Sportsfrog.com

That gray headline over there has been up since early this evening.

Yes, Jimmie Johnson did crash in Wednesday’s practice for Thursday’s qualifying races for the Daytona 500 (got that?), but Stewart didn’t. In fact, he wasn’t anywhere near the accident when the accident occurred.

Mike Bliss got loose coming off of turn four and collected Joey Logano as he smashed into the wall. Johnson, trying to check up in the wreck, hit Denny Hamlin’s rear bumper and spun around.

So why does an editor at NBC think that Stewart was in the crash despite not one single mention of him in the story? Well, my guess is that he/she still thinks that Stewart is in the #20 car, the car that Logano currently drives. Never mind that Logano is already one of NASCAR’s most recognizable drivers and won at New Hampshire. While inaccurate, I do appreciate the copy editor’s association of Stewart in the #20 car. I’m glad I’m not alone in wishing that he was the driver of the Home Depot car forever.

Jimmie Johnson wrecks on lap two after Sam Hornish gets into him after being tapped by David Reutimann.

And NASCAR officials collectively breathe a HUGE sigh of relief.

Denny Hamlin won yesterday at Martinsville.

Buuuuuut Jimmie Johnson finished second, while Mark Martin finished eighth.

That means that Johnson’s points lead extended from 90 to 118, taking even more drama out of the Chase barring a a big calamity including Johnson next week at Talladega.

The old system–the one where the points went over the whole season, like in soccer–would actually be closer than the Chase is now.

Tony Stewart would be leading, with Johnson 80 behind in second and Jeff Gordon 117 behind in third.

Yes, under the yawn inducing old system, the third place driver would be closer to first than Martin is now.

I’m sure NASCAR is loving that.

…starts Sunday at New Hampshire for Jimmie Johnson.

While some people feel that a fourth straight title for JJ would be a great thing for NASCAR, I completely disagree.

Johnson is a great driver on a great team and by every indication is a great person.

Johnson isn’t bland, but he isn’t controversial either. Maybe he’s more of a vanilla bean than straight vanilla.

But he doesn’t inspire. Sure, there are Jimmie Johnson fans, and there are probably some very passionate Jimmie Johnson fans, but mention Kyle Busch or Jeff Gordon (and Junior to a smaller extent) and people are automatically on one side or another.

If you don’t like Johnson, you’re probably ambivalent. And sick of him winning.

Four straight titles is undoubtedly a sexy storyline, as it’s never been done in the modern era in any major professional sport. But NASCAR would be best served to have someone else win the title this season.