Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson: Which NASCAR Driver Will Have the Better Legacy?

Jimmie or Jeff? Ever since Johnson nailed down his fifth title, this question keeps popping up. Let’s look at some of the similarities and differences between these two talented drivers.

When Jeff Gordon showed up on the NASCAR Cup scene in 1992, he had a vast experience of hundreds of go-kart victories that were followed by midget and sprint-car trophies and titles.

Since that first Cup race in Atlanta, he has amassed an amazing record of 83 wins and four national titles. In some 620 starts, the California-born driver has racked up 275 top 5s, 379 top 10s and 69 poles. Before Gordon hangs up his helmet for good, I’d predict he’ll eclipse Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip’s wins totals, putting him third on the all-time list.

Jimmie Johnson’s first Cup race occurred in 2002 after a so-so performance among the Busch Series. The California-born driver initially cut his racing teeth in the dirt (at age five) on bikes and then trucks before settling in to NASCAR Busch and Cup action full-time.

Since 2002, Johnson has also put together a large amount of stats including 53 wins, five consecutive national titles. Through 330 starts, the 35-year-old has earned 135 top 5s, 204 top 10s and 25 poles. My crystal ball sees Johnson beating Dale Earnhardt’s 76- win total, putting him sixth on the all-time list.

From these stats you can see their numbers are fairly similar taking into consideration Gordon has been on the circuit some 10 years longer. Gordon’s average finish to date is an impressive 12.4 and equally impressive is Johnson’s 11.7 average.

In other miscellaneous stats:

Fewest starts to get to 50 Cup wins: Gordon 232, Johnson 296.

Fewest starts to 40 wins: Gordon 186, Johnson 254.

All time COT wins: Johnson 22, Gordon 4.

Driver wins at tracks: Gordon 21 of 22, Johnson 18 of 22.

Most top 10s: Gordon 380 (sixth on the all-time list). Johnson 204 (way out of top 10).

Drivers with most wins in a season: Gordon six times and Johnson three times.

Let’s look outside the box. Both drivers are married to beautiful ladies, both are models in their own right and now both have young children. Both drivers would fit the mold of Mr. Clean-Cut America and not your average ‘back in the day’ Billy Bob redneck born in the deep South running little circles on area bull rings.

Fan popularity? I’ve been to a lot of races and have interviewed both these drivers several times. After watching numerous driver introductions and taking note of people's comments after meeting them, I’d give the fan edge to 39-year-old Gordon.

There can be a dark side to Gordon I’ve witnessed first hand that I have not seen from Jimmie.

But if driver intros are any basis of fan popularity, Johnson gets a lot more boos than Gordon ever got. When Gordon was winning all the time, he received his fair share of the boo-birds as well. Looking and listening to Gordon’s win last week in Phoenix would indicate fans' opinion has waned with a very positive attitude. This kind of fan response goes in circles; just look at Darrell Waltrip’s popularity years ago. When "Jaws" was introduced, the fans hated him; decades later, they love the "over-talking" commentator.

Considering personalities, Johnson has never really been warm and fuzzy with race fans. Under the persona of nothing ever goes wrong, his ultra-calm demeanor and smiley face are sometimes disturbing. Gordon can show the fire in his belly with such situations as the Kenseth outbursts at Bristol and more recently, his toe-to-toe with Jeff Burton.

So many years from now, when both slightly out-of-shape, gray-haired drivers are either sitting atop a pit box or hanging out in the suites as a team owner with their race cars and race suits retired in the Hall of Fame, who will people revere more?

Generally, I think the field is split in half, with a slight edge to Gordon by having more career wins at more tracks and all done with more spirit.

And when I say spirit, I believe Gordon will also be remembered for coming back from more adversity (slightly broken car, bad pit stops, etc.) without the greatest car and win week after week. I know for myself the numerous amount of times I’ve said, "Well, he’s done for the day," only to see that rainbow-colored race car pull into victory lane.

Johnson fans will argue, "But no one else even won five titles in a row?" I understand that, but you have to look at the big picture and I believe the picture will show both drivers as a pair of the best that ever held a wheel, with Gordon holding a slightly bigger wheel.

What do you think? Drop me a line.