Mammoth Blog

While there were other stories in motorsports this year -- from Tony Schumacher's NHRA domination in Top Fuel to Scott Dixon's title in the IndyCar Series -- they all take a backseat to Johnson's Sprint Cup title run.

Even though some are left to ponder where Johnson's third consecutive championship ranks him in NASCAR history, the driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet isn't one of them.

Johnson is content with joining Cale Yarborough as the only NASCAR drivers to win three consecutive Sprint Cup titles. And least he's content for now.

"It's great to be part of history, but I'd certainly like to go out and make it," said Johnson during Tuesday's NASCAR teleconference. "It's going to be tough. We've been able to do it three times and not be so focused on tomorrow or next year."

Johnson hasn't had a chance to think about 2009 too much. He's spent the last couple of days trying figure out his place in racing history.

While he hasn't talked to Yarborough since tying the mark, he's beginning to figure out that his place in the sports world doesn't end when he leaves the track.

A trip to the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., on Monday took care of that.

"I walked in and the first person I saw in the hallway of ESPN was Mike Ditka and introduced myself to him and he said, 'I know who you are, champ, and, by the way, you are a dynasty,'?" Johnson said. "It just shocked me that he had been paying attention to NASCAR and seeing comments where I've mentioned I couldn't say where I placed, it wasn't my place to say that. That one caught me off guard."

Johnson is determined not to be caught off guard in 2009. His 2008 season got off to a slow start. With the no-testing ban in place for next year, Johnson could see another benefit.

Teams that are behind the Hendrick Motorsports group won't have a chance to test and try to make up ground. That could give the three-time champ a leg up in his bid for history, although he's not certain that's how it will play out.

"I don't care the size of the team, to go on a Friday and worry about qualifying for a race -- especially if you look at a small team, they show up on Friday, they're only focusing on qualifying runs, hoping they'll make it into a race," he said. "Once they do, they don't have any data or -- they have two 45-minute practices at best to get on track to work on the race setup. I think the potential is there for it to separate the field and have the big teams get further away from the smaller teams because no one has a chance to work on their cars."

But those testing concerns will be addressed in due time. For now, Johnson has more pressing issues. Figuring out where to go on vacation is one of them. Wondering about his place in sports history is another one.

That's not a bad way to spend your off-season. source>>>