Special thanks to freelance writer TJ Anders.
Jimmie Johnson was born on September 17th, 1975 and raised in El Cajon, California. He currently drives the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
With the help and support of his family, Jimmie Johnson launched his racing career at the age of five and has been tearing through the racing circuits ever since. From his first championship win in the 60cc motorcycle circuit at the age of eight, to his back-to-back NASCAR Nextel Cup championships in 2006 and 2007, Jimmie Johnson has been an ever-rising star in the field of auto racing.
After his early start in motorcycle racing Jimmie went on to further his career by moving into the off road leagues of SODA, Score International & Mickey Thompson Entertainment where he amassed over twenty five wins, and more than 100 top three finishes, along with six championship wins and being named Rookie of the Year by all three leagues.
In 1998, Johnson made his career move into the ASA (American Speed Association) circuit where he finished fourth in the point standings and received the ASA Pat Schafer Rookie of the Year award, in addition to making his depute drives in the NASCAR Busch Series at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Gateway International Raceway, and Homestead Miami speedway. The 1999 season would bring Jimmie back to the Busch series racing circuit to run five more events while he continued with his ASA career, finishing 3rd in ASA points for the season.
In 2000, Jimmie moved on to drive full time with Herzog Motorsports in the Nascar Busch Series finishing his first full season out in tenth place in the final championship standings.
The most significant decision that young Johnson had made was at Michigan International Raceway when he approached NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon following a driver’s meeting for some career advice. Gordon was impressed with Johnson and would eventually persuade Rick Hendrick to hire the young driver for the 2002 season.
In 2001, Jimmie Johnson earned his first Busch series win, the Hills Brothers Coffee 300 at the Chicagoland Speedway. This was the inaugural event at the modernized facility. Johnson would finish eighth in the final Busch Series championship standings.
On October 7, 2001, Jimmie Johnson competed in his first ever Nascar Nextel Cup race for Hendrick Motorsports at Lowe's Motor speedway in Concord, NC where he qualified 15th and finished 39th. This would begin his Cup career as the driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Long-time Hendrick Motorsports employee Chad Knaus became Johnson’s crew chief.
The 2002 season brought about more career changes and more wins when Jimmie moved over to the Nextel Cup Series to drive as a teammate alongside his mentor Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports. In his 2002 Nextel rookie year, Jimmie swept both races at Dover becoming the only rookie cup driver to do so. The same year he also won the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway, which was his first career Cup victory. However, despite being the highest ranked rookie in the standings, the “Rookie of the Year” award went to Ryan Newman. Newman’s 15 best finishes bested that of Johnson’s.
The wins just kept on rolling for Johnson in 2003, as he posted three more wins. He won the Coca Cola 600, as well as The Winston All-Star event, and he swept the two races held at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Along with the three victories, Johnson scored 14 top 5 finishes and 20 top 10 finishes. He would finish second behind Matt Kenseth in the final championship standings.
In 2004, Johnson went on to finish second in the inaugural Chase for the Championship format, just a mere eight points behind Kurt Busch. He led the series with eight victories. Johnson swept the two races at Lowe’s Motors Speedway, the two races at Pocono Raceway, as well as the two races held at Darlington Raceway. He also posted wins at Atlanta and Martinsville.
In 2005, Johnson posted five wins, which included another season sweep at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In October, he scored his fourth consecutive victory at the Charlotte-based facility. He would finish fifth in the final championship standings.
The next year started out with a bang, when Jimmie Johnson earned his first ever Daytona 500 win on February 19, kicking off the season that would result in his first Nextel Cup Championship. His championship season included five victories.
Along with all his other accomplishments during the year in February of 2006, he and his wife Chandra launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation to help aide children in the pursuit of their dreams. Together with other such groups as the Make-A-Wish, and the American Red Cross they strive to help children and families in need.
Following a shaky start to the 2007 season with a DNF at the Daytona 500, he went on to win ten regular season races including the race on November 11th at Phoenix making him the first driver to win four straight in a row since Jeff Gordon accomplished that feat in 1998.
In addition to the many charitable contributions from the Jimmie Johnson Foundation on October 28, 2007, Jimmie clinched the win at the Pep Boys Auto 500 in Atlanta, GA and contributed all his winning to the victims of the San Diego wildfires.
Then on November 18, 2007, Jimmie took home his second Nextel Cup Series Championship at Miami's Homestead Speedway by placing seventh in the Ford 400. He finished the season 77 points ahead of teammate Jeff Gordon.
Throughout the years, Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus has been ridiculed for ‘pushing the envelope’, so to speak. No other team has faced as many penalties as the 48 team since 2002. At Infineon in June of 2007, Johnson, Gordon, and their Hendrick Motorsports teams were penalized 100 points due to an illegal modification to the front fender.
In 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr joins Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Casey Mears at Hendrick Motorsports.
