Jimmie Johnson and Cale Yarborough: Milestone wins

By Kathy Sheldon | Published: May 16, 2017 14

Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Image; Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

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Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Image; Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

After Jimmie Johnson matched Cale Yarborough's mark for most victories at 83, we compared some of both driver's monumental moments.
First win: Johnson visited Victory Lane for the first time in 2003 in Fontana, California. Yarborough's first win came at Valdosta, Georgia, in 1965.

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First Daytona 500 victory: Jimmie Johnson hoisted the Harley J. Earl Trophy for the first time in 2006. Cale Yarborough won the 'Great American Race' for the first time in 1968. Yarborough won the race five times, in all; Johnson won the Daytona 500 again in 2013.

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First championship: Jimmie Johnson, now nicknamed 'Seven-Time,' won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title in 2006. Cale Yarborough was the series champion for the first time in 1976. He three-peated, finishing the season atop the points standings in 1977 and 1978, as well.

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10th victory: Jimmie Johnson hit the mark at Pocono in 2004, which was just his third year of full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driving; Cale Yarborough got his 10th win at Atlanta in 1969.

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20th victory: Jimmie Johnson found this milestone in Las Vegas in 2006; Cale Yarborough notched win No. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1974.

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30th victory: Both superstars have had seasons with double-digit wins. Johnson got his 30th victory at the second Martinsville race in 2007, starting a string of four consecutive victories in a season in where he won 10 races and his second series title. Cale Yarborough sealed his 30th victory at Nashville in 1975, a year after his first 10-win season.

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40th victory: Jimmie Johnson notched victory No. 40 at Phoenix in 2008. Cale Yarborough won his first of three consecutive series championships in 1976, a year that included his 40th win at North Wilkesboro.

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50th victory: Jimmie Johnson celebrated with his whole crew at Bristol's spring race in 2010; Cale Yarborough's golden win came at Riverside in 1978.

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60th victory: Jimmie Johnson's 60th victory came at Texas Motor Speedway in 2012. Cale Yarborough and team owner Junior Johnson put together four wins in 1979, including No. 60 at Richmond.

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Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway; Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images

70th victory: Jimmie Johnson notched this milestone at one of his best tracks, Texas Motor Speedway, in the fall race. Cale Yarborough brought home No. 70 at a favorite track of his -- Atlanta -- in 1981. Yarborough had seven wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway; Johnson has seven at Texas.

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80th victory: Jimmie Johnson's 80th career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2016 also sealed his seventh series championship. Cale Yarborough's 80th win was a 'big one,' as well, coming at Talladega in 1984 with only five cars finishing on the lead lap. Mechanical issues took out much of the field, though, not a big wreck.

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83rd victory: Cale Yarborough's final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win came at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1985. He held off Bill Elliott, who led 107 laps, for the final 46 circuits and won with a 1-second margin of victory.

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@JimmieJohnson via Twitter

Before the 2017 AAA Drive for Autism 400 at Dover, Jimmie Johnson tweeted a photo of his new helmet honoring the legend. Johnson entered the race with 82 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins.'Growing up in El Cajon I never imagined I would have a chance to tie Cale in wins. @BEAMdesigns did an amazing job honoring him.'

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83rd victory: Jimmie Johnson passed Kyle Larson on the final restart in overtime at Dover on June 4, 2017 for the win that tied Yarborough. It was Johnson's 11th victory at Dover International Speedway.