Secure in both his life and his on-track legacy, Jimmie Johnson knows that many fans of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt don't want him to tie those two legends' records by winning a seventh NASCAR title this month.
But you know what?
I think he's going to.
Johnson has already locked down the first of the "final four" spots for the Homestead season finale in Florida on Nov. 20 with his victory in Martinsville on Sunday. And while Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, likes to claim that the No. 48 Chevrolet team is not concerned with Johnson getting to No. 7, Johnson has no problem saying that he is.
"I'm aware of it and what it would mean," Johnson told a small group of us reporters on Wednesday. "And damn, I want to do it. The desire to accomplish it is very intense and very real. ... I think seven would give me super long legs for my legacy."
To that end, Johnson has been wearing a racing helmet that reads "Chasing 7," with pictures of both Petty and Earnhardt emblazoned upon it.
Said Johnson: "The fact that I have Dale and Richard's faces on my helmet is, one, respect to them, and two, just to put a target on something. That's the goal."
