You’d think some decisions would be easy, right? Like voting to have Jimmie Johnson inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. While you might think it impossible to find someone in the NASCAR community who feels the racing legend has not earned his spot, those people do exist, and to the surprise of industry veterans and fans alike, caused Johnson to be elected into the Hall of Fame with less than 100% of the vote.
Jimmie Johnson via Skewcar YouTube
Throughout his career in NASCAR, Johnson won seven Cup Series Championships, tying himself with the likes of legends such as Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. More impressively, he won his first five championships consecutively.
Johnson also boasts a record as the all-time winningest driver at Auto Club Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.
Still not convinced he’s one of the greats? He’s also been Driver of the Year not once, but five times during his career.
So how did this driver earn just 93% of the vote among the 57-person panel consisting of some of the biggest names and experts within NASCAR?
We’ll probably never know unless someone decides to go before the mob and admit to this unthinkable transgression against one of the biggest names to ever hit the tracks.
Source: NASCAR Twitter
Folks are making it known that they find this absolutely ridiculous, including crew chief Chad Knaus.
“If he isn’t a unanimous vote, I don’t know that anybody ever will be,” Knaus said during the Hall of Fame press conference. “He’s the nicest guy and the best to ever sit in a NASCAR race car. He contributes to our sport and to society in so many different ways through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. He is the ideal picture of a Hall of Fame inductee.”
Knaus, of course, knows what he’s talking about. The industry veteran worked with names like Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip before becoming the crew chief for then rookie driver Jimmie Johnson. Knaus went on to secure 81 victories as Johnson’s crew chief and is the only NASCAR crew chief who can claim five consecutive cup championship wins. He was also inducted in to the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year, having been voted in by 81%.
Regardless, Johnson isn’t letting this bother him as it might someone of lesser caliber.
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“I wouldn’t say there was a doubt, but it was great to hear my name called,” Johnson stated later after the decision was made. “They had so many key moments to this 19-year career I had which have led to this opportunity in the Hall, and those emotions just started running through my brain, through my mind.”
“And then right in front of me was Brooke and Chad (Knaus), and to see so many images of Chad and I together, I’m like, ‘Oh, gosh, I hope he gets in, right?’ That’s the other component to this that I was really hopeful for. A lot of very deserving names on the ballot. I am a bit biased and very thankful that Chad and I are going in together.”
What do you think of Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR Hall of Fame vote? Do you agree with Chad Knaus? Let us know in the comments below and across social media.