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The old boards are DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!!
if the old boards are locked on the 14th, then so long and good luck in the new world!
Jimmy Johnson. The greatest ever?
Abnormal User
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Jimmie's also the only rookie to ever lead the points standings, after Kansas with only 7 races to go. He was 2nd in points 82 points back of Tony Stewart with just 4 races to go before a 22nd place finish at Atlanta and 37th at Rockingham put him out of contention. I always felt like Newman deserved ROTY for what he did but just looking this up now changes my mind, Jimmie should've had it for coming this close to the championship.
Ultimate Insider
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Joined 05/06/2009
He'll never be better than Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt or David Pearson. I guess that leaves 4th as high as he can get which would still make him ONE OF the greatest of all time.
The question was " the greatest ever" not ONE OF.
But since you mentioned it, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough would easily push Johnson down the ladder.
Legend
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Jimmy Johnson was a great football coach. I think Vince Lombardi and Mike Ditka might have something to say about greatest ever though.
Oh, don't forget the other Jimmy Johnson, who was the GM of Hendrick Motorsports in the 90's. Greatest NASCAR GM ever IDK, but he did steal Jeff Gordon away from Ford.
Oh, don't forget the other Jimmy Johnson, who was the GM of Hendrick Motorsports in the 90's. Greatest NASCAR GM ever IDK, but he did steal Jeff Gordon away from Ford.
Ultimate Insider
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Hey, maybe Johnson is the last name of the guys that think with their dipsticks.
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A true fan can throw their own driver under the bus when they deserve it!
Ultimate Insider
Total Posts: 975
Joined 05/06/2009
Jimmy Johnson was a great football coach. I think Vince Lombardi and Mike Ditka might have something to say about greatest ever though.
Oh, don't forget the other Jimmy Johnson, who was the GM of Hendrick Motorsports in the 90's. Greatest NASCAR GM ever IDK, but he did steal Jeff Gordon away from Ford.
Thats all you got? A mis spelling? Perhaps if you were on a football board I could understand the confusion. Its not like I said Bobbie Allison. That would be a crime.
Speed Junkie
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He'll never be better than Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt or David Pearson. I guess that leaves 4th as high as he can get which would still make him ONE OF the greatest of all time.
The question was " the greatest ever" not ONE OF.
But since you mentioned it, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough would easily push Johnson down the ladder.
How does one determine "great"? Subjectively? Because they were "exciting" on the track?
Ultimately, greatness is determined by stats.
Comparing Johnson to Petty, Pearson, or even Earnhardt is hard because they raced in different eras. The competition levels were different, the rules were different, it was almost a different series. Because of this, I think it's difficult for anyone to say that "he'll never be better" than any of those guys. Maybe he is, maybe he's not, there's no real way to know, just as I don't think anyone can say with any level of intellectual honesty that he is not.
Is talent static? Do you get more talented as time goes on? Was Earnhardt already as talented as he was ever going to be at the start of his career? My point is that Jimmie is in the middle of his career. Who knows where his accomplishments will end. If he wins 7 championships in this day and age "greatest ever" will be a term liberally applied to this guy. It's fair to debate that title because he has accomplished something no one has ever accomplished before - indeed, something most thought was impossible (see Jeff Gluck, beginning of 2009 season). Not the first time he's done it, either. His stat book is full of "never been done before"s, and that's what history will judge him on. He will definitely be near the very top of the list of greatest ever, and at this point the odds are good that he'll be at the very top.
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“People ask me all the time, where does he stack up, comparatively? I’ve seen every great driver drive, I’ve seen every great driver win their championships. In my mind, this driver, this crew chief, this team is the all time best - bar none. I saw Petty, I saw Earnhardt, I’ve seen Gordon, I’ve seen Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, this is the best.”- DW on Jimmie Johnson
Ultimate Insider
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Joined 05/06/2009
He'll never be better than Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt or David Pearson. I guess that leaves 4th as high as he can get which would still make him ONE OF the greatest of all time.
The question was " the greatest ever" not ONE OF.
But since you mentioned it, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough would easily push Johnson down the ladder.
How does one determine "great"? Subjectively? Because they were "exciting" on the track?
Ultimately, greatness is determined by stats.
Comparing Johnson to Petty, Pearson, or even Earnhardt is hard because they raced in different eras. The competition levels were different, the rules were different, it was almost a different series. Because of this, I think it's difficult for anyone to say that "he'll never be better" than any of those guys. Maybe he is, maybe he's not, there's no real way to know, just as I don't think anyone can say with any level of intellectual honesty that he is not.
Is talent static? Do you get more talented as time goes on? Was Earnhardt already as talented as he was ever going to be at the start of his career? My point is that Jimmie is in the middle of his career. Who knows where his accomplishments will end. If he wins 7 championships in this day and age "greatest ever" will be a term liberally applied to this guy. It's fair to debate that title because he has accomplished something no one has ever accomplished before - indeed, something most thought was impossible (see Jeff Gluck, beginning of 2009 season). Not the first time he's done it, either. His stat book is full of "never been done before"s, and that's what history will judge him on. He will definitely be near the very top of the list of greatest ever, and at this point the odds are good that he'll be at the very top.
Could JimmIE johnson drive a car like Richard Petty or Bobby Allison drove and beat them? Um, no. Could Richard Petty and Bobby Allison drive a car like JimmIE johnson drives and beat him? Um, hell yes. End of debate.
Abnormal User
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The gauntlet has been thrown down ...
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uncledive
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That would be nooo, Scott. Zip It!
Speed Junkie
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Could JimmIE johnson drive a car like Richard Petty or Bobby Allison drove and beat them? Um, no. Could Richard Petty and Bobby Allison drive a car like JimmIE johnson drives and beat him? Um, hell yes. End of debate.
And you know this how?
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“People ask me all the time, where does he stack up, comparatively? I’ve seen every great driver drive, I’ve seen every great driver win their championships. In my mind, this driver, this crew chief, this team is the all time best - bar none. I saw Petty, I saw Earnhardt, I’ve seen Gordon, I’ve seen Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, this is the best.”- DW on Jimmie Johnson
