaced we still have the same issues and we hate on the new figure head just as much. I suspect when JJ is gone from the sport he will have been replaced by a new top dog who may or may not have as much success as him but people will still focus their hatred towards him (or her lol). Also as mentioned previously he carries himself much like a politician, never shows emotion or says anything controversial. People like a surly, cheeseburger loving guy like Tony Stewart because he represents a normal guy. Most people can relate to Tony but when people look at JJ they see a guy with good looks, millions of dollars, a beautiful wife and a whole team of people waiting on him hand and foot and they just can't relate to the guy.

That's just my 2 cents though, and by in large I think JJ has done a lot more good for the sport than bad.
 
who said there was no haters before he won a title?? go watch his victory lane celebration for his first daytona 500 he said it was for the 48 haters. maybe the reason he is so good is because he doesn't overreact to things. its his very nature that makes him so great. I don't think clint bowyer is a good comparison, to me he also has very little if any personality.
 
I agree to an extent.

Jimmie Johnson is not robotic at all, abit boring yes but the guy is a master of getting under your skin. Its all a ploy he uses to get under certain drivers heads. And hey it works for him.

I take it you guys dont listen to him on the radio on a week to week basis? He's a control freak. He would often flip out on Knaus because the car is not handling the way it should be.

I take it both as a sign of respect and infuriating that he looks as Jeff Gordon as a model template to beat all he has done.

I say infuriating because he IS breaking all of Gordon's records and even upping him but at the same time it is flattering to have a driver as good as Jimmie look at Jeff Gordon and say, yeah I want to be like him or better than.

As for the 2007 showdown between the two. It was a dog fight regardless.

Jimmie simply won too many times for Gordon to keep up even though he never finished worse than 11th and had two wins in the chase.

I dont see how that would be a turning point to hate someone.
 
But...Jeff has had success without Ray Evernham. We have yet to see how Jimmie would do without Knauss. My guess would be, not so well.
I would like to see how today's top drivers would fare in equally prepared cars without crew chiefs. ;)
 
Jimmie is a stupid robot. Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin are waaaaaaaaaay better /sarcasm
In reality, lemme give my 2 cents. Jimmie probably wouldn't be where he is without Chad, he would likely be in a position of a driver like Kevin Harvick -- great driver, makes chase every year, but hasn't quite got that championship. However its not Jimmie's fault that Chad happened.
Is he robotic? No more than other drivers. There are really only ten or so drivers who don't fall into the NASCAR personality cookie cutter, so people shouldnt get on his case about being cookie cuttered.
And as for people complaining about him stealing the 2007 championship -- he won 4 races IN A ROW. He deserves it. Plus in 2011 Stewart stole the championship from Edwards and no one is complaining about that.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
Plus in 2011 Stewart stole the championship from Edwards and no one is complaining about that.
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Conspiracy theory alert : but I still think Tony had something "special" under the hood for that chase. No wins all year and then 5 out of 10? Remember when he passed JJ at Martinsville ON THE OUTSIDE?! No one passes on the outside lane at Martinsville especially on ole 5 time. /rant :)

JJ is just really good at what he does, but what really sets him apart is his team, they're all really good at what they do too. When you put guys that overqualified in positions like Hendrick does they excel and make everyone else look bad. It's not just Knaus, it's Malec the car chief, it's the shock specialist, the chassis guys, the engine tuners they're all best of the best.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
he won 4 races IN A ROW. He deserves it.
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Gordon outscored the field by 353 points over the whole year. It was a total steal manufactured by NASCAR's new chase system. Forget Knaus, JJ wouldn't have his 5 trophies without the chase format. Outscoring everyone in 10/36 races must be a dead giveaway of a champion.
 
Jeffrey00 said:
My problem with Jimmie Johnson is that he has Chad Knaus. If you remove Knaus I think Jimmie falls to earth a little bit. I do think Johnson is a championship driver without Knaus, but maybe not 5time. It kind of bugs me the Knaus hasn't moved on yet. I don't know why. It is kind of like, yeah I've read this book, or seen this movie already. It gets old. I think it would be different if Knaus moved to another driver, or Jimmie got another crew chief. The pair makes it look too easy, and it just gets boring. I mean good for them I guess, but it just doesn't look challenging from them any more, and I think that kills some of the flavor for me.
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Why would Chad leave his post? What, winning gets boring? Please, who are you kidding?
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Gordon outscored the field by 353 points over the whole year. It was a total steal manufactured by NASCAR's new chase system. Forget Knaus, JJ wouldn't have his 5 trophies without the chase format. Outscoring everyone in 10/36 races must be a dead giveaway of a champion.
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Every driver agreed to the rules when they signed up for the 2007 racing season under The Chase, and every season that had the chase.
 
