Where is it?
Where is the excitement, the anticipation, the raging hate, even?
Where is the emotion surrounding what Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team might be about to do?
The man and his team are on the verge of a historic feat. They are about to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive NASCAR championship as one of the most baffling auto racing dynasties ever.
Or, some other driver is about to do what has been impossible the last three seasons: Stop them.
Johnson hovered near the top of the standings most of the season. He began the Chase for the Cup in third place behind Mark Martin and Tony Stewart. Last weekend in Dover, Johnson won his fourth race of the season.
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But Johnson isn’t the kind of Chase driver who boringly shies away from racing for victories merely for a good points finish. Say what you will about Johnson’s demeanor off the track — on it, he’s aggressive but smart. That’s how he has won three straight titles, and no one has won four in a row.
Fans say they’re bored of Johnson winning all the time. But Johnson doesn’t lead the points. He has to catch somebody.
It’s still unclear who the champion will be. Mark Martin leads Johnson by 10 points heading into Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway.
Yes, Johnson has been unstoppable since 2006.
It has been incredible to watch the way he does it, the new ways in which Johnson falls behind and then recovers each season. It has been fascinating to watch how the team clicks everything into place each week.
So right now, care. Root for him. Root for history. Root against him because you desperately want someone new to win. Apathy doesn’t make any sense.