Nowadays, Jimmie Johnson is a name synonymous with undeniable NASCAR greatness. But back when he first burst onto the scene, the respect and admiration he now enjoys were nowhere in sight. There wasn’t just skepticism about his skills—it was also about the baggage he carried. And as it turns out, a lot of that baggage had four-time Cup series champion Jeff Gordon’s name on it.

Recently, Johnson opened up about what it was like stepping into the big leagues with Hendrick Motorsports and the challenges he faced, both on and off the track. It’s a story of proving doubters wrong, handling inherited animosity, and thriving under pressure—fueled by a chip on his shoulder and a desire to succeed.

A surprising start and a chip on his shoulder

When Rick Hendrick signed Johnson to Hendrick Motorsports in 2000, plenty of people were scratching their heads. Johnson’s Busch Series (now Xfinity) career didn’t exactly scream “future Cup Series champion.” He’d gone winless in his first year and managed just one win in his second. Even Johnson acknowledged the skepticism during his podcast interview:

“Many wondered, ‘What in the world was Hendrick Motorsports thinking?'” Johnson said on the High Performance podcast. “I signed my contract in September of 2000, and my first race wasn’t until 2002. So, there was this long stretch of PR where people were trying to understand what Mr. Hendrick and Jeff Gordon saw in me.”

By the time he debuted in the Cup Series, Johnson had already spent a year and a half dealing with questions about whether he was ready or capable. Those doubts didn’t just fade away—they fueled him and his crew chief, Chad Knaus.

Despite the rocky start, Johnson quickly silenced his critics. In his rookie Cup Series season in 2002, he snagged three wins, including one at his home track in Fontana, California. He also became the first rookie to lead the points standings and finished fifth overall. But that was just the beginning.

Jimmie Johnson went on to rewrite the NASCAR record books. By the end of his career, he was one of only three drivers to win seven Cup Series championships, joining Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. His dominance from 2006 to 2010, when he won five consecutive titles, remains one of the most incredible feats in the sport’s history.

As Johnson reflected on those early days, he didn’t shy away from admitting how much he relished proving the doubters wrong. “We had a chip on our shoulder,” Johnson explained. “We saw all those messages. That pressure worked well for us.”

And then there was the Gordon factor. Johnson was Jeff Gordon’s handpicked protégé, and that connection came with its own set of challenges.

Why Jeff Gordon’s hate spilled over

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To understand why Jimmie Johnson got booed from the get-go, you have to look back at Jeff Gordon’s career. In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Gordon was a polarizing figure in NASCAR. He was young, polished, and absurdly talented. While some fans loved his dominance and his role in modernizing the sport, others saw him as emblematic of NASCAR’s shift away from its gritty, Southern roots.

The “Rainbow Warrior” nickname, thanks to his brightly colored DuPont Chevrolet, didn’t help either. And then there was his success—four Cup Series championships by 2001. Winning too much has a way of making enemies.

For Johnson, that connection to Gordon was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it got him into Hendrick Motorsports. On the other, it made him an instant target for Gordon haters.

“Everyone that hated Jeff Gordon then hated me,” Johnson recalled. “It was wild. I went from being an Xfinity driver on Saturdays… where only my parents were clapping, and then I walk out on stage and I get booed, I get booed as bad as Jeff Gordon does.”

The boos, however, didn’t derail him. If anything, they became part of the fuel that drove him to succeed. “I hated to see what was being said about me. It kept me awake at night; you know it frustrated me it made me angry but, in the end, it motivated me,” said Johnson.

These days, it’s hard to imagine anyone doubting Jimmie Johnson’s place in NASCAR history. He’s widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats, and the boos have long since turned to cheers. But Johnson’s journey is a reminder of how tough the road to the top can be—and how even the greatest drivers have to earn every ounce of respect.

For Johnson, inheriting Jeff Gordon’s haters turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It gave him the edge he needed to not just survive in NASCAR but to thrive. And now, with his seven championships and countless accolades, he’s left no doubt that Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon knew exactly what they were doing all those years ago.