You hear that same sentiment expressed alot but as fan of NASCAR, I don't buy it. First of all they are not the most popular drivers, Jr. is and has been for the last several years. If you saw the scene at Talladega when Gordan's win moved him past Sr. you would be hard pressed to prove your allegation of Gordan's popularity.
What Gordan and Johnson have going for them in addition to their incredible talent as drivers is Hendrick Motor Sports and Rick Hendrick's ability to provide the best behind the scene talent and equipment money can buy. This company had the resources, brains and money, to figure out the Car of Tomorrow quicker and better then any of the other teams and it paid dividends big time this year. I predict the gap will be even more dramatic next year when the COT is used exclusively at all the tracks.
Yes, it is true that Hendrick's 24 and 48 teams have both been caught in rules infractions and have been fined and crew chiefs suspended. Those teams that aren't as good and those fans that pull for other drivers or Owners are quick to label it cheating. What they did in reality was figure out the rules better then anyone else and exploit the gray areas. When NASCAR discovered their "tweaks" they said nice try but we aren't excepting your interpretation of the rules; here's your fine and your penalty. And what happened, Gordan and Johnson went on winning anyway.
I am not dismissing what your cousin is saying but Penskie Racing as well as all the other teams are doing the same thing, looking for that little something to make them faster, more stable and more durable then the next guy. That's racing whether it is at a 3/8 mile dirt track in some back county in the Carolinas on a Saturday night or at Daytona International Speedway on a Sunday afternoon in February.
Johnson and Gordan are arguably the two best drivers in the sport today, plain and simple. They win because they are good and their teams have the best talent and equipment, not because the "are cheating".
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