“He's the best I've ever raced against” - When Jeff Gordon reflected on Jimmie Johnson's legacy as NASCAR's greatest driver

Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) vice chairman Jeff Gordon once praised his longtime HMS driver Jimmie Johnson for his unparalleled success in NASCAR. With seven NASCAR championships, 83 wins and a career defined by excellence, Johnson’s legacy is unmatchable in the sport.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson had competed together with HMS for over a decade, and their bond formed one of NASCAR’s most dynamic teammate relationships.

When Johnson arrived full-time in the Cup Series in 2002 at HMS, Gordon was already a four-time NASCAR champion. However, it didn’t take long for Johnson to carve out his own space, quickly evolving from a young talent to a dominant force.

Eight years ago, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, Jeff Gordon reflected on the exceptional talent and legacy of Johnson, calling him the best driver he has ever raced against. Defining Johnson’s legacy in NASCAR, Gordon said:

“I would certainly say so because of my experience racing against him in the same equipment under in the same organization, Hendrick Motorsports. … To me, as tough as the competition is today and this format that we have with the playoff type system, to me, it's harder to win championships now than it's ever been, and yet they continue to rise up and get it done when it matters most. So, yeah, I think he's the best I've ever raced against.” [1:42]

Driving the #48 Chvey for HMS, Johnson’s career peaked, particularly during his unprecedented run of five consecutive NASCAR championships from 2006 to 2010, a period that redefined what it meant to dominate in modern NASCAR.

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How Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson’s camaraderie extended beyond racing

Jeff Gordon, in the aforementioned interview with Sports Illustrated opened up about his unique friendship with Johnson, a bond that stood out in the competitive world of NASCAR.

When Johnson joined HMS initially, they started spending time together, particularly in New York, where both met their future wives and competitive spirit on the race track also brought them together. 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.”

After an illustrative career as a NASCAR driver, Johnson began a new chapter in his racing journey with Legacy Motor Club as a part-time driver/owner. He made nine starts behind the wheel of the #84 LMC Toyota in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.