by Lee Spencer

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How cool would that be if we could simulate the conditions for "Back to Basics" racing? Let's say the late 1970s, when Yarborough established his record of three consecutive titles from 1976-78. Imagine putting the best drivers in NASCAR history during their prime on the racetrack at the same time? Of course, today's competitors would have to sustain the antiquated equipment with no air conditioning or power steering, but it would be a true return to "Back to basics" racing.

The venue? Simple. Darlington Raceway, a track that would immediately separate the riders from the racers. In 105 races, only 42 racers have tamed that track. Yarborough said winning at Darlington was his highlight of his career.

"My most memorable moment was winning the 1968 Southern 500 in Darlington," Yarborough said. "That was considered my home racetrack. That was on the old racetrack before they remodeled it. I wouldn't take that win for all the rest of 'em put together almost."

I still remember listening to the No. 48's radio and the excitement in Johnson's voice as he crossed the finish line. To paraphrase Johnson, it went something like, "I just won the freakin' Southern 500!" The last Southern 500 — although it didn't run on Labor Day weekend as we all agree it still should. Regardless, the satisfaction Johnson derived from that moment could only be felt by a true racer.

Pipe dreams aside, comparing Johnson's greatness in modern times, there's just one driver who's enjoyed his success — his Hendrick Motorsports teammate and team owner Jeff Gordon.

In a battle of the best driver of this generation, here's the tale of the tape: Gordon entered the Cup ranks at the age of 21. By 27, he won his first three or four titles in six years. If Johnson, 33, locks down the championship at Homestead later this year as expected, it will take the No. 48 team seven seasons to reach that mark. Johnson has scored 39 wins in 251 starts. Over a similar span of races, Gordon recorded 52 of his 81 career wins to date.

Statistical analysis aside, last year's Chase for the Sprint Cup was perhaps the best chance to see Johnson and Gordon battling mano-a-mano not only for a championship, but also for bragging rights.

During the title deciding 10 races, Gordon scored two wins and posted an average finish of 5.1. Gordon's 11th-place finish at Dover was his only showing outside of the top 10. But Johnson was simply electric in that span with four wins and an average showing of fifth-place. Despite two finishes of 14th, Johnson won the battle of the titans by 77 points.

Now under the old point system, Gordon would have won the title with a 353-point advantage over Johnson. But under the Chase format, it's the junior teammate schooling the master.

Gordon has finished sixth or higher in the four of five Chases he's qualified for — an impressive mark. However, his titles came when the sport rewarded consistency and the schedule suited him better.

On the other hand, the 10-race postseason format fits Johnson perfectly.

"The Chase fits me well, the tracks that are in it," Johnson said. "If we had Bristol, if we had Sonoma, or if we had some of these other tracks in it, even Indy, even though we've won there twice, it's been a victory or a wreck. So, it would change that a lot.

"Ideally, any driver would love to sit down and mark out there best 10 races, and I'm very fortunate in the Chase with the ones that are in the final 10. I'd probably choose seven or eight of them if I had my wish list of tracks to pick."

As strange as it sounds, this is still20a discussion of two different eras. Gordon will ultimately go down as one of the best drivers in the Winston Cup era — back when the champion was a year-long battle. Johnson is part of the new generation, and he is so far the greatest champion of the Sprint Cup era — where it is important to be great year-round, but the onus is squarely on the final 10 races.

Just like comparing Johnson and Yarborough, a contrast between Johnson and Gordon is unfair as they are champions of different generations.

Still, if we were ever able to hold the Virtual Reality Southern 500 at Darlington with Yarborough, Johnson, Gordon, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty ... oh the possibilities would be simply amazing.