Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 | 10:23 p.m.
Is it time to start comparing Jimmie Johnson to the great legends of NASCAR like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt? It’s an understatement to say that Jimmie’s record-tying third consecutive championship is phenomenal, but I don’t feel comfortable including him in the company of Earnhardt and Petty just yet.
You could argue that Jimmie’s three-peat is a greater accomplishment than Cale Yarborough’s three consecutive championships due to the high level of competition in the sport today. But to me, the record of seven championships, set by Petty and Earnhardt, is still the Mount Everest of NASCAR.
Remember when fans used to contemplate the idea of seeing Jeff Gordon reach seven championships? That seems a little less likely today, especially since Jeff has hinted that he may not want to be driving past the age of forty. Acquiring seven Cup trophies is a staggering feat even for the most talented driver and it will stand as a record for years to come.
Nevertheless, could Jimmie be in the same league as these drivers at some point in his career? There’s little doubt that he’s headed in that direction.
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