Jimmie Johnson: 10 Reasons So Many Fans Are Rooting Against a Sixth Straight Cup

It is hardly a secret. Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team have dominated NASCAR for the past five seasons. 

He has cemented his legacy in the sport. Even his crew chief, Chad Knaus, may have a Hall of Fame induction waiting for him whenever he decides to leave pit row.

However, success breeds animosity; it is indeed a double edged sword. 

Most likely, after winning his third consecutive championship, fans of NASCAR began to wish for a new champion. 

By 2009, any fan—besides a diehard Johnson fan—probably wished for a new success story.

Any true sports fan does not want to see Johnson pictured, again, with a sixth championship trophy. Sports fans, in general, love parity and a sense of the unknown. 

A sixth Johnson championship would only solidify that sense of the dull, mundane NASCAR race inevitably resulting in another batch of the same old thing.

Here are 10 reasons why it needs to change, for the sake of the general fan populace.

Fans Would Root Against This in Any Other Sport

Jimmie Johnson has an immense fanbase.

There is no doubt that more than a handful of NASCAR fans want to see him ride to a sixth straight championship. My father-in-law is among them.

On the other hand, almost no one would be angry to see him win another if only it were a few years down the road.

What if the New England Patriots won five Super Bowls in a row, or the New York Yankees five World Series? 

Very few would want to see this kind of repetition.

A Sizable Portion of the Fans Want to See Dale Earnhardt Jr. Win

As NASCAR's undisputed most popular driver for eight years running it follows that many fans are thirsting for a championship from Dale Earnhardt's son.

Would anyone be mad? Would any racing fan have a real problem with this?

The answer is no, no, 1,000 times no.

The only other question is, then, can he do it this year?

Jeff Gordon's Revival

The No. 24 team has put together an impressive season. This exceeded all professional expectations by those paid to make those predictions.

If he could win, Jeff Gordon would equal Jimmie Johnson's tally of five championship seasons and bring an 11th championship to Hendrick Motorsports.

True, it would not be consecutive, but any five-time winner would automatically command the respect of even the most cynical NASCAR fan.

Jeff Gordon, alone, is truly on a "drive for five."

Fans Want to See Anyone Else Win

This is a photo from 2005. It is the last time anyone has seen anyone other than Jimmie Johnson celebrating a NASCAR Cup championship.

It does not matter whether or not you root for Tony Stewart.

Most fans would be more than happy to see anyone else besides Johnson posing beside the championship trophy.

TRUE Fans Know It Is Not Advantageous for the Sport

NASCAR attendance has dwindled in the past few years.

Another Johnson championship would not spark ticket buyers' interest; Indeed, it would most likely continue the trend of the downward spiral.

NASCAR needs a new champion, plain and simple, to attract new fans and preserve the interest of more long-term fans.

He Does Not Need Anymore Championships to Make the Hall of Fame

It would be a brave (or foolish) soul to doubt the fact that Jimmie Johnson will wear a NASCAR Hall of Fame blazer one day like the ones pictured. There have only been two classes (10 souls) inducted thus far. 

Among them are Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. Both have earned three NASCAR championships.  Yarborough won three consecutive titles.

If these two men made it so quickly into the Hall of Fame, Johnson's five consecutive championships should be more than enough to get him there, as well.

What else does he have to accomplish?

His career, as it stands right now, is already legendary and unprecedented.

A First Time Champion Is Always Fun

This was a fun picture in 2006. Johnson burst onto the scene as a first time champion. Little did any fan or expert know that this would be the same picture taken again from 2007 through 2010.

That is not quite as much fun.

During the 2011 season, there were four first-time race winners, and those created some of the most exciting moments of the season.

It was gratifying to see the grassroots operation of Regan Smith pull away for the victory at the Southern 500 in Darlington, SC this year. 

It was equally great to see David Ragan redeem himself at Daytona on July 4 after committing a penalty in the February Daytona 500 and winning his first race.

Watching Paul Menard kiss the bricks at Indianapolis, and Marcos Ambrose flash his familiar grin in victory lane at Watkins Glen were equally fun and satisfying moments.

If Johnson wins again at Homestead Miami, it will certainly be a special accomplishment, but the fun of a fresh, new face with the grin of a champion will not be evident.

It Will Give Writers/Analysts Something Else to Talk About

This point is not directed at any particular writer, analyst, or television commentator. They always have to mention Johnson and his five consecutive championships when speaking about any subject related to the Chase.

Journalism and talk will only benefit from Johnson not winning this year. It will present a freshness to the analytical content presented in the media.

It has grown stale over the past few years due to Johnson's continued success.

It Is Getting Old

This might sound like a repetition of some of the points on the other slides, but it is getting old. It almost belabors the point to state this again in a different way, but that is fact.

Even if a driver who has already won a championship were to win this year, at least it would be a face that has not held the spot in half a decade.

Dynasties Are Only Fun for Fans of Said Dynasty

It was not fun to be a baseball fan when the New York Yankees dominated the sport during the mid '90s through the early 2000s.

It could not have been fun to watch football and see the Pittsburgh Steelers win four consecutive Super Bowls.

It must have been truly awful to see the Boston Celtics pull off eight NBA titles in a row.

All this, of course, is true only unless you are a fan of that particular dynasty.

The same is true for Jimmie Johnson: if you are not a fan of the No.48 Lowe's Chevrolet, that lends reason only to root against him.