LAS VEGAS — Jimmie Johnson, the sport’s newest seven-time champion, leaned on another multi-time champion when wrapping up his acceptance speech at the Wynn Las Vegas Friday night.
Just 12 days after matching the championship record previously shared only by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Johnson paid homage to both legends.
“In closing, I spent time trying to study up for this night, and fortunately could find Dale Earnhardt’s acceptance speech,” Johnson told the crowd inside the Lafite Ballroom. “I took a quote from his speech, from the person bringing him to the stage in 1994 after he won his seventh.”
That person was Jim Johnston, then Chairman and CEO of series sponsor RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., referencing the humility of Earnhardt as the champion equaled the seven championships won by Petty. Johnston recalled Earnhardt stating that, “I might have won as many Winston Cup titles but Richard Petty will always be ‘The King.’ “
Friday evening, the Hendrick Motorsports driver said he totally understood the sentiment.
“I completely agree, and must say, I might have won as many championships as Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, but I will never be ‘The King’ or ‘The Intimidator,’ ” Johnson said. “I am just a guy from California who always wanted to race.”
Petty won his seventh and final title with a fifth-place finish in the season-ending race at Ontario Motor Speedway in November of 1979, overcoming a two-point deficit to Darrell Waltrip.
The driver who wrapped up the rookie of the year title at that race? Earnhardt.
Fifteen years later, and with two races remaining to be run, Earnhardt tied the King, sealing the title with a victory at Rockingham, North Carolina.
NASCAR’s postseason Chase format has erased the possibility of a driver wrapping up the title before the season has been completed. The latest version, which includes an elimination element, had been particularly perplexing to Johnson, but he and crew chief Chad Knaus proved up to the task in 2016.
One of four drivers vying for the title in the season-ending race at Homestead, Johnson won the championship by winning the race.
Less than two weeks later, the driver of the blue and white No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet stood on stage and admitted “this is insane.”
Tribute was paid to Tony Stewart, the departing three-time champion who will return in 2017 strictly in an ownership role. Sprint was lauded for its 13-year run as the premier series’ entitlement sponsor.
But the night clearly belonged to Johnson. Fittingly.
His first win of the 2016 season at Atlanta drew him even with Earnhardt in career wins with 76. Less than one month later, win No. 77 was in the bag. Then 78, 79 and, with history on the line at Homestead, No. 80.
Johnson’s comments referencing icons of the sport didn’t take team owner Rick Hendrick by surprise.
“I thought that was just so Jimmie,” Hendrick said after Friday’s celebration began to wind down. “It’s hard to explain.
“I asked him one time about winning and trying to set a goal. He respects those guys so much. As good as he is and what he’s accomplished, he doesn’t see himself in that light. Those exact words — Richard will always be ‘The King and Dale will always be ‘The Intimidator.
“I just think it’s so refreshing to see someone that humble, that good that doesn’t have to be cocky. He doesn’t have to prove anything, just goes out and does his job.”
Maybe eight is out there, hiding somewhere in the tire smoke and bent sheet metal and confetti and Victory Lane celebrations.
Elusive? Try never been done before. Not elusive. Non-existent.
But Friday night wasn’t about eight. Eight will be a problem for tomorrow.
Friday night was about seven. Seven championships. One driver. One crew chief. One owner. One team. One sponsor.
“To be here on stage with our seventh championship is still sinking in,” Johnson admitted. “It’s mind blowing.”
