[vincesanity82]

Hendrick Motorsports success is exactly what NASCAR needed – an organizational villain. Sure, there have been hated drivers in the past. Dale Earnhardt was successful, but not everyone wanted to see him win every week. The same applied to Richard Petty and, outside this season, Tony Stewart. At one point in his career, Stewart had fewer friends than a grade-school, cookie-stealing bully. But when was the last time a team like Hendrick had opposing fans wanting to stand up and throw their cases of domestic beers at owner Rick Hendrick and the Johnson/Gordon duo? The reasons to despise the duo are many. -- Rocky Mount Telegram

The Hendrick way of winning will make 2008 a fun season to follow

[LSC9901]

I suppose it draws in fans just to see what all the commotion is about, but this type of winning creates the same types of feelings in all sports. We all like to see winners but domination is sometimes tiring. Since I have no one favorite driver the weekly winner doesn't usually affect me much, but I'll admit the JJ show is getting dull.

[Quality88]

Vince that article makes it sound to WWF.

[jks812]

NASCAR needed anything – in this case a dominant team – to keep fans interested

I don't agree with that. That's the main reason I haven't really been watching. I don't watch to see the same 2 cars go around the track as if they're the only ones out there. There are 41 other cars that I wouldn't mind seeing from time to time too.
I don't even call it Nascar or the race on Sunday, I go ahead and call it what it is, the JJ and JG show.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Let's step back for a moment... when was the last time a MAJOR racing body such as NASCAR forced their participants to race TWO MAJOR CAR MODELS in the same year?

F1? IRL? CART? Nope. NASCAR in 2007 MANDATED that all teams racing in this series race both the "Twisted Sister" AND the COT!

From the beginning, Hendrick was committed to the COT. The other teams were not so committed... maybe from simple denial or the fact that - and correct me if I'm wrong here - that NASCAR made a mid-season announcement that they would go COT full-time in 2008 instead of 2009 as originally stated? This obviously caught many teams by surprise! But not Hendrick... Check the results for COT race wins in '07 and you'll see...

2007 is an ABERRATION. Mark my words! 2008 forward will see a change. This year is Hendrick's year - all credit to them - but moving forward, when the COT becomes the COT or "Car of Today" we'll see how the dominance fares.

Here's the caveat though:

Jimmie Johnson is to NASCAR what Tom Brady is to the NFL... GREAT!

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Jimmie Johnson is to NASCAR what Tom Brady is to the NFL... GREAT!

Thanks Gnome... Now I hate Johnson instead of just dislikin him.

[LSC9901]

Well I will agree that Brady is great.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Jimmie Johnson is to NASCAR what Tom Brady is to the NFL... GREAT!

I would rephrase that stating Johnson is in a great car. Without the dominant car, he is just another good driver. I would be more inclined to say Knaus is great.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I would rephrase that stating Johnson is in a great car. Without the dominant car, he is just another good driver. I would be more inclined to say Knaus is great.

Same could be said for Brady - without Belichick, he wouldn't be great either. I can definitely see the comparisons here.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I would rephrase that stating Johnson is in a great car. Without the dominant car, he is just another good driver. I would be more inclined to say Knaus is great.

Proof of that statement would what happened to Gordon after Ray Evernham left. Jeff was still a better than average driver but the completeness of the team dynamics disappeared

[PenelopePitStop]

First, I absolutely agree with JKS812.

End of politeness! I had to step away from my computer to calm down before I replied with language that would make Linda Blair sound Amish. Thanks for the stress, Vince!

Who the hell is this Jessie H. Nunery guy and what the hell does he know?! Good for the sport? Are you sh*tting me?! I watch less and less these days for many reasons. HMS dominance (the villain) is just part of it, but a big part.

Good for the sport, huh? Jeez ... let's see ... the so-called ratings are down ... empty seats in the stands have become the norm ... oh, yes. This is SO much better for the sport!



NASCAR needed anything – in this case a dominant team – to keep fans interested." JUST SHOOT ME!! You have no idea how much restraint it is taking not to email this guy and give him what for! Interested? Is he kidding?! I'm flippin' bored! In fact, as far as 2008 goes, if the HMS domination continues, even with my Baby Dale, I will lose interest pretty early on!

I'm so mad, I could just spit!

You know ... I think I will send this bozo an email and ask him how many NASCAR fans he interviewed before writing this article. What the hell is he basing this on?! I'd be willing to bet I get zero response from this idiot!

[Quality88]

Don't hold back PPS, tell us what you really think.

[NASCAR Gnome]

I've got nothing against Hendrick or any of their drivers, in fact, I'm a Kyle Busch fan and I think Hendricks is going to regret letting him go instead of Casey Mears! Anyhow, that's a topic for some other time...

What I don't like about the Hendrick dominance is the utter lack of diversity. During the race they (the media) talk about them... after the race they talk about them... the week leading up to the next race - you guessed it - THEY TALK ABOUT THEM!!!

There very little, if any, talk of any other teams or drivers. Since JJ pulled this four-in-a-row win streak, NASCAR Cup has pretty much been transformed to the Hendrick Motors show! As a fan of the sport, I would like to see attention given to others - maybe cover some of the teams and drivers battling for the #35 spot or something other than how good and great Hendrick cars and drivers are! I actually want someone else to win so there will at least a different person to interview rather than the same-o same-o each and every week!

Again, my disclaimer is that I'm NOT anti-Hendricks as much as I am pro-diversity. There's more to NASCAR than those guys...