Racing: Failed quests for eight championships – can Jimmie Johnson do it?

By Asher Fair | Mar 5, 2018

HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 25: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Jimmie Johnson is attempting to win his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series championship this season, which would be an all-time racing record.

For the second straight season after winning his seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship to tie the all-time record, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson is attempting to win his eighth career title in the sport in his #48 Chevrolet.

If he ends up winning his eight championship this season or any season for that matter, it would be a historic accomplishment on a number of levels. Not only would eight NASCAR Cup Series championships be an all-time record in the Cup Series for Johnson; it would be an all-time record across the Cup Series, Formula One and IndyCar as well.

Tied with Johnson with seven career Cup Series championships are Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Michael Schumacher has the most championships in Formula One history, and he won seven. A.J. Foyt has the most championships in IndyCar history, and he also won seven.

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Five drivers in the Cup Series, Formula One and IndyCar have won seven championships, with Johnson being one of them as well as the lone active driver of those five drivers. Let’s look at how these five drivers performed after winning their seventh career championship.

First off, Johnson failed to win the title last year in his first season attempting to win his eighth championship. Now let’s get to the other four drivers.

After winning his seventh career Cup Series championship, Richard Petty drove full-time in the sport for 13 more seasons and failed to win what would have been his eighth title. Dale Earnhardt drove full-time in the Cup Series for six more seasons after winning his seventh career title and failed to win what would have been his eighth title in each of those six seasons.

After winning his seventh career Formula One championship, Michael Schumacher drove full-time in the sport for five more seasons and failed to win what would have been his eighth title. After winning his seventh career IndyCar championship, A.J. Foyt drove full-time in the sport for three more seasons and failed to win what would have been his eighth title.

With all of these seasons put together, coming into this season, NASCAR Cup Series, Formula One and IndyCar drivers with seven championships are 0 for 28 when going for their eighth career championship.

Will Johnson be able to make this 1 for 29 this year or 1 for anything before he retires, or will this trend of seven championships being the all-time record across these three racing series and drivers failing to win their eighth career championship continue?

Next: Top 10 most unbreakable records across Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar

Will Jimmie Johnson find a way to succeed in his quest for eight career NASCAR Cup Series championships to break not only the all-time Cup Series record but the all-time record across the Cup Series, Formula One and IndyCar as well? History would suggest that the answer to that question will more than likely be no, but anything is certainly possible.

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