“Didn’t realize how special it was”: When Jeff Gordon reminisced on his ‘wow’ 1998 NASCAR season record which remains undisputed to date

Twenty-six years ago in 1998, NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon etched a historic feat that hasn't been outperformed since. Not only did the former Hendrick Motorsports driver seal his third Cup Series title but he also clinched 13 wins that season, the most after Richard Petty's 27 wins in 1967.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer was fresh from his 1987 title but didn't have a promising start to the season, as his opening Daytona 500 race got wrapped up with a 16th-place finish. Nonetheless, the very next battle at the Rockingham Speedway saw the #24 Chevy driver bag his maiden win of the season.

Though the Californian showed signs of domination, he suffered from lackluster performances for several following races. However, things took a drastic turn after Jeff Gordon's final DNF of the 1998 season at Richmond Raceway. Post the disappointing outcome at the 0.750-mile oval, the former HMS driver secured back-to-back top 10s (20) until the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Of his 13 wins, Gordon clinched four consecutive triumphs before breaking the streak with his P5 finish at Bristol. Nonetheless, he claimed two straight victories following his top 5 at Bristol. Since then, no driver has successfully bagged more than 10 wins in a Cup Series season.

“You didn’t realize how special it was at the time like I do now. … I certainly did not appreciate that as much as I do today... I knew that we were going to go on a tear and we did. I didn’t know it was going to be that much of a tear,” Gordon said via NASCAR Hall of Fame's release.

"From about race 14 (Charlotte) to the final race of the year of that ’98 season, any time I look at those stats, I go, ‘Wow, that right there was impressive," the four-time Cup Series champion added.

Jeff Gordon had two wins in the bag before "going on a tear" post the Charlotte race.

Only two drivers have posted 10 victories in a season since Jeff Gordon's 13 triumphs in 1998

Gordon's record is the one to beat. After the legendary driver created history during his championship-winning year, only two drivers have come close to that feat. However, neither has surpassed the former driver's stat. It's worth mentioning that both racers are from Hendrick Motorsports who inched closer to breaking the now HMS' vice chairman's record.

In 2007, Jimmie Johnson was on fire with his superiority in the Cup Series. After bagging his first win of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the #48 Chevy driver continued his dominance, collecting 10 wins and 20 top-5s, to bring home his second consecutive title.

The most recent example is Kyle Larson. The #5 Chevy driver, just like the former HMS driver, Johnson, opened his triumphs tally of 2021 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Larson posted 10 victories, and 20 top-5s to clinch his first and only Cup Series title thus far.

Notably, all Hendrick Motorsports drivers- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Larson- etched double-digit wins in the same season they won the championship.