On November 17, 2013, Jimmie Johnson crosses the finish line in ninth place at Homestead Speedway in Miami Florida. The ninth place finish was more than enough for Jimmie to win his 6th Sprint Cup title in eight years. With this win Jimmie Johnson can be in the discussion as one of the best NASCAR driver ever. The only men left for Johnson to catch are Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt who have won seven career championships.“The time to rank Johnson will be when his driving career is over. But at just 38 and the youngest driver to win six titles, his career could last another decade or more”(ESPN).
Jimmie Johnson’s dominants in the sport could be a reason that the popularity of NASCAR has lowered in the last decade. Diehard NASCAR fans believe that Jimmie Johnson is make the sport less exciting. “Perhaps that’s one reason why NASCAR’s TV ratings are down roughly 25 percent from 2005, the year in which Johnson won his first Cup championship”(SI). NASCAR fans enjoyed watching the gritty and fearlessness of drivers like the late Dale Earnhardt. “Johnson is the anti-Earnhardt: always smiling, always courteous, and always making everything in life and on the track look so gosh-darn easy”(SI).
None the less Jimmie should receive the utmost credit for what he has achieved. His hard worker and involvement off the track has given him the reputation of being a stand up guy. Since 2006, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated $5.6 million to different charities across the United States.
Jimmie Johnson’s title success and domination of the sport exemplifies situational theory. In this case the key concepts used in situational theory are high problem recognition, low constraint recognition, and high levels of involvement in an issue. Jimmie represents situational theory in that:
-Jimmie Johnson is the face of NASCAR.
-He is arguably one of the best NASCAR drivers ever.
-He has lowered NASCAR’s popularity by dominating the sport.
-Off the track JJ is a stand up guy that regularly donates to charities which assist children and families in need.
Overall this is an example of positive public relations because the public is witnessing history through Jimmie Johnson. By winning his 6th NASCAR Championship he has shown that he is one of the best drivers that ever lived. His hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship should be noticed and appreciated by all.
Additional Sources:
(ESPN)
(Yahoo)
(NASCAR)