“Hope Denny Doesn’t Have Any Trouble Sleeping”: How Jimmie Johnson Trash Talked His Way to Record Victory in 2010

One would think that winning four consecutive Cup Series Championships, a feat that only a handful of people had managed to achieve in NASCAR history, would absolve Jimmie Johnson of all doubts and questions. But his detractors had found a way to criticize his championship wins—until he silenced all in 2010.

Jimmie Johnson had been on a magical run, winning four successive Cup Series from 2006 through 2009. But his detractors had one bone of contention—Johnson always found himself leading comfortably by the time they reached Homestead for the final race.

He was always unpressured at Homestead which, for some, took away a certain aspect of legitimacy from his wins. But the 2010 Cup Series changed it all. With a 5th consecutive Championship and a chance to set a record on the line, Johnson was under immense pressure during the last leg of the season. In the season’s penultimate race in Phoenix, Johnson finished 5th and it put him 15 points behind Denny Hamlin. With just Homestead remaining, both drivers were under great pressure. Hamlin was racing for his first Cup Series while Johnson was looking for a record 5th.

The Californian took his chance to put his rival under pressure right before the race. He said, “People have been saying for years that I can’t come from behind to win a championship, but they don’t get that I’ve overcome pressure-filled situations to put myself in good positions at Homestead.”

In an attempt to unsettle the Floridian, he remarked, “I love where I’m at right now. Bring it on. I just hope Denny doesn’t have any trouble sleeping this week and he doesn’t hear every rattle of the car in his dreams.” 2010 had been set up for a very interesting finale. With Hamlin having Homestead history to back him and a 15-point gap, the Championship was his to lose.

The Jimmie Johnson v. Denny Hamlin battle

With so much narrative around the race, the Cup Series finally had a thrilling ending in sight. 2006 to 2009 had been relatively meaningless races at Homestead, but fans had a lot to look forward to.

Denny had himself to blame as he had finished 12th at Phoenix the weekend before. Throwing a water bottle down in anger, he said “This is one of the bigger letdowns I’ve had. I’m going to try to use this for motivation next week.”

As history shows, the race at Phoenix came back to bite him. Finishing second in Homestead, Johnson created numerous records that glorious night. He became only the third to win 5 Cup Series, and the first to do so consecutively.

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Moreover, he became only the third driver to overturn a points deficit in the final race and win the Championship (the previous instance was 35 years prior). The closely fought battle also silenced all those who had cast aspersions over his ability to perform under pressure.

An otherwise calm and composed Johnson showed how much the win meant to him. He said, “I’ve always told you the first championship, the first win, that stuff has meant the most to me. This one, I think takes the lead. It’s not that the other Chases weren’t competitive. We were stronger in the previous two Chases, at least, but this one, I am just so proud.” As dramatic as the season was his celebration. He went on screaming “This is unbelievable!” and pumping his fists repeatedly long after crossing the line—engraving history with his tire marks on the track in doing so.

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