Can you blame Jeff Gordon for being a little testy with Jimmie Johnson these days? I’m not even talking about the on-track scrapes the two have gotten into lately.
From 1994-2001, Gordon reigned in NASCAR to the chagrin of the old guard. They resented the snot-nosed brat from California for taking all the purse money, the victories, the championships and the fame. Gordon was the face of change in a sport that didn’t traditionally stray too far from its origins.
He became the template by which all future racers would be contorted to fit into – just being fast wasn’t enough to make it in the big leagues anymore. Quickly, Gordon went from Padawan to Jedi Master and he found a student from his native Golden State to bring along. Since 2002, his student has been taking the teacher to school.
You think Obi Wan was overly thrilled when, all of the sudden, that whiny whelp from Tatooine was able to pilot anything he wanted to, wield a lightsaber better than Mace Windu and fulfill a prophecy?
Gordon was so convinced in Johnson’s abilities, he took part ownership of his team and taught him everything he knew. When Johnson started winning races, Gordon must have been proud. When Johnson was threatening for championships, he must have thought it was cute. When Johnson broke through with title No. 1, Gordon had to have been like a proud father.
But Johnson didn’t stop.
The guy won majors, secured championships and became the face of the new NASCAR that Gordon helped engineer. Meanwhile, the teacher was slipping.
Of Gordon’s 82 career victories, only 26 have come since 2002 with an 0-for-8 record in title chases. He finished third in the Chase for the Championship in 2004, right behind Johnson and champ Kurt Busch. He looked like a lock for his fifth series crown in 2007 but finished second to Johnson. Last season he was third in the standings, two behind Johnson.
Tell me you wouldn’t harbor even a little resentment and I’ll tell you I’m an avid triathlete and health nut.
It’s pretty easy to bury that kind of acrimony, but it metastasizes. Sooner or later, something’s going to make you snap. Maybe it comes out in the form of Johnson taking the last bottle of water in the Hendrick Motorsports cooler, maybe it manifests in the form of a trivial dispute. Given the occupation both men have, you knew it was a matter of time when it happened on a race track(s).
