Jimmie Johnson Wins Sprint Cup Title: What Fifth Title Means for His Legacy

Like it or not, Jimmie Johnson made history with his fifth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, and he had to race to do it.  It was no Sunday drive at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Johnson enjoying a points lead going into the race like it has been in the past.

Johnson did not have the fastest car during the race and languished around fifth to ninth place for much of the race. 

The new No. 48 over-the-wall gang had some deja vu moments when their performance cost their driver position on the track. On Lap 73, they had a 15.6 second pit stop that caused him to drop back three places.   During the sixth caution, they cost him five positions which took him out of the top-10.

Fortunately, they regrouped when it counted and Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, made the right calls and kept the driver and crew motivated and calm.  The No. 48 team of Hendrick Motorsports proved they truly are a dynasty.

Hendrick Motorsports now has the most championships of any NASCAR team with 10.  Johnson has only been in NASCAR's top-tier of racing for nine seasons, and he has won five championships.  This title should gain him respect from other drivers, teams and fans, that up to now, he has failed to garner.

Johnson is from California and displays a coolness you might see from some of the surfer dudes and ski buddies he grew up around, even though he was into dirt-bike racing.

Johnson's natural ability to drive may be debated when compared to Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson or even Kyle Busch.  The advantage he has over all other NASCAR Sprint Cup Champions is mental control.  His confidence, ability to focus, to remain calm and dismiss controversy cannot be debated.

The chemistry between Johnson and Knaus is incredible.  They may easily be the strongest driver/crew chief combination in the history of NASCAR. 

Throw in the mutual respect between Johnson, Knaus and Rick Hendrick plus the stability of team members and it makes for a powerhouse dynasty the likes of which we have not seen.

Johnson has secured his place in the record books behind Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt with their seven championships.  The question for 2011 will be, can Johnson win a sixth consecutive title?  Five straight titles seemed inconceivable, but now a sixth seems possible.

For NASCAR, Johnson's amazing feat will have the effect of bringing maximum media attention to the sport for a while. 

It should bring in new fans that will want to see what he can do next season, but by the same token, it may drive away fans that are just plain tired of seeing him win titles.

As seen in other sports like the New York Yankees, dominance can be very polarizing.  This fifth title for Johnson may be the spark to ignite the most fiery competition we have seen in many years during the upcoming 2011 season. 

It will become imperative for other drivers to be the one that dethrones the champion.

Johnson doesn't bring excitement to the sport because of his calm demeanor and less-than-charismatic personality.  His failure to make fans jump to their feet with excitement has been one of the prime reasons some fail to find his accomplishments of value. 

The persona of the five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion should not be held against him, and he now deserves respect, even if he is not your choice of a driver that you would care to be a fan of.

Since the implementation of the Chase format, no driver leading the points going into the last race of the season has failed to secure the title until now.  This was the year of the second-place points guy to come back and win a title, as was also seen in NHRA, IndyCar and Formula 1.

In a post-race interview, Johnson appeared to be in disbelief when he said, " This is pretty damn awesome."  His comment about his team was, "Not the most speed, but most heart."  He also said of his championships, "It's been a wild ride."

So, like it or not, Jimmie Johnson has accomplished what no other driver in the history of NASCAR has done and congratulations to him and the No. 48 team for a job well done.