This year, nothing eclipses what Johnson achieved

For all he has accomplished, it seems like Jimmie Johnson's achievements regularly get overshadowed by other things going on in NASCAR's premier series. Two years ago, his second title was buried under a mountain of empathy for Jeff Gordon's unsuccessful drive for five and a deluge of interest in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s split from Dale Earnhardt Inc. Last season, his third crown came amid a glut of layoffs, mergers, team closures and other recession-forced moves that altered the landscape of the sport.

Season to remember

There were plenty of story lines in the 2009 season. From the economy to the drug policy, from Montoya to Danica, NASCAR was buzzing with drama. But one driver made history and the NASCAR.COM writers say that was the biggest headline in '09.

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So despite his dominance, it's been rather difficult for Johnson to stand apart. There have always been too many questions about whether he "deserved" to win the title -- what, with his rise coinciding with the change in the Cup championship format -- too many soap operas involving more popular drivers, too many brewing subplots. It's hard to believe, given that last season Johnson did something only one other driver had ever done, but maybe because of his cool public persona or his drama-free nature, Johnson sometimes seemed to get lost.

No more. Yes, the economy is still having a devastating effect on NASCAR; yes, Earnhardt's career still provides us with more twists and turns than a roller-coaster ride; yes, Tony Stewart and Mark Martin and Kyle Busch all made headlines. But this year, finally, Johnson rose above it all. His unprecedented fourth consecutive series championship stands as such a benchmark that the rest of the garage area is almost in awe of what he's done.

Chase-haters who challenge the veracity of Johnson's championships have become fewer and fewer, and those few remaining stragglers are left shouting into the wind. Four consecutive titles under any system is a gargantuan accomplishment, and it's taken that kind of history-making feat for Johnson to finally receive the respect and recognition that he's been due for some time. It's been a year of upheaval in NASCAR, with television ratings and attendance numbers falling, the sport's drug policy on trial, and familiar names like Childress and Petty facing trying times. Through it all, the man in the No. 48 car has been the one comforting constant.

The days of Johnson being overshadowed are over. His fourth consecutive championship, the greatest individual achievement the sport has seen since Dale Earnhardt tied Richard Petty with his seventh title in 1994, is unquestionably the top story of the year in NASCAR. It's on a very short list for top stories of the decade, but we'll wait to explore that until next week. The scary thing? Johnson and the No. 48 team seem better now than they've ever been, and show no signs of stopping. Who knows -- one day, Earnhardt and Petty may have some company. (Continued)