Johnson named preseason favorite by media

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2010) – It only took an unprecedented fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, but the media finally thinks Jimmie Johnson will defend his crown, according to a NASCARMedia.com preseason media poll. Incredibly, this isn’t a typical outcome. Only once in the previous five preseason polls has Johnson been tapped as the favorite – in 2005, the last season he didn’t win the championship. In 2006 and 2008, the media picked Jeff Gordon to win it all, in 2007 it picked Tony Stewart, and last year, the press picked Carl Edwards. But at long last, Johnson, the 2009 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, is the favorite to continue his dynasty. “I’m glad the media thinks we are the team to beat this season," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. “This is the first time in the last four years. ... it might not necessarily turn out to be a good thing, though. Everyone seems to be asking if we can do it again this year and my standard answer is that we are going to try our hardest. It sure would be great to prove the media right this time." Rounding out the top 12: Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, in second, Stewart in third, Kyle Busch in fourth, Edwards in fifth, Denny Hamlin in sixth, Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, in seventh, Kurt Busch in eighth, Juan Pablo Montoya in ninth, Matt Kenseth in 10th, Greg Biffle in 11th and Ryan Newman in 12th. Drivers who made the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but were left out of the 2010 preseason media top 12 poll are Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers. Kahne ranked 14th; Vickers 20th. Predictors ranked Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, 13th in the poll.