Jimmie Johnson is without a doubt a great driver, but there remains the question of where Johnson ranks amongst the greatest drivers in our sport. Kyle Petty seems to think that Jimmie Johnson is “the greatest driver ever.” Does Petty really mean that? His father won 200 races and 7 championships, but keep in mind that Johnson did not win his championships in the same manner than the greats that he is being compared to. Are we talking about a different ERA? I think we are in this case.
The modern era in NASCAR began in 1972. Before that period NASCAR ran up to 40, 50, or 60+ races per year. Richard Petty won a record 27 races back in 1967. That record will never be approached, but it is unfair to compare those numbers with what we have today because it is pretty much impossible to achieve. That is why you always hear about the ‘Modern Era.’ The modern era record of wins was initially set by Petty with 13 in 1975, but it was later tied by Jeff Gordon in 1998. No one has come close to that record again since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 when he won 10 races. No driver has achieved double-digit wins since.
How about the big events? The Winston Million was awarded to the driver who won 3 of the 4 major races during the season. Only two drivers ever pulled it off. Bill Elliott was the first in 1985, and Jeff Gordon pulled off the feat in 1997. The declared majors included: The Daytona 500, spring Talladega race, Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500. And to this day if the Winston Million or the Sprint Million were still in play, Gordon and Elliott would still be the only two drivers with the distinct honor. However; NASCAR does also have in place a list of “Career Grand Slam Champions.” The list of races remains the same as those put in place for the extra million.
Jeff Gordon leads the entire sport with 17 career Grand Slam victories. Gordon has three Daytona 500 victories, four victories in the Aaron’s 499, three in the Coke 600, and six in the Southern 500. When it comes down to this list, Jimmie Johnson is tied for 5th with Darrell Waltrip with 9 Grand Slam wins. The list reads off the following: Gordon, Petty, Earnhardt, Allison, Waltrip, Johnson, Baker, and Pearson. With the addition of the Brickyard 400 as a major, there are only three drivers in the history of NASCAR to have a “Career Grand Slam.” Those drivers are Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson.
Now lets shift to championships. Can we really compare Johnson’s championships to the likes of Petty, Earnhardt, or Gordon perhaps? We simply cannot. Johnson won his championships on an entirely different system, so saying Johnson is the greatest is simply ludicrous at this point. However; we can go through history to determine statistics starting from 1972 further using the old points system. Richard Petty won 60 races and 4 championships from 1972 till his retirement 20 seasons later. Has Johnson eclipsed Petty in wins? Yes he has, but Johnson would only have 2 championships under the old points system in 2006 and 2009, respectively. In order to be compared to the greats, you have to win it the way they did.
For the modern era, I have Jeff Gordon ranked 2nd all-time with 87 wins and 6 titles. Dale Earnhardt is of course ranked 1st with 7 championships and 76 wins. If Gordon ever wins a championship in this fashion again, he will be finally tied for 1st with Earnhardt. Only championships lay in Gordon’s way. The Chase has undoubtedly added fake excitement to what we call NASCAR racing, but fans like myself see it only this way because only the person that has the most points thru 36 races should be considered the champion from my vantage point and I know many fans agree with me. Jimmie Johnson may think he’s the greatest driver, but that is not the case. I like Johnson. I think he’s a great driver, but he isn’t there yet and I know that comes as a shock to many considering the type of numbers he posts on a week-to-week basis.
Of the greatest drivers in the modern era, I have placed Johnson 6th out of 10. Here is how I played it out.
1. Dale Earnhardt 76 wins 7 championships Years: 80, 86, 87, 90, 91, 93, 94
2. Jeff Gordon 87 wins 6 championships Years: 95, 97, 98, 01, 04, 07
3. Richard Petty 60 wins 4 championships Years: 72, 74, 75, 79
4. Darrell Waltrip 84 Wins 3 Championships Years: 81, 82, 85
5. Cale Yarborough 69 Wins 3 Championships Years: 76, 77, 78
6. Jimmie Johnson 64 Wins 2 Championships Years: 06, 09
7. Tony Stewart 48 Wins 2 Championships Years: 02, 05
8. Bobby Allison 55 Wins 1 Championship Year: 83
9. Rusty Wallace 55 Wins 1 Championship Year: 89
10. Bill Elliott 44 Wins 1 Championship Year: 88
Jimmie Johnson ranks amongst the greatest drivers of the ERA, but he has more work to do to be the best that has ever raced in NASCAR and that is reality.
