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Is it time to include Jimmie Johnson among stock-car racing's greats? He is the two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion. He won the Daytona 500 in 2006 when his crew chief, Chad Knaus, was suspended. Johnson is off to a positive start for this season after winning the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500. He'll undoubtedly be a major factor in this season's Chase for the Championship. Since Johnson's debut in the Cup series in 2002, he has, by far, the most wins (33) of any driver. Teammate Jeff Gordon is runner-up with 23. Though his resume is impressive, Johnson is not yet in the legendary class of Dale Earnhardt Sr., Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough and Gordon. To join that distinguished group, he'll have to win more races and another championship, plus gain more recognition from sports fans who follow NASCAR only casually. Those fans know Earnhardts and Pettys and even Gordon and Tony Stewart. Johnson acknowledged thinking about becoming only the second NASCAR driver to three-peat. Yarborough is the only driver with three consecutive titles (1976-7. "It's only been done once, and I'd love to be able to do it," he said following yesterday's practice at Daytona International Speedway. "But I know there's a lot of racing between now and [the season finale in November], so I'm not too focused on it yet." -- Philadelphia Daily News



Jimmie Johnson driven to be among NASCAR greats | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/14/2008