NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks out about Jimmie Johnson potentially winning his eighth championship

By Asher Fair | Sep 22, 2017

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, talk prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently spoke out about Jimmie Johnson potentially winning his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series championship.

The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are officially underway, and there are six former champions in the field. Only one of those former champions has won more than one title before, however. But he hasn’t won two, three, four, five or even six championships. He has won seven, which is tied for the all-time record.

That driver is Jimmie Johnson. If he wins his eighth career championship this fall, he would break the all-time record that he currently shares with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, who have won seven titles each.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., son of the late and aforementioned Dale Earnhardt, recently discussed whether or not he thought about breaking Bill Elliott’s record of Most Popular Driver awards won. Elliott won the award 16 times, and Earnhardt Jr. has won the award in each of the last 14 seasons dating back to 2003. He is set to retire following the conclusion of this season, however, so he won’t get the chance to break that record.

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Here is what Earnhardt Jr. had to say about that.

"“That would mean sticking around just for that and that wouldn’t feel right. That would feel wrong. That wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I’m completely thrilled with 14. Bill was awesome. It was his name because he was. I read where Chase Elliott didn’t want me to break that record, and I can understand that.”"

In a position similar to Chase Elliott in regard to Jimmie Johnson breaking his father’s record of seven championships won, Earnhardt Jr. had the same reaction as Elliott did when he considered whether or not he wanted his Hendrick Motorsports teammate to break his father’s championship record.

"“There’s a little sliver of me that doesn’t want Jimmie to win eight. I like that Jimmie tied him because I see him and my father more as equals. I think Jimmie is definitely in the conversation of the greatest driver that’s ever been in the sport. Now, I’m biased because I think my dad’s awesome.”"

Do you think Jimmie Johnson will win his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series championship this season? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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