PeopleAreStrange said:
Yes, but the chase is still a stupid format and is unfair to those who were best all year rather than just 10 races.
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*shrugs* okay, and? What, do you think the drivers are just going to boycott the series until they take out the chase? HA, there are many Super Late Models, Nationwide, Truck Series and other regional touring series drivers who will be more than happy to drive in the Sprint Cup series.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Why would Chad leave his post? What, winning gets boring? Please, who are you kidding?
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Umm let's see, for a more lucrative job description? Ray lefted Hendrick and Gordon for the oportunity to run his own team.

There comes a time when you want to move on and keep climbing the latter. Clearly Chad is happy just crew chiefing which is not a bad thing but doesn't say alot about his aspirations in the sport.
 
reck said:
Umm let's see, for a more lucrative job description? Ray lefted Hendrick and Gordon for the oportunity to run his own team.

There comes a time when you want to move on and keep climbing the latter. Clearly Chad is happy just crew chiefing which is not a bad thing but doesn't say alot about his aspirations in the sport.
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Yea, he doesn't want to leave a five time champion (working on a sixth right now) race team. Gee, I wonder why not. :p
 
reck said:
Clearly Chad is happy just crew chiefing which is not a bad thing but doesn't say alot about his aspirations in the sport.
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I would suggest to you that going from a tire changer to the undisputed best crew chief in the Cup series right now, running the best team, and being a leader at the strongest and richest organization within the entire sport speaks volumes about his aspirations. The guy is working on becoming arguably one of the greatest crew chiefs of all time, I don't know why he would leave that. Besides what did Ray do for his legacy after he left Hendrick? Sure he helped out Dodge a lot but his team became a mess, and then a complete joke IMO. After all those years he's back working for Hendrick again, grass isin't always greener on the other side.
 
Was it robot Jimmie that got all buzzed and decided to ride on the roof of that golf cart a few years ago? Was it robot Jimmie who blasted his haters on Twitter and did not give a sh** what his haters thought? Maybe if was some semi-literate hillbilly who lost his composure on started threatening people he'd be more popular among the troglodytic masses. The bottom line is that losers don't like winners. Same as it ever was.
 
I don't think Jimmie has a problem, he is one of the best drivers. People didn't like Gordon when he started because he won too much and he wasn't a good old boy. What's important, winning races or having the right personality? I didn't like Earnhardt challenging Petty's records - I got over it; I didn't like Jimmie challenging Gordon's records - I got over it. Some time in the future you'll remember seeing Jimmie in his prime race years and wonder who will challenge his records.
 
I don't like Jimmie but it has nothing to do with Gordon and everything to do with being like a Nascar spokesperson. it also doesn't help that he has crew chief who finds ways to cheat every week and only get a slap on the wrist.

I like drivers that for the most part, speak their mind and love to race.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Yea, he doesn't want to leave a five time champion (working on a sixth right now) race team. Gee, I wonder why not. :p
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There are many reasons why he would leave Johnson and move on to do greater things.

Not even saying he has to leave Hendrick either. I am sure Rick has no intention of letting him walk.

3wideinturn1 said:
I would suggest to you that going from a tire changer to the undisputed best crew chief in the Cup series right now, running the best team, and being a leader at the strongest and richest organization within the entire sport speaks volumes about his aspirations. The guy is working on becoming arguably one of the greatest crew chiefs of all time, I don't know why he would leave that. Besides what did Ray do for his legacy after he left Hendrick? Sure he helped out Dodge a lot but his team became a mess, and then a complete joke IMO. After all those years he's back working for Hendrick again, grass isin't always greener on the other side.
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And that's my point.

Chad has already reached the very top of where he can go. As crew chief he cant go any further.

There is no bragging rights on been the best crew chief in NASCAR. All the attention goes to the driver. That's a fact.

And as for Ray leaving and having not quite the success he had with Gordon is not the point. The point is he had a shot at building his own organization which he did for years and got a few wins out of it, even made the chase so all in all he accomplished what he wanted when he left Hendrick org.
 
