JJ's insurmountable lead should be embraced by all

When it's over
That's the time I fall in love again
And when it's over
That's the time you're in my heart again
And when you go go go go
I know
And it never ends
It never ends

Really, what's not to love?

Sugar Ray summed up both the offseason and the season in one verse. The NASCAR season is wrapping up (some would argue it's over, with Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday merely making laps until the coronations at Homestead in three weeks) and we'll all miss the weekly rat race of the circus coming to town. But until then, it just never ends.

So it goes -- much like Johnson steamrolling toward a fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship. After his sixth-place finish at Talladega, this one is pretty much wrapped. The bow will come when he flips the ignition at Homestead on Nov. 22.

Until then, the magic number is 161 -- the maximum number of points a driver can make up (or lose) during one Cup Series race. The math: a maximum of 195 points is available (including a five-point bonus for leading a lap and a five-point bonus for leading the most laps) minus 34 points for a 43rd-place finish.

Johnson holds a Chase-era record 184-point lead after Race 33. (He was 183 points ahead of Carl Edwards at this point in 2008.) Yes, Johnson could sit out Texas and still have a 23-point lead over Mark Martin if he a) won the race; b) led a lap; and c) led the most laps.

Of course, the chances of that happening are zero. However, it's likely Johnson could have a lead in excess of 161 points after Phoenix. So just how awesome would it be for the No. 48 crew to take the green flag at Homestead, then immediately bring the car to Victory Lane and throw a 267-lap party?

For all the accolades accumulated by Johnson and for all the kudos bestowed upon him, it's time to face the facts: The dude could kick Chuck Norris' rump, and he's cooler than the Dos Equis man -- if only because when he does drink beer, it's a brand common folks can pronounce.

During the next three weeks, fans should embrace the fact that Cale Yarborough's 30-year record of three consecutive series titles will fall to the wayside. Prepare yourself for a Hendrick lovefest in Victory Lane at Homestead -- with Jimmie, Chandra, Mr. H, Chad Knaus & Co. reveling in champagne.

Johnson does not deserve to be castigated. He has played the hands dealt to him -- old car, new car -- with the deftness of a concert pianist at Carnegie Hall. His time as a champion is the result of hard work by a lot of people you wouldn't recognize, as well as a level of dedication never before seen in this sport.

As the kids today say: don't hate, appreciate. Wrap your arms around it, folks, because soon it will be over -- the season and the No. 48's incredible streak. Until then, bask in the greatness. You will be among the fortunate to reminisce and say, "I remember when ..."

Here's some other things about '161' you probably did not know:

• Roman numeral: CLXI

• Prime Factors of 161 = 7x23.

• Since those prime factors are Gaussian primes, 161 is a Blum integer.

• 161 is the sum of five consecutive prime numbers: 23, 29, 31, 37, and 41.

• 161 has four divisors: 1, 7, 23, and 161.

• 161 is a hexagonal pyramidal number.

• 161 is a Hexagonal Pyramidal Number.

• 161 is a Cullen Number.

• There are 161 different ways to bet on the roulette wheel.

• 161 kilometers is equal to approximately 100 miles.

• Bahrain and Brunei each have coastlines that are 161 kilometers in length.

• Bhutan ranks No. 161 in world population.

• The country of Liechtenstein has a land area of 161 square kilometers.

• Nicosia, the capital of Northern Cyprus, is 161 meters above sea level.

• Northern Cyprus is the 161st nation when nations of the world are listed alphabetically.

• Water Island had a population of 161 in the 2000 census.

• U.S. towns with a population of 161 in the 2000 census include: Barnesville, Md.; Cadiz, Ind.; Geiger, Ala.; Hooker, Neb.; Kensal, N.D.; Massilon, Ill.; Millbury, Ohio; Northland, Minn.; Pinhook Corners, Okla.; Republic, Kan.; Samak, Utah; Springfield, Minn.; and Woodlawn Park, Okla.

• The USS Narada (SP-161) was a U.S. Navy wooden yacht during World War I.

• The USS Palmer (DD-161) was a U.S. Navy Wickes-class destroyer during World War II.

• The USS Stingray (SS-161) is a fictional U.S. Navy diesel engine submarine featured in the 1996 film Down Periscope.

• There have been 161 Pink Floyd songs.

• I Can't Stop Loving You (1962) by Ray Charles ranked No. 161 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• NFL quarterback Jake Plummer threw 161 career touchdowns and 161 interceptions in his career with the Arizona Cardinals (1997-2002), Denver Broncos (2003-2006), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007).

• MLB players who had 161 home runs in a career include Juan Samuel.

• Hilton Smith, a right-handed pitcher in the Negro leagues, had a record of 161 wins, 22 loses.

• Reggie Jackson had 161 strikeouts in 1971 with the Oakland A's.

• The former Yankee Stadium and new Yankee Stadium are located at East 161st Street, Bronx, N.Y.

• State Highway 48 runs nearly 161 miles from Bryan County to Pawnee County, Okla.

• There were 161 theatrical shorts of Tom and Jerry cartoons between 1940 and 1967.

• The TV series The Avengers ran 1961-69 with 161 episodes.

• The Junk Mail is the 161st episode of the TV sitcom Seinfeld, which originally aired Oct. 30, 1997.

• 161 is the atomic number of the element Unhexunium.

• Citigroup Centre (Sydney) and Dalian Futures Square 1, (Dalian, China) tie for 161st as the world's tallest buildings

• Our Gang Follies of 1938 is the 161st Our Gang short comedy film, released Dec. 18, 1937.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.