Jimmie Johnson—The Tiger Woods Of Racing

In the world of non-stop efforts to explain NASCAR’s problems — real or perceived — it has often been suggested the sport needs a Tiger Woods.

That is, the purveyors of this cure-all say, Sprint Cup needs a dominant star; one who has those once-in-a-lifetime talents that demands interest just by the fact he is competing that day.

They say the series needs a driver so good, that if you are not watching him on a particular day, you will feel left out; that you don’t dare show up at the water cooler on Monday because the conversation there will center around his weekend exploits and those who had not watched are total losers.

It turns out NASCAR doesn’t really need a Tiger Woods. It has one.

Perhaps what the sport needs is a Phil Mickelson.

Watching Jimmie Johnson, especially in the Chase, is a lot like watching Woods in golf’s majors. Only moreso.

Woods is cooly efficient on a golf course. When he’s on his game, he makes a very difficult sport seem simple. And he’s so good that he forces those competing against him to alter their game and their mindset.

On the final two days of major tournaments, other golfers are more concerned about what Woods is doing than what they themselves are doing. The leaderboard seems to be there only to mock them. They check it only to see who it is they are competing against for second place. They play not to lose.

Same with Johnson. Only moreso.

Other drivers spend the Chase hoping Johnson runs into bad luck and that they are somehow in position to capitalize if he does.

Johnson’s record in the Chase is a lot more impressive that Woods’ in majors.

And the fact is, winning in racing is a lot tougher than winning in golf: In golf, the only things to slow you are your own actions, and, you’re not likely to suffer from equipment failure. Even the fans are ordered to shut the heck up so as not to distract Tiger during his backswing.

And the fact is, Woods is playing at a time where the competition is extremely thin. It’s Woods or Mickelson and a bunch of clones name Brad or Tad.

Johnson is driving at a time when the competition has never been more intense. On Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, Johnson was hounded by three Chasers who are former champions who have won the big silver trophy a combined seven times.

The biggest difference between Woods and Johnson is how their success is greeted by their fan bases.

Woods’ cool, standoffishness is part of his mystique. It drives the stock brokers and country clubbers crazy. Johnson is considered boring and vanilla. The guy gets booed for being intelligent and articulate.

Interest in golf soars when Woods is in a tournament. Interest in Sprint Cup sags when Johnson takes a points lead in the Chase. Golf fans want to see Woods win. Racing fans want to see Johnson crash.

I fear it is likely to be like that years to come.

Racing has not needed a Tiger Woods, but golf has needed a Jimmie Johnson.

Jim Pedley is managing editor of Racin’ Today. Read more NASCAR news at racintoday.com.
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