Is Jimmie Johnson Suffering From A Championship Hangover?

I know what you’re thinking. Peyton, another NASCAR article? Yes people, someone’s got to do it and I am privileged to deliver this bit of information to you. As most of you know, one man has dominated the sport for the last 8 years. That man is Jimmie Johnson. Why am I about to write something on this guy? Well the best driver in NASCAR is winless through 10 races this season. With that being said, only 8 drivers have seen victory lane this season with only two, two time winners this season.

In recent history, Johnson has dominated the sport winning an average of 5 wins a season since 2006. In that span he has also won 6 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships, which is one title behind the all time record set by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. It seems a little odd that such a dominant driver is winless through 10 races in this young NASCAR season (36 races make up a season).

Johnson is essentially a favorite to win every single week no matter what track the series races on. In fact, a few races this season Johnson was in position to claim a checkered flag or two. In Fontana California, Jimmie led just about every lap in the long 400-mile race until a tire issue with fewer than 10 laps to go ruined his day. The next week in Martinsville, Virginia Johnson found himself again in the lead late poised for victory until Kurt Busch passed him with only a few laps remaining to go on and win the race.

It isn’t every day that Jimmie Johnson makes a mistake that costs him a victory, whether it be technical or human error, the guy always seems to have everything go his way. This is why it is so unusual to see him winless through almost a third of the season. This season offers a new rule change for making the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which is NASCAR's form of a playoff system. When a driver wins a race, they are locked into the final 10 race playoff like chase for the championship, and through 10 races Johnson remains winless. With that being said, there are some good tracks coming up that could help Johnsons bid at victory this season.

This weekend the series travels to Kansas Speedway (S/O to fellow blogger Montana Samuels) where Johnson has won two times with the last victory coming in 2011. The next two tracks after this weekend are Charlotte, North Carolina where Jimmie has won the last two All Star Race events held at the track the past two years. Dover, Delaware after that where Johnson is the all time winningest driver at the 1 mile oval.

Point to be made here for Jimmie Johnson fans is simple. There is hope for your driver. For all others, enjoy the break from seeing the 48 car doing burnouts after a dominating Sunday drive because unfortunately he will win this season. #JJhasnowins #nosoap