Saturday, September 4th "What If" Question

During the 1990s it appeared that no one could stop "Wonderboy." No, not Jimmie Johnson, his co-owner and teammate Jeff Gordon who won 47 races and three championships under crew chief Ray Evernham. Gordon entered the Sprint Cup Series as a kid, sporting a mustache and carrying around a briefcase (which Evernham said contained a Gameboy) but quickly showed the world that he was a driver to watch.

Week after week Gordon would go head-to-head with the veterans and beat them, becoming the enemy to many fans in the stands. How far was Gordon going to go? Could he reach Earnhardt and Petty's wins and championships records? Things certainly appeared to be going that way and nothing was slowing the pair down.

Until Evernham made a decision to leave the team. Dodge was making their way into the sport and had approached Evernham about starting his own team under their banner. Not wanting to leave the offer on the table, the crew chief became an owner and left HMS and Gordon.

At first it didn't look as though Gordon had suffered much as he and new crew chief Robbie Loomis won title number four in 2001. That however, has been the last championship trophy that Gordon has lifted and his wins total has mellowed out as well. Being at 82 wins is nothing to sneeze at ...

But ...

What if Ray Evernham never left Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon. How many titles would they have won/kept Johnson from winning?

@NASCARinstig8r I don't necessarily think Evernham and Gordon would have produced the same kind of success in the "new" NASCAR. Its way different. When they were winning championships they only had 4 or 5 guys to beat. 6 (Mark Martin), 88 (Dale Jarrett), 5 (Terry Labonte), 3 (Dale Earnhardt), 2 (Rusty Wallace). Now there's 12 or more to beat. Had the chase not been implemented Gordon would already have 6 titles. Of the top 10, I think all have a realistic shot ea yr.

@Emily_988 I will answer this one. I think they could have won at least 2 more. But no COT ones.

@RedChevy14 As a crew chief Ray probably coulda figured out how to lift the space shuttle. Questiou woulda been driver/cc chemistry.

@SD80MAC At least one or two more. Even with the COT, I think Ray Evernham would have been able to set it up and get the wins. Ray Evernham could make anything run fast. He was probably one of the best ever crew chiefs.

@yoak0373 I like to ponder the same thing about Matt Kenseth and Robbie Reiser. It's a deeper question because Reiser getting promoted made the other Roush teams better and Matt's team worse!!!

NancyatStudioN I think JG would have cont'd 2 win if Ray hadn't left. He'd have at least 2 more Championships. I hoped 4 at least 8 - LOL