Interview
NASCAR Cup
Chase Elliott: 'Class guy' Jimmie Johnson deserves more respect
While he may not be the “loud guy in the room,” Chase Elliott is still willing to speak up when he feels strongly about a topic and Jimmie Johnson’s legacy is near the top of the list.
Jim Utter
Edited: Feb 13, 2020, 4:02 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season marks the final fulltime season for Jimmie Johnson, who holds a record-tying seven Cup championships – including five in a row at one point – and 83 career victories.
While that resume is certain to earn him induction into the Hall of Fame, it hasn’t always garnered Johnson the appreciation Chase Elliott believes his teammate and mentor deserves.
“I don’t think he’s ever got the respect that he deserves over the course of his career. I think he’s the best to have come along,” Elliott said Wednesday during Daytona 500 Media Day.
“I think what he’s done, the amount of time he did it in, the way he did it, I just don’t see how that’s matched in my personal opinion. I think like I said, I don’t think he's ever got the respect he really deserves.”
In fact, even while Johnson’s final fulltime season has garnered a lot of attention, Elliott believes Johnson’s accomplishments may not be fully appreciated until after he’s left regular competition.
Read Also:
- Jimmie Johnson not 'Chasing 8,' but will "lay it on the line"
- Jimmie Johnson: IndyCar, Rolex 24, Le Mans on wish list
“I really think once he’s gone, I do think that will change a lot then,” he said. “If it doesn’t by year end, I think it will when he leaves.”
Asked what about Johnson has impressed Elliott the most since he joined Hendrick Motorsports as a teammate in the Cup Series in 2016, Elliott said, “I think he just exemplifies how you should go about your life really on and off the race track. I think he’s a great person. He has his off-the-track life figured out.
“He treats people the way they deserve to be treated. He’s just a class guy. I think he leads by example. I’ve enjoyed having somebody like that to look up to.”
When it comes to trying to dissect the reasons why Johnson doesn’t seem to get the respect some of the other sport’s most successful stars receive, Elliott finds it difficult pinpoint one reason.
“I don’t understand why. I don’t know if it’s just an era thing. On the same token, he was around in the mid-2000s when some other guys were, too, that I feel like get a lot of that recognition and names that you know,” Elliott said.
“I’ve never really understood. I do think it will be one of those things that once he’s gone people are going to be like, ‘Whoa!’ Maybe it’s just because he’s such a nice guy, that he hasn’t changed at all.
“He’s had that same even keel that he had when he came in in 2000 or 2001. Never had the big personality I guess to go along with all the success, which I think is great. I think that’s how it should be or how you should be. But maybe that’s why.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article President Trump to attend Sunday's Daytona 500
Next article Daniel Suarez' Daytona 500 hopes end with Duel #1 crash
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jim Utter
Erik Jones agrees to multi-year contract extension with Legacy Motor Club
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Erik Jones agrees to multi-year contract extension with Legacy Motor Club
Goodyear's option tires at Richmond "were like Mario Kart with a star"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Goodyear's option tires at Richmond "were like Mario Kart with a star"
NASCAR: Austin Dillon move was "really close to crossing the line"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
NASCAR: Austin Dillon move was "really close to crossing the line"
More from
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup 9 h
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
Jimmie Johnson explains why the time was right for Legacy to add a third car full time
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Jimmie Johnson explains why the time was right for Legacy to add a third car full time
Why the 2027 Daytona 500 is the end of a road for Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Daytona 500
Why the 2027 Daytona 500 is the end of a road for Jimmie Johnson
Latest news
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
4 h
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
4 h
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe