Jimmie Johnson Runs Circles Around Everyone in Sports Today

Jimmy Johnson is not only the most dominant driver in NASCAR, he is the most dominant athlete in the world.

What's wrong with that sentence?

First, a lot of people don't think drivers are athletes. Second, a lot of people don't know Jimmy is actually Jimmie.

He didn't coach the Cowboys or spend the summer in Nicaragua taping "Survivor." This JJ spent the past few years doing what he always does -- winning.

If only he were winning football games or changed his name to Earnhardt, Johnson might get the domination respect he deserves.

The Other Side

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In fact, when all the arguments for and against athletes are tallied, the most dominant athlete in sports today may shock you: Peyton Manning, the two-time defending league MVP, is the newest inheritor of the sporting crown.
-- Clay Travis on why Peyton Manning is the most dominant athlete in sports today The guy has won four straight Sprint Cup titles. Imagine if Kobe Bryant had won four straight NBA titles or Peyton Manning four straight Super Bowls. Congress would have voted to put their faces on the $100 bill.

If Johnson were on the bill, people would think it's Zachary Taylor in a fire suit. Just because 97.2 percent of Americans wouldn't recognize him if he ran over their dog is no reason to scoff at JJ's success.

The fact he dominates stock car racing is, of course.

I'm not the biggest fan of the left-turn circuit. Heck, I'm not even sure I'd recognize Johnson if he pulled up next to me at a red light. But I've breathed enough tailpipe exhaust to know NASCAR is every bit as competitive as the NBA, NHL or "Survivor: Nicaragua."

And this isn't a question of whether Johnson could play point guard for the Lakers or bench-press Tony Stewart. Whatever skills are required to maneuver a car through 200 mph traffic, Johnson has more of them anybody else.

It's astounding that one driver has won every championship since 2006. It's almost as mind-boggling as Johnson being named AP's Male Athlete of the Year for 2009.

Johnson was the first driver to win the award since Ben-Hur. Even more amazing was the fact Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't win.

Little E has been voted NASCAR's favorite driver for seven straight years. He was the highest-paid driver last year, raking in $30 million in prize money and endorsements.

All that somehow avoids the fact that he can't hold Johnson's lugnuts. JJ has won more Sprint championships than Junior has races over the past four years. And it's not as if he has markedly better equipment or mechanics.

Johnson races for Hendrick Motorsports, which is also home to Earnhardt, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. They all get the best help, but only one has four straight championships to show for it.

Johnson has five wins this year, which ties him with Denny Hamlin for the most of any driver. But most of the victories came early in the year, which qualifies 2010 as a slump for JJ.

He's still fifth in the latest Sprint Cup standings. That qualifies as a slump for Johnson, though he'll still easily qualify the year-end title chase.

After he wins again, maybe he'll land a spot on next year's Survivor and get some real recognition. Of all the kings of the jungle, nobody dominates like Jimmy Johnson.

Make that Jimmie.