I don't know what your problem is being the best crew chief in the most competitive motorsport organization is? What, do you think that is like foreman at a toilet paper factory of something? I will swap salaries with him anyday..you think you make more or something..rocket scientist are ya? That still wouldn't be at his pay grade BTW.

The average salary of a NASCAR Crew Chief depends upon various factors. These factors include experience and performance history. the salary of Chad Knaus is $250000 a year.
 
StandOnIt said:
The average salary of a NASCAR Crew Chief depends upon various factors. These factors include experience and performance history. the salary of Chad Knaus is $250000 a year.
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I bet that number is missing a few zeros. I googled that phrase you posted and the source for that number all the sites are citing comes from a USA Today article that doesn't even mention how much Knaus makes a year.

Austin Coil (John Force's crew chief in NHRA Funny Car) was paid $1 mil per year like 10 years ago when Force was winning everything and NASCAR is more popular now than NHRA was then. I reckon Chad makes $5 mil at least. Look at what the biggest head coaches in the ball and stick sports make (Bill Belichick, Doc Rivers, Nick Saban, etc.), it's probably similar. Old Mr. Hendrick needs to keep Chad happy and keep him away from running to Roush or Gibbs.

Anyway, cheating is apart of NASCAR's history. It baffles me that NASCAR fans will giggle over stories of Smokey Yunick putting extra long fuel lines or oversized oil pans in the car, but Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are history's worst villains.
 
StandOnIt said:
I don't know what your problem is being the best crew chief in the most competitive motorsport organization is? What, do you think that is like foreman at a toilet paper factory of something? I will swap salaries with him anyday..you think you make more or something..rocket scientist are ya? That still wouldn't be at his pay grade BTW.

The average salary of a NASCAR Crew Chief depends upon various factors. These factors include experience and performance history. the salary of Chad Knaus is $250000 a year.
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I hope Jimmy is flowing him some of his millions to keep him happy.. I think JJ would go on suicide watch if Chad ever bailed on him
 
KevinWI said:
I bet that number is missing a few zeros. I googled that phrase you posted and the source for that number all the sites are citing comes from a USA Today article that doesn't even mention how much Knaus makes a year.

Austin Coil (John Force's crew chief in NHRA Funny Car) was paid $1 mil per year like 10 years ago when Force was winning everything and NASCAR is more popular now than NHRA was then. I reckon Chad makes $5 mil at least. Look at what the biggest head coaches in the ball and stick sports make (Bill Belichick, Doc Rivers, Nick Saban, etc.), it's probably similar. Old Mr. Hendrick needs to keep Chad happy and keep him away from running to Roush or Gibbs.

Anyway, cheating is apart of NASCAR's history. It baffles me that NASCAR fans will giggle over stories of Smokey Yunick putting extra long fuel lines or oversized oil pans in the car, but Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are history's worst villains.
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I am not going to argue that fact on the money, this dude was acting like Chad was in a dead end job? Needed to move on to greater things? I had to say something that was so far out in the ozone. I know he is doing really well, really well. 250 thousand is conservative I know, not to mention all your rooms meals and transportation is comped etc. Bonus money etc. that conservative figure puts you in the top 2% income wise in the world. More than a U.S. senator makes.
 
StandOnIt said:
I don't know what your problem is being the best crew chief in the most competitive motorsport organization is? What, do you think that is like foreman at a toilet paper factory of something? I will swap salaries with him anyday..you think you make more or something..rocket scientist are ya? That still wouldn't be at his pay grade BTW.

The average salary of a NASCAR Crew Chief depends upon various factors. These factors include experience and performance history. the salary of Chad Knaus is $250000 a year.
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Unravelling much?

Take a chill pill dude. Why are you bringing money into the discussion now?

Who's talking about making chump change or what have you? Read all my posts here and try to figure what I have been talking about for the past few hours.
 
reck said:
There are many reasons why he would leave Johnson and move on to do greater things.

Chad has already reached the very top of where he can go. As crew chief he cant go any further.

There is no bragging rights on been the best crew chief in NASCAR. All the attention goes to the driver. That's a fact.

well, you said it.."move on to greater things"? what would the be?
there is no bragging rights to being a five time champion crew chief?
Do you think we all just fell off the turnip truck?
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