“We are here for him”: When Jimmie Johnson expressed doing ‘anything’ for Jeff Gordon’s HMS replacement

When Chase Elliott prepared for his debut Cup Series race, Jimmie Johnson expressed that he would support the then-19-year-old by any means possible. In 2015, the former entered Hendrick Motorsports on a part-time schedule, replaced four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon in the #24 Chevrolet the following year, and stayed with the number until the end of the 2017 season.

Elliott was fresh off his 2014 Xfinity Series championship and was looking to carve a niche in the pinnacle of stock car racing. He simultaneously raced full-time in the National Series while observing his part-time calendar at HMS in the #25 Chevy.

The young driver was gearing up for his debut Cup race at Martinsville Speedway and already had Truck Series racing experience on the 0.526-mile oval. Thus, the short track wasn't alien to Elliott which would've helped him focus more on handling the Cup car.

Still, Jimmie Johnson made his feelings clear about helping the young driver. The seven-time Cup Series champion (six-time in 2015) said that despite Elliott's previous experience, he would be there to help if the need arose.

"I know he has raced on all types of short tracks and I don't think Martinsville will be a big problem for him, especially having some truck experience there. We are here for Chase. Anything he needs, we are on board," Johnson said via HMS' official release.

Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson raced as teammates for six seasons. It's worth mentioning that Elliott clinched his first Cup title in 2020, Johnson's final full-time season and Johnson claimed his penultimate Cup title in 2016, Elliott's rookie year.

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"One of the many cool things": When Chase Elliott commented on Jimmie Johnson's push following his first Cup Series win

Elliott's maiden Cup Series win came in 2018 at Watkins Glen International. Though his #9 Chevrolet had sufficient fuel to propel him from a P3 start to acing the 90-lap event with 52 laps led, the gas went out shortly after he passed the checkered flag.

Jimmie Johnson finished 30th in the race and was about to steer into the pits after the cooldown lap. However, upon seeing Elliott stranded in the middle of the track, Johnson reversed his #48 Chevy and aligned behind his teammate's #9 Chevy, pushing until Elliott's ride began moving on its own.

“I ran out of gas. I coasted on around, and then probably one of the many cool things about today was Jimmie Johnson pushed me back to the front straightaway," Elliott said of the moment via HMS' release.

Johnson then explained his POV and said.

“I pulled up alongside him to give him the thumbs up and then I could see his car wasn’t running as I drove away, so I backed up and helped him along,” Johnson said.

Chase Elliott wrapped his ninth full-time season at HMS and won his seventh consecutive NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award.