Jimmie Johnson Is NASCAR Champ for Fourth Consecutive Time

MIAMI — Jimmie Johnson grabbed his fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, an impressive feat in any sport and one that confirms the dynastic status of his team, Hendrick Motorsports. It also puts Johnson ahead of Cale Yarborough, who took three consecutive championships in 1976-'78.

Johnson came in 5th in the Ford 400 event, with Denny Hamlin winning the race in the no. 11 Toyota. The now four-time champion's next challenge will be to surpass the seven titles held by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He is already the only driver in Sprint Cup history to win four championships in a row. Crew chief Chad Knaus is the first in his job to take four straight wins as well.

The punditry is already well underway about Johnson's feat, with Fox Sports commenting that Johnson "and his vanilla personality don't exactly mesmerize or polarize fans" and saying the four consecutive wins could be seen as "sucking the very life out of another Chase for the Sprint Cup." Sports Illustrated quoted Johnson as admitting he is not "colorful," and added, "Johnson seemed resigned to the fact that he is never going to be that guy. All he does is win."

Inside Line says: NASCAR's version of the Yankees — who have their share of haters, too. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent