3PEAT

[SMOKEN14]

I voted no only because Jimmie won last year but Jeff Gordon would of been the champion by the old system AND this year Carl Edwards would of won the championship by 16 points by the old system  Cale didn't have any help from nascar with his 3 peat

[20forLogano]

But Cale also didn't have to race against 10 other guys who could win the championship.  There are arguments for both sides.  The racing is a lot tougher these days than it was in the old days.  Believe this, the 48 team would race the first 26 different if the chase wasn't in effect but it is.  The 48 team races what they are given and they are the best.

[KurtBuschFan]

I voted no.  You can't really compare a guy who won three in a row under the old points system to a guy who won under the chase system.  Jimmie (like the other chase drivers) was handed points with 10 races to go.

That's not to say Jimmie's three-peat isn't amazing.  It's just amazing in its own way.  Jimmie and team sure have something figured out if they're able to run that well in the chase three years in a row.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I'm not going to take anything away from Jimmie Johnson's feat. It's legit as far as I'm concerned. We can always look back into sports history and make comparisons with past champions. Things were different then and that holds true for today.

 Shayne

[south jersey girl]

apples and oranges

Cale's was a great accomplishment in his era...
Jimmie's is a great accomplishment in this era...

Also want to give a shout out to Chad Knaus...the first crew chief to win 3 in a row...

[smyler]

I said yes, but I really mean no... because it's much tougher to win now than it was back then.  Cale only had less than a half dozen actual competitors vs. Jimmie has at least 15 other guys with strong teams behind them, therefore I think Jimmie's is actually a bit more impressive, even though Cale won a much higher percent of the races in the same period.

It's hard to say how either of these guys would do in the others era but they are both incredible competitors.

[SMOKEN14]

Also want to give a shout out to Chad Knaus...the first crew chief to win 3 in a row...

WHO says Cheaters don't win     

[Tyyrus]

I agree that the two Era's cannot be compared ! Both feats were admirable but the circumstances completely different  , due to the Chase Format ! Both Drivers and Teams were distinctly Superior to the Competition in most cases .

[FS_Amy]

You can speculate all day which era was harder to win in, or whose pit crew was more important to success, or whether the Chase sucks.  I'm tired of hearing that Cale didn't have as much competition or have to deal with a points reset to erase a big lead.  I'm sick of hearing that Jimmie only won because of the Chase or only won because of his crew chief.

At the end of the day, you have two drivers who used the way things were IN THEIR OWN TIME to reap the sport's biggest reward.  Cale was able to make the points system in the mid 1970's work to his favor.  Jimmie was able to make the current points system work in HIS favor.  Both have don what no other driver in the sport has ever been able to-maintain excellence  and overcome adversity for three years runnning.  It was impressive in 1978 and it is impressive in 2008.

And just out of curiosity, would people even be having this debate if Junior (who, if you really watch them both has a very similar driving style to Jimmie Johnson, which both have recognized) won three straight under the Chase system?

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Dang Amy, you're punching below the belt calling out the Junior Nation like that. I can hear the thunder clapping now.

 "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he  is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Junior Nation when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

 Jules Winnfield, "Pulp Fiction"

[DougS]

Dang Amy, you're punching below the belt calling out the Junior Nation like that. I can hear the thunder clapping now.

 "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he  is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Junior Nation when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

 Jules Winnfield, "Pulp Fiction"

ROFLMBO   

[skool]

Jules Winnfield, (quoting The Lord Thy God) in... "Pulp Fiction"


Just didn't want anyone to think Jules just came up with that off the top of his head   

God gets quite irate if even ONE of his quotes is wasted!

[FS_Amy]

God gets quite irate if even ONE of his quotes is wasted!

I thought it was every sperm that was sacred...

[DougS]

I thought it was every sperm that was sacred...

That's two low blows in one day Amy! 

Skool I know exactly where that passage comes from. 

[skool]

I thought it was every sperm that was sacred...

It is, i just threw that in there to see if anyone would catch it!  Obviously Amy knows The Meaning of Life 

And Doug...I figured you did, but wanted to make sure everyone did!!!!