Did Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson get along in real life? A deep dive into their legendary NASCAR bond

In the high-octane world of NASCAR, where competition between teammates runs as hot as the asphalt under the blazing sun, that’s not the case for two former teammates, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Two of NASCAR’s most iconic champions, Gordon and Johnson share a remarkable and strong bond, both professionally and personally.

Gordon and Johnson’s relationship is often regarded as one of the most influential driver partnerships in sports history. The story of their relationship began in the early 2000s, when Johnson joined Hendrick Motorsports and Gordon, who was already a four-time Cup champion at that time, recognized the untapped potential in Johnson.

The 53-year-old Vallejo, California, native played a pivotal role in bringing Johnson to HMS, effectively setting the stage for what would become one of the most dominant eras in sports history. As their racing careers progressed, their relationship evolved from that of mentor and protégé to one of mutual respect between the two.

Over the years, both Gordon and Johnson became the core of HMS’s dominance in NASCAR, and their bond formed one of NASCAR’s most dynamic teammate relationships.

In Johnson’s early NASCAR years, the seven-time NASCAR champion and four-time NASCAR champion became close friends who used to hang out together. The duo spent most of the time together when they were single, from Gordon’s 2003 divorce to Johnson's 2004 marriage. Gordon was a groomsman at Johnson’s wedding.

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“We started just hanging out a lot together” – Jeff Gordon on his off-track bond with Jimmie Johnson

Eight years ago, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of HMS, reflected on his friendship with Jimmie Johnson. Gordon revealed that they spent a good time together in the US, particularly in New York, where both met their wives.

Gordon said:

“I mean, I had never really created a friendship within the sport, and Jimmie, I saw him as this great young talent he was coming to Hendrick Motorsports, and we were fortunate to have him coming on board. But we started just hanging out a lot together and having a good time up here in New York.

“As a matter of fact, he met his wife, now Chandra, here in New York. I met my wife, Ingrid, up here in New York. So, yeah, we had some good times traveling, not just around the U.S., but around the world.”

Jeff Gordon retired from full-time racing at HMS after the 2015 season, while Jimmie Johnson retired five years later, at the end of the 2020 NASCAR Cup season.