Jimmie Johnson Sees Chase Elliott-Kyle Larson “Heated Moments” the Same Way He Had With His “Owner” Jeff Gordon; Calls Rick Hendrick the “Glue” That Holds It Together

Ever since the 2022 season began, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson have been at the loggerheads. Well, maybe not outright rivals, but they’ve had their fair share of trading blows on track. Of course, they are also competing with the same equipment as both teams are owned by Hendrick Motorsports. Interestingly enough, their on-track tussles have a resemblance to the Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon rivalry. But could the new version of that rivalry between the #9 and #5 affect their attempts at the championship?

Fortunately, Johnson knows it wouldn’t.

Of course, everyone is wondering whether the two will end up hurting each other more. Or, worse, hurt their chance at the championship. But luckily, Jimmie Johnson, the person involved in the former rivalry in confident they wouldn’t.

He explained that this is something Hendrick Motorsports is used to, “My hero was now my car owner, and also the competitor that I’d race against on track. But, I can’t say what Jeff [Gordon] and I went through is the first time Hendrick Motorsports has gone through that.”,

Moreover, there is a quality about Mr.H that separates HMS from other owners, “Internally, there’s a culture that knows how to balance that delicate environment that’s there. Mr. Hendrick is the best person in the world to handle those environments, too.”

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And Johnson is confident that “I do know one thing that does happen at Hendrick Motorsports is a great deal of respect amongst the teams. And it starts from Rick and works its way down. So yes there might be some heated moments and you look across the hall at your competitor”, “There’s a great deal of respect, that’s the glue that really holds it together.”

But how did the former version of the Chase Elliott-Kyle Larson rivalry fair out?

Of course, the former version is Johnson and Gordon; it is bound to have one victor. Just like every bout in the world. Although, Elliott and Larson‘s rivalry can’t exactly be measured yet, because the season is yet to conclude. But as it stands, the #9 car has 5 wins this season, compared to Larson’s 5. Moreover, Elliott has stayed the points leader for a long time and won the regular season. And now, he also leads the playoff field.

But how did Johnson and Gordon’s bout play out?

Although we can’t declare either of them to be better than the other, the seven-time Cup Series Champion had quite an edge over Gordon. In fact, the #48 car had 41 more overall races than Gordon in that time, with 21 more top-5 finished, and 30 top-10 finishes. Of course, that was Johnson’s peak, which is when he won six of his seven titles, compared to Gordon who won his 4th and final championship a few years before Johnson came.

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But it was a completely different era. But who do you think is a better driver? Let us know in the comments