“He Got Humbled” – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Goes Against Denny Hamlin, Arguing That Jimmie Johnson has “Every Right in the World” to Taint his Own Legacy

One of the biggest stories of the 2023 NASCAR Cup season, is the return of Jimmie Johnson. The 7-time champion will be back in the fold after two years away from the sport. However, there were a few people who were concerned that those two years away could be his undoing. One of the doubters was Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who spoke about Johnson in his podcast. Interestingly though, Dale Earnhardt Jr responded to Hamlin’s concerns and disagreed with them.

He mentioned on his Dale Jr Download podcast, “I saw Denny’s comment on some of the stuff we put out to promote his show. He’s talking about how he didn’t want him to come back. He’s going to taint his legacy. I don’t know man, the guy’s got every right in the world to do whatever he wants.”

“I’m Not Ready for This” – Joe Gibbs Gave Denny Hamlin a 6-Point-Ultimatum That Eventually Led Him to “Seal the Deal” for the #11 Car

“Hey, he didn’t have a great time in IndyCar. He got humbled, he’ll tell you that. Couldn’t find the limit, couldn’t find the speed. He’s coming back to stock cars to redeem himself. Not to me, he’s redeeming himself.”

Can Jimmie Johnson actually enjoy a successful comeback?

It is very difficult to say so, as there are many factors to consider. First and foremost, this is a new car, which Johnson has not driven in a racing situation, so he could be out of his depth. Additionally, the competition has only grown fiercer, so it could be harder for Johnson to fight for wins. Furthermore, it is usually difficult for athletes to step away from a sport, come back after a while, and expect to be at the same level.

Michael Schumacher tried it in 2010 but he and Mercedes failed in the process. However, in a sport as unpredictable as NASCAR, anything can happen. Who knows, maybe Jimmie Johnson never lost it. Besides, he has been active in his time away from the stock car series. So who, between Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin, will be proven right?

WATCH THIS STORY: Denny Hamlin Leaves NASCAR Fans in a Frenzy After Boasting Partner Michael Jordan’s Signature Collection