But with Johnson succeeding -- he's leading the series standings, while Gordon is in sixth, 295 points out -- it raises questions as to why Gordon is not. It also didn't help that Gordon made mistakes in two recent races which prevented him from challenging for the win.
He was in position to win in Talladega, but made two mistakes on the final lap to fall back to 15th. And he lost any shot of running down Greg Biffle in Darlington when he scraped the wall as he passed Matt Kenseth for second place.
"I've been making mistakes throughout my whole life, but I still pride myself in that I make less mistakes than most guys," he said. "But I am not going to shy away from them. I don't think it is happening anymore than it ever did."
Despite it all, Gordon isn't worried about this year and points to last season when Tony Stewart overcame a slow start to win his second championship.
And as he closes in on his 35th birthday, he's not focusing on what lies ahead for him either. He believes he still has at least one more championship in him, and if he sees the end of the road closing in on him, he isn't admitting it.
But with more than US$74 million in career winnings, a yacht, a girlfriend and red carpet functions calling his name, there will certainly come a day when Gordon no longer has the desire to race 36 weekends a year.
"I want to drive as long as I am healthy and I am competitive, and as long as those two things are happening I'll be here," he said. "Will I still be racing in 10 years? Not at this level. Not racing every week at the championship level. But I would like to do the 24 Hours of Daytona, maybe even Le Mans.
"I don't think I would do Indianapolis, but I might. Who knows until you have that time to think about it and focus it? Right now they only thing I am focused on is winning races and competing for championships here."
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