“Daddyhood” Slow Jimmie Down? I Think Not

I’ve thought about it some prior to this day, when the boys at Rowdy.com really got me got me going on it. It all revolves around the announcement that Jimmie and Chandra Johnson will become first-time parents at the end of July.

There have been many who have said that the only one who can slow Jimmie down is Jimmie. Buck and Bass join the chorus of those who believe this little bundle of joy may be Superman’s kryptonite.

Nobody asked me, but do I think this will slow down the 4-peat champion? Pffft, ya’ll been drinking STP!

Yeah, yeah I know that Jeff Gordon copped to being a bit sleep deprived over the arrival of Ella Sophia, and I myself have experienced parenthood, as the father of a daughter who turns 12 next month and a 7-year-old son. It will change your life like nothing else will, and all of you who have been this way before know what I mean. There’s all kinds of fun stuff in the deal from morning sickness now (unless Chandi is one of those enviable lasses who doesn’t get it) to separation anxiety around the time the tot gains some awareness of the world around them.

I also get the commitment involved with NASCAR, given the long season and the singular,and the almost Red Vogt-like maniacal butt-busting on the part of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus to become the New England Patriots of racing. In terms of time commitment, it is this observer’s opinion, culled from a career of covering all the sports, that auto racing over a 10 month period makes the most demands this side of being an NFL head coach. I get that it requires a focus very different from that of the 9 to 5 grind work through.

But you know what? Everybody’s different. I worked in the field of advertising sales when I got married and when I became a dad. For me, getting married drove me hard, but becoming a dad drove me harder. Suddenly, I had more to work for, more at stake. Parenthood sobered me up.

I can’t any more predict what will happen to Jimmie Johnson any more than the next guy. By the same token, I can go off of what I have observed: “J.J.” didn’t get to this place slacking around, dragging his butt. “Team 48” has a plan for everything, and I suspect they have a plan for this too. Yeah, racing around the due date could get interesting, and Heaven forbid, there’s always the potential for complications, or the need for a little more attention to the wife and child on Jimmie’s part.

It’s quite possible Johnson will be upsizing his coffee and there’s absolutely no question life as he knows has changed. By the same token, the drive that got him to where he is today, coupled with the commitment to excellence may very well enable him to take on the challenges of fatherhood, in addition to that which comes with driving a race car at 200 miles per hour.

Lord knows, he’s got company. Jeff and Casey have been there, and Elliott and Carl will be there to commiserate with him after a 3 a-m feeding. Imagine what the bench racing will sound like there. Can you imagine it? Sadler: “Dude, Amanda made me change little Slugger’s diaper yesterday. Man, that thing was toxic waste, mixed with velcro.” Edwards: “Let me tell you brother. Kate had me hold little Missie before I left this morning. She spit up all over my nice new racing jacket from Kellogg’s.”

You know, this just could be the thing to spice “Old Vanilla” right up. I think he’ll be just fine. I still think the law of averages says this insane run he’s on will end sooner, rather than later.

It’s just that this isn’t going to be what does it.

PHOTO CREDITS- Jimmie and Chandi by BiggerPhotoImages. To see more, visit flickr.com, or click on the link. Johnson and Knaus at Dover courtesy of Getty Images for NASCAR.