Daytona, Thunder Fanfest- (ALL PHOTOS FROM THE THUNDER FANFEST EVENT AT DAYTONA ON JANUARY 16-17, 2009 BY Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
For three straight seasons, the racing world has pondered the secret of the 48 teams success. And, while at the Thunder Fan Fest media time with the drivers, I listened to many questions about who they thought they’d have to beat this year and always the same answer came up: Jimmie Johnson was first and then Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. To hear the drivers explain the season, we’ll be seeing a repeat of last year yet in racing, history does not usually repeat itself. Jimmie Johnson has been that rare exception for the past three years. When I asked Jimmie Johnson, who besides Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch did he think would be a threat, he replied, “You know, I look at the guys that won multiple races last year and think that they're going to be awfully tough. It's hard to ignore what the 18 did. I know you mentioned him, but I think he has the ability to do anything he wants in the sport if he can just focus in on it and keep his eye on the ball and make it happen.” Johnson went on to further explain, “ Carl has his eye on the ball and is refining his game week to week, track to track. I still in my heart feel that the 24 car is a threat for the championship. I think we're putting Mark Martin in some of the best equipment out there, and we all know how badly he wants to win one. I think Jr. showed a lot of strength and maturity last year and really growing inside of Hendrick Motorsports, and I feel he's going to be a threat.” And then Jimmie Johnson concluded with, “I look through the championship contenders, and I guess most of my thoughts go to guys in the big teams, so it's hard to really expand outside of that. I think Hamlin has matured a lot and was really in the thick of things. It's hard to believe that Matt Kenseth won't be a championship contender. So it's really those big team guys that I still look at.”
And then it dawned on me what the secret to his success was: CONFIDENCE. Jimmie Johnson simply believes everything he could possibly believe about himself and every positive thing anyone has ever said about him. He really believes he’s just that good and will win again. It never registered in Jimmie’s thinking that Greg Biffle was a contender or that all three Richard Childress Racing cars finished 4th, 5th and 6th in the Chase with Harvick literally digging himself up and out of a hole to make it to 4th. Jimmie just doesn’t see any other threats because he already believes in himself. Confidence is the ultimate weapon in the drivers seat. Confidence is the greatest performance enhancer when anyone needs one. And Jimmie Johnson’s got it, almost to the point of bordering on arrogance if one didn’t know him better and realize he simply doesn’t allow himself to entertain failure. There’s a big lesson in here for others and for Jimmie because while confidence is a wonderful trait, reality can deal some serious setbacks. When Jimmie ends up out of synch, in the middle of the pack and not at all where he wants to be, he simply doesn’t handle it very well, til he realizes he has to and like Atlanta last season, then drives himself to a Carl Edwards-depressing finish! And, that’s what makes champions out of ordinary drivers.
Ever since 2001 Michael Waltrip has known the double edged sword of sweet victory and the bitter losses. In Michael’s own words during his media part of the Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona, “It's defined my career. I mean, you can't really find a whole lot of other things to talk a lot about. I ran a lot of races and didn't win, and then from '01 to '03 we were able to win races, and we did good during that time frame, and I'm proud of that” He continued to explain,”It means the world to me, you know, career wise. I'm proud that I was able to accomplish winning the greatest race there is in my opinion, and winning it twice is something that I'm thankful for. I feel like I could have won it a couple more times, and I feel like I can still win it a couple more times, and that's a great feeling, too, to come down here in a couple weeks with a car that I believe will be able to contend for the win here. That's awesome.” Then he paused and stated, “And then, you know, I know the champions and the great drivers that have won this race before me, and I'm real proud to be a part of that company.” For Michael Waltrip, the confidence is there but it’s fleeting. The competition is so stiff that he knows on any given Sunday or whatever day the race is on, he might not qualify. Waltrip understands so many losses that for him, confidence like Johnson exhibits is a rare occasion if ever.
So much so has Waltrip’s confidence waned that he closed his time with the media by stating, “My goal is to go win some races this year, run up front so that I don't have to say this is my last year. But if I don't do those things, if I can't compete at the level that Reutimann does or NAPA expects, then I probably won't get to do this again in 2010.” A very simple fact of life statement, a little reality check by Michael Waltrip of his own personal assessment if you will and he’s decided that if this season doesn’t fare well, he’ll quit driving. A simple statement in a quiet little interview in the media center but one that sent shock waves of “news” through the NASCAR community by Monday morning. Confidence comes in many forms. Sometimes confidence is the reality check that says, take a good hard look and turn over the seat now, despite the fact that you still love doing what you’re doing. Confidence is knowing you did the right thing at the right time for the right reasons and not because some dreadful event happened and you’re forced to make the decision. Confidence looks different on someone other than the champion but it’s still confidence.
Bravo for Michael Waltrip for realizing his own personal limitations and recognizing his personal goals. May Jimmie Johnson realize that no one stays on top forever, and that while the top is nice, everyone comes down eventually. The threats are right in front of you, clearly present.
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