Jimmie Johnson went from Jeff Gordon's number two man to a five time champion. In 2007 he became the first driver since Gordon to win back to back championships and the following year he did something that Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, or even Gordon himself could never do tie Cale Yarbourgh's record of three straight championships. One thing is for sure, he has come a long way from being an upstart driver.