johnalex1273 - 19 November 2009 09:19 AM

Wheel Man - 19 November 2009 08:21 AM

johnalex1273 - 18 November 2009 11:13 PM

J. - 18 November 2009 11:07 PM

johnalex1273 - 18 November 2009 10:46 PM

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?

Oh I dont know. Just ask todays drivers how easy the cars drive today. yes, even the COT.

But it’s "easy" for everyone. That would only make the competition sharper and therfore just as hard win.

In equally prepared cars Johnson wouldnt finish in the top 10 of "the greatest drivers".

Yeah well back in the day I use to walk 20 miles to school, in the snow, year round and uphill both ways. Everything was harder yet somehow better.

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 your proof is???

Oh I dont know. Just ask todays drivers how easy the cars drive today. yes, even the COT.

The COT is NOT easy to drive by any stretch. It's harder to set up and drive than the CT car. We talk about that every week here. There's no "comfort level" with this POS, it's about coaxing it around to the end. Like the old days.

Recent sports history hasn't been so kind to it's "heroes" of years past. Revelations of drug enhancement or other unscrupulous behaviors have relegated some of these sports super heroes to has-been's.

And in the past, those athletes were either never found out, or they were made legends BECAUSE of their improprieties. No I can't spell that word.

Yesterday getting fall down drunk and landing an airplane on the street in front of a bar was legend building. Today a DUI is a career ender.

Yesterday "runnin' shine" was the stuff of heroes. Doing time in prison made you a legend. Today even the thought of someone transporting an illegal substance is grounds for a permanent ban. Let alone use anything.

Yesterday it was funny when a married NBA player was paying child support in 20 NBA cities. Today, you and her lose your jobs.

Society has changed for the worse, but expects the athletes to be spotless, perfect. Any imperfection is front page news, and you're done.

So I agree with you there. Somewhere one of the top drivers is going to slip up, just a hair, and it will be over for them. And the same fans who romanticize the lushes and the runners of the past will say this guy doesn't deserve to be on the list anymore.

Spin - 19 November 2009 11:21 AM

Yesterday "runnin' shine" was the stuff of heroes. Doing time in prison made you a legend. Today even the thought of someone transporting an illegal substance is grounds for a permanent ban. Let alone use anything.

Actually it is still being celebrated.

1st annual Carolina "Shine Fest" is this weekend

http://www.southernculturesociety.org/shinefest.php

Sorry. back to topic.

This is crap. Jimmie Johnson isn't the best ever, yes he's very good, but if you had the best equipment, you would have a leg up on the competition. Look at Petty, he was head and shoulders above everyone on equipment, and won all of those races. dominated the last of the 60s and early 70s, then the rest of the field caught up to him. Rolled on to RCR, they had best equipment in the 80s, and Earnhardt won a lot of championships. Why not Bill Elliott. he won more with less, Damn near lapping the field in 1985 with his own team, pretty much Rogue, according to Nascar standards, operating out of Georgia. There isn't any real way to compare one driver to another, unless they raced at the same time, in each others prime.

Petty came before Earnhardt, even though they raced against each other. Petty's prime was 70s, Earnhardt in the 80s. Gordon in the 90s, even though he races against Johnson. Johnson in the 00s. Apples to Oranges. If you really want true test of drivership, the best ones are the likes of Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, and such, drivers who bested multiple pedigrees.

... the best ones are the likes of Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, and such, drivers who bested multiple pedigrees.

Those guys had show dogs? I had no idea. The best people are always multi-faceted.

It's impssoible to say if Jimmie and them Hendricks have more superior equipment than Sr, King Richard or Cale Yarborough had, just consider Jimmie is racing in a time when Nascar have so many rules to even out the racing, lucky dogs, CoT, the chase etc, lot more car on the lead lap, he gotta be good

Jimmie Johnson isn't the best ever, yes he's very good, but if you had the best equipment, you would have a leg up on the competition.

And what about the couple dozen or so Hendrick drivers who didn't get it done? Son Of Legend is just the latest.

It's not just the equipment. Like I said, look what Tony Stewart (and Darian Grubb) have done in Scott Rigg's car.

The best drivers, best crew chiefs, mechanics wind up on the best teams.

Oh, and Elliot had one heck of an aero advantage with the Thunderbird. I never heard too many Chevy and Pontiac teams feeling sorry for him.

There'll always be debate about whether Jimmie's the greatest driver ever, but there's a good chance the 48 will go down as the greatest TEAM ever.

Put him in an F1 car then we may know.