IMO, it’s always a silly argument to discuss who the greatest driver of all time can be, the reason being that all cars are not the same. It’s simply the urge that some people have to make bold pronouncements. In the case of Jimmie Johnson, anybody watching on TV (but especially in person) that is at all objective can plainly see that the 48 car is not the same as the rest of the cars in the field. Listen to other team radios during practices and the races and you hear of mechanical things the 48 car does on the track that no others can do. The better question is why NASCAR never seems to be concerned about it, but that’s a different rant.
To me, a better gauge of a great driver is one that wins with several different teams. Guys like Pearson and Bobby Allison (who I think won with 13 different teams) are at the top of my list. If you look at Johnson’s record in the Nationwide Series, it is very mediocre at best. I don’t care what his numbers are, until he does something in another car, he’s not in the discussion. In Jeff Gordon’s hayday it was the same. He would dominate the Cup series in his Hendrick car, but in IROC races (Cup style cars on Cup tracks)he routinely finished towards the rear, even behind guys from other forms of motorsports.
Again, it’s just my opinion, but I believe that if Johnson and David Gilliland swapped rides the car results would still be the same.
Jimmie Johnson is a diva in a driver’s suit who thinks the Red Sea should part for him when he drives onto the beach.
It is evident that the NASCAR rules for the 48 are different than the other cars.
Amen, Don !!!
This argument is completely invalid and a waste of time. It is too hard to compare drivers across the eras. One could argue the best driver was Herb Thomas but he only ran a limited schedule due to whatever, partially same argument with Pearson. The other piece of the puzzle is the following, is it the driver or is it the team or is it crew chief is it circumstances, etc? Without Maurice Petty is Petty Enterprises as revered? Without the Wood Brothers is David Pearson perceived to be as great? without Hendrick’s association with NASCAR is Jeff or Jimmie as good as they are?
Again opinion but there are too many issues and circumstances to consider in determining who the greatest of anything is. Do Jimmie and Jeff win as much finish as high in the order wihtout the perceived and likely real manipulation of NASCAR with caution flags, certain penalties, etc.?
All great points- have also always wondered exactly what is the real
association between Hendrick and NASCAR
Ryan, I don’t know if you just needed something to write about or if you have that little insight into NASCAR. You say Johnson would only have two championships under the old rules. I guess you don’t have enough insight to realize that Johnson would have run those season differently if he was racing under the old system. Jimmy and Chad run hard early to get a lead in the points. Once they have that pretty much locked up, they start to experiment with the car and setups, so when they get into the chase they can have an advantage. If it was just the most points, Jimmy would have it wrapped up my the 26th race, and nobody would be watching because it would be a foregone conclusion. That’s my take which I might add I’ll bet more Drivers in NASCAR would agree with me than with you.
Is Jimmy the greatest driver ever, I don’t know, but he is the greatest driver since he started in the elite division now know as the Sprint Cup series. I might add there is way more parity in competition now than when any of the other guys ran, except for maybe Gordon. As for Jeff Gordon, well Jimmy has beat him every time they race head to head for the win.
Doubt Johnson would have as many championships if the tracks that make up of the chase included a road course, or switched up regularly. The preponderance of 1 1/2 mile tracks in every chase (higher percentage in the chase than the regular season) plays to Johnson and Knaus’ strengths.
Always fun to compare competitors from different eras but also impossible. Almost a waste of time to perform the exercise. I think your final list is plausible but what I like most is that you explain the logic you used to reach that conclusion. For the most part I like your premises but I can see where many could argue.
Yes he’s the greatest P.O.S. in Na$crap history !!!!
Ryan, It might surprise you to know, The Greatest of All Time entails a lot more than winning races and championships. Richard Petty has not only won 7 Championships and 200 races, he has been, and still is the greatest ambassador of NASCAR. No driver in the history of NASCAR has been as devoted to the fans as has ‘The King’. Many are led to believe that the France family deserves the credit for NASCAR being what it is. In all reality, it has been the Petty family that has been the true builder of NASCAR. All the France family ever did, was haul the money to the bank. No one ever has, or ever will, come close to attaining the accomplishments of Richard Petty. There is a reason that Richard is ‘The King’. Is Jimmie Johnson the most successful driver over the past 10 years? Yeah, I’ll go along with that, but that’s all.
Of course, you’re entitled to your own opinion but in your scheme of things, Jimmie can never be “the greatest” unless they abolish the Chase. The reality is that Jimmie and the 48 played by the rules of the game NASCAR gave them. Very likely they would have raced differently had it been a 36-race season. You can’t know “what would have been” by the old point system. It is hard to call “the best” when the conditions and circumstances were so different but to me, Jimmie is right up there at the top.