"My stats show I'm the favorite" - When Jimmie Johnson traded jabs with Kyle Busch while dismissing idea of aiding rival

Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch joked with each other during a media interaction after both made it into the Championship 4 back in 2016.

Johnson started the 2016 season with Hendrick Motorsports by winning the second race of the year at Atlanta and tied Dale Earnhardt’s record of 76 wins. However, he struggled during the summer and crashed in four out of nine races but stayed consistent. Johnson won key races at Charlotte and Martinsville, which put him in the Championship 4.

When a reporter asked if any of the four drivers had an advantage going into the final race, Johnson confidently said (during a media session):

“I think my stats at Homestead show that I’m the favorite.” [1:04 onwards]

At this point, Johnson was chasing his seventh Cup Series championship, which would have tied him with NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Joe Gibbs Racing's Busch, on the other hand, was the defending series champion.

Busch replied to Johnson's comment with a smile.

"I think my results from last year show that I'm the favorite, right?" Busch asked.

They also joked about competing against each other. Johnson teased Busch, saying:

“It sucks, you’re going to have a miserable time.” [0:10 onwards]

Busch had early wins at Martinsville, Texas, and Kansas in 2016. Even with some problems mid-season, Busch made it to the Championship 4 and finished third.

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Jimmie Johnson's 7th Championship season review

Jimmie Johnson is one of the best NASCAR drivers, with seven Cup championships and 83 wins. He finished his full-time career with a win percentage of 12% and also has the most wins at tracks like Dover and Charlotte.

In the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series season, Johnson finished 16th in the Daytona 500 but quickly bounced back by winning his first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He finished third in Las Vegas and 11th in Phoenix. Johnson won again at the Auto Club 400 with an impressive last-lap pass.

However, after finishing ninth at Martinsville and fourth at Texas, he had trouble in later races. He placed 23rd at Bristol because of a loose lug nut and crashed at Dover and Watkins Glen, finishing last for the first time. Penalties also hurt his chances in the playoffs.

He got the third win of the season at the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte and also won the Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville, which earned him a place in Championship 4. Jimmie Johnson won his seventh championship by passing Kyle Larson on the last restart in the final race at Homestead.