Behind the Wall: Jimmie Johnson

Showing posts with label Jimmie Johnson. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Review: Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson 2016 Review

Image result for jimmie johnson 2016 homestead

By Richard Tix

2016 Preview Article

Season Grade: A

Season Preview: "As it is every year, JJ's expectations are to win a Championship and nothing less. When you have six titles you always go into a season Championship or bust. The pressure will continue to mount yearly to get to the magic number of 7, and if he ever does it will ramp up to get to 8. I am not sure 8 will ever happen, but 7 should be the main goal anyways. I think 2016 might be the year he finally gets closer to the final four. With 4-5 wins, 14-16 top 5's, and 21-23 top 10's JJ will be back on his game and finally figure out how to get past the second round, and most likely into the final's."

Season Review: Jimmie Johnson hit my mark for win totals (5), but underachieved in top 5's (11) and top 10's (16). Yet, non of those statistics matter because in the end Jimmie Johnson got it done and became the third seven time champion.

JJ added his names to the likes of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with his seventh title and now has a shot to make NASCAR history with an eight Cup Championship. Johnson has the look of a guy who is ready to continue driving for another five plus seasons, but each year brings a new outlook on the future.

JJ not only won his seventh but won the championship race at Homestead and won the most races of 2016 (five). In the end JJ figured out how to navigate the new Chase which was fun to see during his most recent Championship run.

Whether is will be seven, eight, nine, or more, at the end of his career Jimmie Johnson will have made his case for the best NASCAR Cup driver of all time. His 80 wins speak for them-self already and he will continue his quest to get to 100 and set himself apart from The King and The Intimidator with possibly an eight title.

Previous Driver Spotlights

Monday, January 25, 2016

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Jimmie Johnson Career Paint Schemes

The past two season's even under the old Chase system Jimmie Johnson wouldn't have won a title, but it still isn't easy for JJ's fans to swallow a 11th and 10th place points finish. Especially considering he has 9 wins, 25 top 5's, and 42 top 10's combined in the last two years.

Those don't sound like down numbers at all. Either way, six time would still be six time no matter the system.

Looking past that, you have to think one of these years he will make it past the second round and from there he will be a force. Is 2016 the season?

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

As it is every year, JJ's expectations are to win a Championship and nothing less. When you have six titles you always go into a season Championship or bust. The pressure will continue to mount yearly to get to the magic number of 7, and if he ever does it will ramp up to get to 8. I am not sure 8 will ever happen, but 7 should be the main goal anyways. I think 2016 might be the year he finally gets closer to the final four. With 4-5 wins, 14-16 top 5's, and 21-23 top 10's JJ will be back on his game and finally figure out how to get past the second round, and most likely into the final's.

Previous Driver Spotlights

Monday, December 14, 2015

2015 Driver Spotlight Review: Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson 2015 Review

By Richard Tix

2015 Preview

Season Grade: A-

Season Preview: "Short answer, no it shouldn't be the fall of JJ. Some poor luck and bad finishes just hurt JJ more than they normally do. Also, a new Chase didn't help his cause as those poor finishes hurt him down the stretch. But, enough with the bad news for JJ fans. The bad news for other driver fans (and good news for JJ) is he will be back in 2015 and will be once again re motivated. As if a guy like JJ (runs marathons and triathlons) needs more motivation! His expectations will be the same as any other season, get to the Chase and be a favorite for the Title, I'm sure his only goal is to win another Championship so I don't see how these expectations would be too high for him. I could see another 3-4 wins, 10-13 top 5's, and 19-22 top 10's this season, but consistency will be key down the stretch."

Season Review: Jimmie Johnson ended the season with 5 wins, 14 top 5's, and 22 top 10's. JJ has won Cup Championships with numbers close to that before, but in 2015 he was an after thought when fans thought of the most dominate driver of the year.

2015 was a step in the right direction from a down year in 2014 (down year in JJ standards). However, the end results because of the new Chase were not much different. In 2014 he finished 11th in points and in 2015 he increased just one spot to 10th. Even if you just took points for the standings, JJ still would have only finished 6th which shows just how good the field was this season at the top.

It was once again a successful season, but I am sure in JJ's eyes he wants more. The new Chase is anything but easy, but its easy to forget JJ had only won one out of the last three Chases in the old format as well (Tony Stewart 2011 and Brad Keselowski 2012 the other two).

Previous Driver Spotlights

Monday, November 9, 2015

2015 Pit Road Week 34: Texas

Weekly NASCAR Review and Power Rankings

AAA Texas 500

By Richard Tix

Just one Chase race remains before the final Chase race, championship race, at Miami. Only one driver has locked himself in for Miami (Jeff Gordon) as Jimmie Johnson spoiled Brad Keselowski's dominate day at Texas.

In general, most of the race was calm and lacking a bit of action. Restarts were a ton of fun all day, though. Late in the race it came down to a late restart (without it BK would have won). BK fought off Truex but then had a hard charging JJ coming for him.

JJ and his car were dialed in and he could run any and every line he wanted. He sized BK up and let BK decide which like he would pass him with. For a drawn out race, the finish was fantastic. Hard racing at it's best and a non Chase driver spoiling the fun.

Jeff Gordon (LW-1)- He is locked in to Miami and he posted another top 10. Team 24 just need to keep momentum going and focus on one complete race at Homestead.
Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Riding around the track driving with one hand like a boss. It was fun to see him doing just that, but he should be a bit disappointed because a hard earned 3rd might have been a locked in win if he didn't have troubles.
Kyle Busch (LW-4)- Kyle is just doing enough and the right stuff to advance and get to the finale. Enough driver have had trouble that laying down top 10's will get him into the last race unless someone new in the top 8 wins.
Martin Truex Jr (LW-3)- Overlooked, and underrated, Truex is in a spot to make the finale. Tell me, who thought that to start 2015? Not me.
Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- BK was dominate, no doubt about that, but the last lap is what matters. JJ sized him up and had the #48 in a spot to run every line making it tough for BK to stop him from eventually passing him. BK is still pretty much in a must win spot at PHX.
Carl Edwards (LW-7)- Carl still has a shot at a spot in Miami on points, He is chasing Truex on points and needs a mistake in front of him or a win.
Joey Logano (LW-2)- Well, Joey was in a must win spot anyways, but no he only has one race to do it. Chances are not looking good for one of the best drivers of 2015.
Kurt Busch (LW-8)- Things are not looking good for Kurt. He is in a must win spot, but so are three other drivers not in the top 4.
Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-10)- It really is too bad Jr didn't get the win at Dega. He now has three straight top 10's including two top 5's.
Jimmie Johnson (LW-NR)- Jimmie only needed 6 laps led to win the race in Sunday. The 48 was dialed in after the last stop and BK couldn't hold him off even while trying to run JJ's line's.
Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- Back to back top 10's for McMurray breaks a streak of back to back rough finishes before that.
Paul Menard (LW-NR)- Menards Chase has been just average, and he gets the last spot on the rankings by being average. Not much more to say but he does have three straight top 15's which includes a top 10.