ShareThisA chance meeting with football great Mike Ditka -- and a few other sports superstars -- helped Jimmie Johnson put his three consecutive NASCAR championships into perspective.
"The day after the championship, Mike Ditka came up to me and said, 'I saw you yesterday on TV, and you are a dynasty.' I didn't know the man," Johnson said Thursday during Media Day at Daytona International Speedway.
"Then I met Ken Griffey Jr. and Jerry Rice at the Super Bowl, and they congratulated me. People pay attention to that third championship. Anybody winning three championships in anything is pretty special."
Johnson, 33, had a special 2008 season, winning three times over the last 10 races to beat Carl Edwards by 69 points. In 2007, the California native won four straight Chase events in capturing his second crown.
Sporting a beard and looking trim, Johnson said he and the No. 48 team aren't content after matching the record three consecutive titles won by Cale Yarborough (1976-78).
"(Yarborough) was a hero of mine as a kid, and being in the record books with him means the world to me," Johnson said. "I do believe we have a very good chance at winning a fourth championship. If we're composed and organized come September, we'll have a very good chance."
Fox TV analyst Jeff Hammond said Johnson is an old-school driver. The former crew chief compares Johnson's skills and demeanor to the legendary David Pearson.
"I envy (crew chief) Chad Knaus because I think Johnson's a fantastic driver," Hammond said. "I would compare him to Pearson. He was a smart, sneaky driver. (Johnson's) not going to rough you up to beat you, but if you get to messing with him, he's not afraid to rough you up.
"If you want to beat Jimmie Johnson, you're going to have to change something. You're not going to beat him by doing the same thing because it hasn't worked the last three years."
Mark Martin, Johnson's new teammate, won't be racing in Saturday's Budweiser Shootout. But Martin is excited about driving on the same team as Johnson -- Hendrick Motorsports.
"What drove me to take (this ride) was Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff (Gordon), Jimmie and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as teammates ... and the opportunity to drive a blazing fast race car that could win a race," Martin said. "That's why I did it."
Said Dale Earnhardt Jr. of his new teammate: "I like Mark a lot. What's not to like? He had some great battles with my daddy, but he'll treat you like a gentleman on and off the track."
WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AT NASCAR MEDIA DAY
"I like Mark (Martin) a lot. What's not to like? He had some great battles with my daddy, but he'll treat you like a gentleman on and off the track."
--Dale Earnhardt Jr., describing new Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin.
"He's old. There isn't any arguing that, but he's good."
-- Michael Waltrip, on 50-year-old Mark Martin.
"I've definitely got in trouble for wearing inappropriate t-shirts in the garage, but no one's told me to tone it down. I've got to use better judgment. It's a much different culture in a NASCAR garage than in a Formula One paddock."
-- Scott Speed, a former Formula One racer now driving the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota.
"I have one engineer on my team."
-- Joe Nemechek, when told Hendrick Motorsports employs 55 degreed engineers.
"I've got a clean piece of paper, a cool looking race car and it's going to be awesome."
--Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Cup champ, on having a clean slate and starting anew in the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford.
"My confidence is very high because of that. We can have the same outcome this year. It seems like we've been off for like five months."
-- David Stremme, on starting the season in the Penske Racing No. 12, which won last year's Daytona 500.
"I don't know that I need to give him much advice. I feel like Joey's ready, and for his age, he's a very good, smart race car driver. I don't think he's going to have any trouble getting used to this series."
-- Tony Stewart, on 18-year-old Joey Logano, who replaces Stewart in the No. 20 Toyota./
"I hung out with family, went to Cabo for three days and went to some Packer games."
-- Matt Kenseth, on his offseason.
"I think what you're going to see is the local short tracks do well because it's inexpensive entertainment and for 10 bucks they can see a great race, have some fun and not have to drive far from home."
-- NASCAR pit reporter Dick Bergren, on how the economy will affect NASCAR racing
(Bill Whitehead covers NASCAR for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers. E-mail wwhiteh<at>ircc.net.)
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