CONCORD, N.C. - Jimmie Johnson has all the qualities of a hero.
The four-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion is fearless, dashing, articulate and humble.
For some strange reason, Johnson is also one of the most hated men in motorsports.
Johnson should have been saluted en route to his record-breaking run to glory last season. Instead, Johnson was serenaded before each race with boos, jeers and gesture. It was ugly.
It’s impossible to decipher the twisted thought processes of some hardcore stock car racing fans. That task could stump even most the highly-trained psychologist.
Judging from the opinion page and murky world of the Internet, the ABJ (Anybody But Johnson) crowd feels the NASCAR champion is too vanilla, too corporate and too perfect.
Then there’s Johnson’s association with the evil Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut, which swept the top three positions in the Sprint Cup standings last season.
With his toothy smile and model wife, Johnson seems like he could have been culled from a lineup in central casting to star in a Disney movie.
The real story is far more deep, however. Unlike some NASCAR stars and star-seekers, Johnson did not have the benefit of a famous father or wealthy family.
Believe it or not, Johnson was raised in a trailer park. He fed his passion for competition by racing trucks, buggies and motorcycles in the California desert.
Johnson was forced to eat plenty of dust in his unique dues-paying process. And there was no spotlight when Johnson made his Nationwide Series debut in 2001 with the unheralded Herzog Motorsports team.
Much like an off-road racing truck, Johnson just kept charging. And now has even overshadowed his mentor, Jeff Gordon.
And yet, some critics feel Johnson’s achievements lack historical merit. The haters claim that Johnson has taken advantage of NASCAR’s 10-race Chase format, and that crew chief Chad Knaus continually skirts the elusive NASCAR rulebook.
Johnson lacks the rough-hewn edge of Dale Earnhardt or the country-boy charm of Richard Petty. But this former trailer park kid is a champion who deserves respect and cheers.
Given the riches and temptations in the modern-day NASCAR world, it’s amazing that Johnson has been able to maintain his laser-like focus.
Consider that Johnson has not finished worse than fifth in the championship standings since becoming a full-time Sprint Cup driver in 2002. That sterling resume includes two runner-up finishes.
The scary part of this success story is that the 34-year-old Johnson is just now reaching his prime. And thanks to the generosity of team owner Rick Hendrick, Johnson’s crew has remained intact.
While the old-guard in the sport will surely cringe at the thought, all vital signs point to another record-breaking season for NASCAR’s misunderstood golden boy.
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