LEGEND PROFILE: JIMMIE JOHNSON

Jimmie Johnson excelled throughout a 20-year NASCAR Cup Series career that included 83 victories. He also joined Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt as the series’ only seven-time champions.

BY BEN WHITE

began racing motorcycles when he was 5 years old. Offroad racing followed and led to a chance meeting with Herb Fishel, head of motorsports at General Motors during the early 1990s.

Johnson’s short-track success opened the door for him to eventually drive for Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick.

Johnson began racing in the American Speed Association series in 1998, having made only six starts in a full-bodied race car before taking on his new role. He was fourth in points by season’s end and was crowned rookie of the year.

From there, the aspiring star joined the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 2000, Johnson raced the full Xfinity Series for Herzog Motorsports, finishing 10th in points. He notched his first and only Xfinity Series victory in 2001 at Chicagoland Speedway.

That same season, Johnson joined Hendrick Motorsports for three Cup Series races after becoming friends with four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon.

Johnson was then paired with crew chief Chad Knaus and they developed a magical chemistry for success. Starting in 2002, their on-track success established Johnson as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers.

He retired from Cup Series competition in 2020.

–JIMMIE JOHNSON

BEST SEASON

victories with six coming on superspeedways and four on short tracks, including four in a row near season’s end. His second Cup Series championship season also featured 24 top-10 finishes in 36 starts. He held the championship point lead through the final three races.

RECORD SETTER

seven NASCAR Cup Series championships while competing under several different championship point systems. Even though he didn’t make the playoffs in his final season (2020), he will be remembered as one of the sport’s most talented racers in its most competitive era.

KNOWN FOR

Johnson was known as a smooth driver who rarely became agitated in the heat of battle. His ability to perform quietly under extreme pressure gave the impression of having a soft nature. Still, success through seven championships and 83 Cup Series victories tells his story.

BY ROB TIONGSON

Following a Hall-of-Fame-worthy, 20-year NASCAR Cup Series career, Jimmie Johnson hung up his helmet from full-time competition in grand fashion at the end of last season.

While Johnson didn’t visit Victory Lane nor qualify for the playoffs in 2020, the 45-year-old native of El Cajon, California, showcased his prowess with five top-five finishes and 10 top-10 results.

Beyond his 83 NASCAR Cup Series race victories and seven championships, Johnson stood out as an agent for change in both sports and society during his final full-time season by vocally supporting equality and inclusion.

“As I’ve grown and matured more as a husband, a father, a citizen of the world; my voice has grown along with that as well,” Johnson observed. “So, there are things that have shown up for me in 2020 to support and be behind that, frankly, I wish they didn’t.

“I wish that inclusion was a topic of the past and something we’re reflecting on and we’re well through it. But it’s not, so I’m happy to play my part, and hopefully I’ve been able to have a voice that’s been positive and constructive for those out there.”

Johnson’s contributions toward equality resulted in an award from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. In addition, his foundation, organized by Johnson and his wife Chandra, has raised more than $12 million for public education through the years.

For Johnson, the 2020 campaign was more than just his swansong from his main focus since making his Cup Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2001. It was about enjoying those quality moments with his team.

“When I wake up on Sundays, even in the offseason, it’s race day, and there’s a feeling that comes with knowing it’s race day that you can never replicate,” Johnson acknowledged. “So, I feel like that is probably what I’ll miss the most, and that shot of adrenaline, and knowing it’s race day. And then, also the experience of working in a team and the environment that happens in team sports and the environment in a locker room is just like any other brotherhood that you can imagine.”

When one reflects on Johnson’s Cup Series career, it will be easy to recall how he was immediately successful, starting with his rookie campaign in 2002. Recruited to Hendrick Motorsports by Jeff Gordon following a chance meeting at Michigan International Speedway in 2000, like the commercials that aired during Johnson’s rookie season, it’s safe to say the Californian was ready to win.

Scoring all of his 83 victories and seven titles with crew chief Chad Knaus, Johnson’s success was meteoric. Like any successful athlete or professional in their craft, struggles

will occur but not for a lack of effort. Like Jeff Lynne with Electric Light Orchestra or any of the “Fab Four” members of The Beatles, those who prosper in their field are molded by their setbacks.

“I honestly think, though, my failures have shaped me more than anything, and that’s absolutely the thing that helped me be humble in those highest of highs,” Johnson said. “And if you look at the statistics, 83 wins in 640-something starts, whatever it is, you do a lot more losing than you do winning and being humbled in those moments and dealing with the emotions, trying to find a way to be a leader of your team during those humbling moments, all of that just has wired me a certain way.

“And when I look back to my younger years and climbing up through the ranks, there were very similar experiences through all of that as well. So, I really do think those hard times have shaped me more than anything in my life.”

Paired with crew chief Cliff Daniels for the final two seasons of his Cup Series career, Johnson saw flashes of brilliance with the young Virginian, including third-place finishes at Bristol and Dover. Despite missing one race due to a positive COVID-19 test during the Indianapolis race weekend, Johnson made a valiant bid for one of the final NASCAR playoffs spots.

Despite the setback, Johnson fought hard during his final 10 races, determined to conclude the NASCAR chapter of his career with a memorable moment. Sure, he drove a unique and distinct paint scheme at Darlington that paid homage to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, the two NASCAR icons with whom he shares the lineage as seven-time Cup Series champions.

Then, Johnson rallied with an 11thplace finish at Las Vegas following a cut tire that damaged his No. 48 car. Johnson and sponsor Ally also made a true connection with a race fan through a specially designed car at Texas Motor Speedway. The livery, conceptualized by Noah “Lefty” Sweet of Ypsilanti, Michigan, highlighted the authentic humility and grace that will define Johnson with future racers and fans.

“It’s very special and meaningful,” Johnson said about the car design. “And it’s just the Ally way. I mean, their hashtag Do It Right is how they live day to day, the way they’ve brought me into the family and are honoring me in my final full-time year, and honestly the way they take care of their customers day in and day out.

“So, it’s been a real privilege to work for them over the last two years. I certainly hope to maintain a relationship with them in the future. A great bank, great people, great business, great leadership. Very thoughtful and they do an amazing job.”

Although Johnson has concluded his full-time NASCAR career, the Californian will compete in select NTT IndyCar Series races this season for Chip Ganassi Racing.

With the luxury of now having time on his side, Johnson provided his take on how he hopes NASCAR fans will remember him.

“I just want to race and that’s where I find myself once again as this is all coming to an end and I’m looking at what to do in the future,” Johnson said. “I want to race and have fun. And I’m in a position where I can kind of call my shot and create some unique opportunities, so I’m going to do that.

“But I’m a racer. I’m sure I have these incredible statistics, and more has happened than I ever thought was possible. But that’s not me. I’ve always just wanted to race. So, I hope I’m viewed as a racer, and I hope I’m viewed as one of the good guys. I would hope those two things are near the top of people’s list.”

As for Johnson’s final full-time Cup Series start in the No. 48 Chevrolet, he rocketed from 26th to a strong fifth at Phoenix Raceway. Finishing just behind the Championship 4 contenders, Johnson thought back on his career and what he would have told his younger self about his remarkable journey.

“I would have told myself to relax, everything is going to be just fine,” Johnson offered. “I don’t know if I would have asked to change much because I am who I am and all of the overthinking and worrying and the sleepless nights and waking up early to try to find an advantage, all that paid off. So, I don’t know if I would change anything. But maybe I’d tell myself just to chill out and enjoy the ride because everything was going to turn out just fine.”