Top 25 Year-in-Review: Jimmie Johnson

Welcome to the 2007 NASCAR FanHouse Year in Review. Follow along each day as we look back on the top 25 drivers of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for the 2007 season. Heck, bookmark us if you have to! Today, we review the season of NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson.

Driver: Jimmie Johnson -- El Cajon, California
Team: No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet
Points: 1st place (+77)
2006: 2006 Champ
Key Stats: 10 wins, 4 poles, 20 Top-5s, 24 Top-10s
Back in 2008?: Yes

Other than "incredible", are there words that can accurately portray Jimmie Johnson's run to the 2007 championship?

"Amazing", "Wow", and "You've got to be kidding me" might make that list.

Regardless, the effort put out by Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the rest of the No. 48 team was something for the ages in the final ten deciding races of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season in 2007. His average finish during that span? 5th.

And oh yeah, he won four-straight in the final 5 races.

In any other Chase season, Johnson would have waltzed away with the title with 1 or 2 races remaining with stats like that. But, amazingly enough, teammate Jeff Gordon finished within striking distance after averaging a 5.1-place finish.

NASCAR fans can say what they want about 2007 not being competitive -- but it frankly wasn't the case. The championship battle was plenty competitive all the way to Homestead. What more do you want?

Johnson started the season with an lowly 39th-place finish in Daytona, but slowly rose towards the top. Unlike 2006, Johnson seemed to play a little more aggressively throughout the season while teammate Gordon battled for consistency. But when the Chase started, the teammates were tied at the top due to race wins and maintained that position throughout.

Can Johnson make it three-straight titles in 2008? Without a doubt, and anyone in the NASCAR world would be truly shocked to see him not within shot of the title come Homestead in November.

Love him or hate him, Jimmie Johnson's two-straight championships have put him among the best-ever in NASCAR, and that talent is going to leave for a long, long time.