Jimmie Johnson
Born September 17, 1975 in El Cajon, California
Team:  Hendrick Motorsport -
Driver of the No.48Lowes Chevy

Johnson began his racing career on 50cc motorcycles at the age of five years old. Johnson was successful on motorcycles at an early age. By the time he was
eight, he won the 60cc class championship despite injuring his knee with several races left in the season. From motorcycle racing he made the move onto
four wheels and competed in several off-road leagues including SODA, SCORE International and Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group. He accumulated
over 25 wins, 100 top-three finishes, six championships, and received Rookie of the Year honors in all three leagues. Johnson raced with Herzog Motorsports
in the 1996 and 1997 SODA series. Johnson was a field reporter for ESPN in the SODA series.Jimmie Johnson qualifying at Auto Club SpeedwayIn 1998,
Johnson joined the American Speed Association (ASA) circuit, finishing fourth in the season while picking up Rookie of the Year honors. During this time,
Johnson also began racing in the NASCAR Busch Series, driving in three events. In 1999, Johnson continued to run in both the ASA and the Busch Series,
winning twice and finishing third in the ASA point race. By 2000, Johnson became a full time Busch Series driver with Herzog Motorsports, finished 10th in
the points standings and third in the Rookie of the Year standings. He won his only Busch Series race in 2001 at the Hills Brothers Coffee 300 at
Chicagoland Speedway in his 81st series event.During the 2000 Season, Johnson was left in a tight spot while racing in the NASCAR Busch Series. Herzog
Motorsports, which had fielded Johnson's cars for much of his career, was in a dilemma after losing their sponsor, Alltel to Penske Racing shortly after
Roger Penske's son Greg was named to Alltel's Board of Directors. During the driver's meeting before the Busch Series race at Michigan International
Speedway, Johnson asked fellow NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon for advice. Gordon kept in touch with Johnson after the incident, and a few months later,
Hendrick Motorsports, on Gordon's recommendation, offered him a driver development deal with the potential of advancing in 2002.Johnson's pre-Sprint
Cup career is also noted for a crash that occurred at Watkins Glen in 2000 when the brakes on his car failed heading into turn one. With his car running
almost at full-speed, Johnson crashed head-on into the Styrofoam insulation and guardrail. Surprisingly Johnson emerged from the car uninjured. NASCAR
Cup series careerSome of Johnson's most notable accomplishments throughout his NASCAR career include: In his rookie season he became the first rookie
in the Cup series to sweep both races at a track when he won both races at Dover International Speedway. He became the first rookie ever to lead in the
point standings (and to date the only rookie to do so). He is the only driver to finish in the top five in the standings in his first seven full seasons. He has
never finished below fifth in the final Sprint Cup points standings, finishing second twice (in 2003 and 2004) and winning the 2006, 2007, and 2008 NASCAR
Sprint Cup championships. Since his rookie season Johnson ranks second among all active drivers with an average of 4.5 wins a season (behind Gordon's
5.6) and second in average top 10 finishes a season with 21.25 (behind Tony Stewart's 21.28). In 2006, Johnson became the only driver to win the Daytona
500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, Aaron's 499 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship all in the same year. He is the only driver to win three
Coca-Cola 600s in a row. He also holds the record at Lowe's Motor Speedway with four straight wins and five total point race wins at the track. In 2007 he
tied a NASCAR modern era record by winning four straight races, a feat last accomplished by Gordon in 1998.
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