The relationship between Jeff Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham has entered racing folklore because of their 1998 race results. After all, winning 13 races in a single season is nothing less of a milestone that only star drivers can contribute to. The no.24 team had always garnered a reputation for being a tough nut to crack. Coupled with the motivation for 1998, it seemed as though the winner’s recipe had finally been crafted. 

While the entire streak of time from 1995 had been in favor of Hendrick Motorsports, there was only one aim that Gordon and Evernham wanted to suffice – ultimate track domination. While the 1997 season ended with the victory of Gordon, it almost slipped away to Dale Jarrett who was just 14 points behind. As Hendrick Motorsports celebrates its 40th anniversary, one cannot help but celebrate this iconic duo and their worth-remembering year – 1998. 

1998 – a year of domination for Gordon and Evernham

Some phases of life always get etched into your heart forever and certainly, the year 1998 has become iconic for Jeff Gordon. This was the year when Gordon and his crew chief Ray Evernham left no stone unturned to mark complete dominance on the field. This stemmed from the zeal to just win no matter what came their way and acted as barriers. After all, a lot of frustrations had contributed to the zeal that finally fueled Gordon and Evernham. 

Gordon had marked his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in the year 1995 and tasted what success felt like. Consequently, his 1998 zeal was not fueled by the hunger for a win. He had continued to win the Cup Series title for a second time in 1997 and this had put him right at the center of all the attention. The only thing that the duo wanted to prove in their 1998 season was a sheer display of skills and power.

While recounting the season, crew chief Evernham said, “We just wanted to win every week. Jeff and I had talked about it. In ’95 we fell off at the end of the championship and barely won. In ’97 we d*mn near lost it”. However, this uncertainty sparked a fire that was hard to put off. 

Jeff Gordon displayed brilliance on the track and it seemed as though every leaderboard had his name at the top. He accounted for 17 consecutive top 5 finishes. Among the victories he had, his 13th win at the Atlanta Motor Speedway was the most iconic. With only 10 laps to go, he slipped away to Dale Jarrett and yet claimed back his position in the last lap. This particular move of Gordon showcased the vigor and control he had over cars. The idea was to intimidate every driver and team on the field and surely Gordon could achieve that with precision. 

The entire 1998 season saw him at the herd-best energy and he achieved an unbelievable average finish of 8.6. With such heavy starts favoring Gordon, even before teams had hit Phoenix, people knew who the winner was going to be! What started as a victory with Talladega culminated in a Cup Series Championship at Phoenix in a way that was worth remembering. In the end, 1998 was not just a season of victories for Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham; it was a testament to their unmatched determination, skill, and legacy that left an indelible mark on NASCAR history.

When Gordon called Johnson “the best I’ve ever raced against”

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Jeff Gordon has been one of the best racers for Hendrick Motorsports and along with Jimmie Johnson the two have spent over a decade. Even the dynamic between the two drivers has been quite glorious. Johnson joined HMS in the year 2002 and during this time, Gordon was already a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. However, soon Johnson could climb his way up and draw a unique career trajectory for himself. 

Around eight years back, Gordon had expressed about how he felt driving with Johnson. He said, “I would certainly say so because of my experience racing against him in the same equipment under in the same organization, Hendrick Motorsports. … To me, as tough as the competition is today and this format that we have with the playoff type system, to me, it’s harder to win championships now than it’s ever been, and yet they continue to rise up and get it done when it matters most. So, yeah, I think he’s the best I’ve ever raced against”. 

Johnson’s career saw an all-time high from 2006 to 2010. The No. 48 Chevy driver claimed the NASCAR Cup Series Championship title for all five years which is a feat that one can only imagine. Gordon’s acknowledgment of Johnson’s unparalleled skill and success highlights the mutual respect and fierce competition that defined their careers.