Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson will both be chasing their first championship yet again in 2006. Credit: Autostock

Is a championship the measure of a man?

In the record books of every major sport there are athletes that have phenomenal careers but never hoist the championship trophy, and recently in Track Smack I made the statement that Jimmie Johnson is our generation's Mark Martin.

Admittedly it is still fairly early in Johnson's career, but if you discount the tire that ruined his day at Homestead-Miami just a few short weeks ago, he could have finished second in the point standings for the third time in as many years.

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To Martin's credit, he has finished second in the points four times, ironically every four years dating back to 1990 -- which means he will fall short yet again in 2006 if you believe in numerology.

Their careers also parallel for certain track performances. Neither Martin nor Johnson have ever won at Daytona, Indianapolis, Chicagoland or Homestead-Miami. More to the point to build the case on Johnson, he has career average finishes of 20th or worse at Indianapolis, Sonoma, Talladega and Richmond -- and in the current Chase format, that accounts for five of the first 26 events.

Additionally, Johnson has never won at five of the 10 Chase events (Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami), and three races fall on those tracks in the first 26 as well.

Johnson has 18 career Nextel Cup victories. Credit: Autostock

I know, I know, Tony Stewart just proved you don't have to win races in the Chase to win the championship, but let's be honest, Johnson will not be racing into his 40s like Martin so his timeline to capture a championship is much shorter, which makes it harder and harder to win one.

That is not to say that winning a championship is everything, but fans and journalists sometimes believe it is the only thing.

In today's NFL, Peyton Manning has been labeled the guy that "just can't win the big one." Sure, he recently got the monkey off his back and finally beat the New England Patriots, but for a league MVP who etched his name into the record books by breaking Dan Marino's illustrious mark of 48 touchdown passes in a season last year, it is still yet to be seen if he will ever hold the Lombardi Trophy.

And being compared to Marino is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Marino was the only quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 60,000 yards and in 1984 was the NFL's Most Valuable Player, but his Dolphin's fell short in Super Bowl XIX -- consequently Marino's only career Super Bowl appearance. Could the same fate fall on Manning?

Then there is John Stockton, clearly one of the best NBA players of all time. Stockton holds the NBA record for assists and retired as the NBA's all-time steals leader, but the Utah Jazz never could seal the deal and get Stockton that ring.

Martin has 35 career Nextel Cup victories. Credit: Autostock

Now fans watch a talented player named Allen Iverson bring home the NBA MVP hardware (2000-2001 season) but continually fall short in the playoffs. Could Iverson suffer the same career as Stockton and leave the NBA with an empty ring finger?

Finally there is Ernie Banks, arguably one of the best Major League Baseball players of all time -- and one that never won the World Series. Sure, he won consecutive National League MVP awards in 1958 and 1959, but there is no championship ring in his trophy case, which takes us to Barry Bonds.

Bonds, a seven-time MVP and one of only three players in history to top 700 home runs, is certainly playing the final games of his career -- one that could end with him becoming the all-time career home run slugger in the history of baseball -- but his fingers are naked of a ring as well.

Needless to say, there are two sides to this story.

Americantrans1@aol.com: I find your comments in regard Mark Martin offensive and totally off base. Jimmie Johnson would be home crying like Jeff Gordon in divorce court if he had to pay the dues and drive the junk that Mark Martin has over the years. Jimmie Johnson is the same as the Busch brothers and Dale Jr. in having the NASCAR world handed to him on a silver platter.

First, Mark Martin won at least two Winston Cups if you take away the NASCAR penalties assessed arbitrarily and capriciously. Second, my pet Rottweiler could win in the 48 car with that team.

Finally, for the record, Mark Martin does not cheat with shocks, bogus test sessions, soaked tires, etc as he has never been part of the Pepsi Poster Boy (Jeff Gordon and his twin brother Robby Gordon who were separated at birth) and Hendrick's team of NASCAR favorites. Hendrick would not win a championship if NASCAR treated him like Roush.

Carl Edwards has more talent in his left pinky that Jimmie Johnson has in his whole body. There are more people watching NASCAR than just Hendrick fans. How about some equal time for other drivers. Jeff Gordon was a non-player in the Chase and a whiner to boot, yet received more coverage over his 11th place finish than Mark Martin who came within inches of winning one of the more exciting races of the year.

It is safe to say Captain America is not a Johnson fan. And if you could have your Rott try out for a car, I think there are still some Busch rides available for 2006.

Jill: Sorry, my friend, whether or not he ever wins a championship, Jimmie Johnson can only dream about being any generation's Mark Martin. There is not a driver out there with Mark's proven, consistent grasp of what the term "sportsmanship" really means. He's been a class act all the way who would rather lose the race than do something which would compromise his values or endanger a fellow competitor. He exemplifies teamwork and loyalty. All of us could do worse than to model ourselves after him, whatever our chosen vocation. JJ is young, but has not yet demonstrated the same qualities.

If sticking around for the 2006 season for Jack Roush is any indication, Jill hit it right on the head -- Martin has always been loyal and his on-track reputation has never been called into question.

Kenmagjes: How can you say Jimmie Johnson is the next Mark Martin? NO WAY do the two even compare. Mark Martin is one of the best drivers out there. And he has ONE MORE TRY (even if it is his last season) -- it is still a shot at the title. Jimmie got what he deserved this year, what he earned. After the incident at Talladega (which he caused) didn't help Mark or Elliott Sadler. Things might have been different if it weren't for that wreck. MARTIN still finished ahead of him in the final standings, and Johnson has youth on his side.

I'm sure Jimmie will win one some day, as long as we have Gordon as NASCAR's golden boy, imaginary cautions at just the right time, and maybe, just maybe, NASCAR could add three or four more races at Charlotte.

Now that is funny. Considering Johnson's career average finish at Lowe's is 6.7 with five career wins, it would probably help out his title chances if NASCAR granted a few more events to that track. Ha.

Imliljo: How can you honestly state that Jimmie Johnson will NEVER win a championship? He has twice the talent that Mark Martin ever had. Look at the stats man! How were Mark's first FOUR years in cup?

I saved you the research time:

Mark Martin, from 1981-1986 not running full time:
0 wins ~ 1 top 5 ~ 3 top 10's

If you look from when he ran full time 36 races, here they are:
2 wins ~ 30 top 5's ~ 62 top 10's

Jimmie Johnson, 2002-2005 full time Cup ride stats
17 Wins 53 Top 5's 85 top 10's

I don't see your line of reasoning comparing Mark and Jimmie, and saying that Jimmie is another Mark Martin? FAR from it!!! Listen to your colleagues. They know what they are talking about!

Thanks StatBoy, but let's clarify a point here -- Johnson inherited Gordon's championship-caliber equipment when he started at Hendrick. That would jumpstart any driver's career. I am not saying Johnson doesn't have an immense amount of talent, but in this sport equipment is a key factor in determining success or failure.

By the way, you also short-changed Johnson -- he has 18 wins and 86 top-10 finishes.

Only time will tell how Johnson's name gets placed into the NASCAR history books, but one thing is for certain -- being named the next Mark Martin or Dan Marino or John Stockton or Ernie Banks proves you are a champion, hardware or not.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.