Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Age:
|
33 |
Height:
|
5’11’’ |
Birthdate:
|
September 17, 1975 |
Weight:
|
165 lbs. |
Hometown:
|
El Cajon, Cal. |
Residence:
|
Charlotte, N.C. |
Crew Chief:
|
Chad Knaus |
Married:
|
Chandra |
After just seven seasons and 255 starts, Jimmie Johnson has rapidly written his name all over the NASCAR record books, most recently by becoming only the second driver in NASCAR’s 60-year history to win three consecutive Sprint Cup Series championships.
The El Cajon, Calif.-native led the point standings the final eight races of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2008, finishing the season 69 points ahead of second-place Carl Edwards, and earning his seventh-consecutive top-five finish in the point standings.
Since Johnson made his Cup Series debut in 2001, his 40 career wins are 11 more than any other competitor during that time and place him third among active drivers on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. He has also earned 14 “Chase” wins since its inception in 2004, eight more than anyone else.
Going into the 2009 season, Johnson is the only driver to win at least three races in each of his first seven seasons. He had seven wins and a career-high six poles in 2008.
The 33-year-old Californian clinched his first championship in 2006 finishing 56 points ahead of second-place finisher Matt Kenseth. He followed that up in dramatic fashion with a 77-point win over teammate Jeff Gordon in 2007.
But Johnson’s impact isn’t limited to the race track.
Johnson and his wife, Chandra, launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in 2006 and support it with a variety of public fundraising activities. In March of 2007, the couple opened Jimmie Johnson’s Victory Lanes for campers at Pattie and Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Camp in Randleman, N.C.
In addition to supporting organizations such as the Hendrick Marrow Program and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Johnsons have hosted the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Golf Tournament in San Diego for the past two years, raising more than a million dollars for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and other charitable causes in his hometown. In August 2008, the Johnsons passed the keys to the first homeowners on Foundation Lane, a newly named road in El Cajon on which four Habitat homes are being built with funds from the Jimmie Johnson Foundation.
While Johnson’s success on and off the track has come in a relatively short amount of time, it took years of hard work, dedication and help from a variety of people to get there.
With the support of his family, Johnson’s racing career started on 50cc motorcycles at the age of five. His father, Gary, worked for a tire company and his mother, Cathy, drove a school bus. With Jimmie and younger brothers Jarit and Jessie in tow, the family spent most of their weekends camping and doing what they loved - racing. During these weekends, it wasn't unusual to see Gary preparing the tracks for the kids to race and Cathy running the concession stand.
Johnson was successful on motorcycles at an early age. By the time he was eight, he won the 60cc class championship despite blowing out his knee with several races remaining in the season.
From motorcycles, Johnson graduated to the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) Stadium Racing Series where he won more awards. A 1993 meeting arranged by his mentor, supercross champion Rick Johnson (no relation), proved fortuitous for the eager driver.
While racing at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Rick Johnson introduced his young protégé to the Executive Director of GM Racing, Herb Fishel. The protégé lived up to his billing, impressing Fishel with his driving ability and business acumen.
Fishel kept his eye on Johnson that year. He later walked into an off-road racing team meeting and threw a picture of Johnson on the table informing the team that Johnson was the man they needed to drive their car.
Johnson seized the opportunity, spending the next few years driving buggies and trucks in off-road stadium and desert races. Johnson also improved his ability to connect with fans and potential sponsors by reporting for ESPN in the Short Course Off-Road Drivers Association Series (SODA).
In 1995, the work paid off in another way as Johnson met his future car owners Stan and Randy Herzog while working in the series. The following year Johnson began driving the brothers' off-road truck. After two years, Johnson was ready for the next opportunity and crafted a proposal, taking it to his friend, Fishel. Fishel gave the owners and their ambitious driver a shot and in 1998 Johnson climbed behind the wheel of an American Speed Association car and got his first taste of pavement racing and never looked back.
His victories in the ASA Series paved the way for his move to NASCAR (initially in the Nationwide Series) where his winning ways continue as the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.