by Ambreya Scarlett

Created on: January 08, 2010   Last Updated: January 09, 2010

Of course motorsports in general don't get the same amount of coverage as your typical "body" or "contact" sports, but Jimmie Johnson and his team have been making great triumphs in NASCAR and nobody seems to notice.  That was until Jimmie Johnson finally got some of the recognition he deserved when he won Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for 2009.  It took winning four consectutive Nascar Sprint (formerly Nextel) Cup championships to get it.  Something no other driver has ever done.  Johnson and the 48 Team made history in 2009. 

Even after winning three championships in a row, the media and even NASCAR fans failed to give them the respect and attention they deserved.  As a quiet, laid-back guy, Jimmie wasn't much of a fan favorite like Dale Jr., who's attitude is more widely known than his wins...well, because they a few are far between.  Until Jr. had joined the Hendrick team, Jimmie received more "boos" at driver introductions than cheers. 

Even before winning championships, his first few years driving full time in NASCAR were quite impressive.  2006-2009 were the years he won the championships.  2005 he finished 5th in over all points, 2004 and 2003 he was 2nd, and 2002 was his 1st full year and he finished 5th as a rookie.  That's no lower than 5th place in overall points for his entire career so far.  With the changes made year after year in this sport, it is continually getting harder to even win a race let alone a championship.  Yet this man has done it four times in a row. 

As with any sport, there are those who say he doesn't deserve it, or the NASCAR throws him races and championships, but would they really have anything to gain by doing this?  Fans vowing to never watch a race again isn't what they hope for, as the sport is already facing hard times as with anything else in this economy.  Fewer ticket sells this past season were a big discussion so its doubtful they want to make things worse.  The 48 team is simply the best, at this point in time, at winning championships.  They work together and they work hard.  They learn from their mistakes, and of course, Jimmie has a lot of talent. 

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