|
Jimmie Johnson Profile |
|
-
Birth Date: September 17, 1975
-
Birth Place: El Cajon, California, USA
-
Birth Name: Jimmie Johnson
-
Height: 5'11"
|
|
|
Biography |
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson (born September 17, 1975, El Cajon,
California) is a current NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race car driver
who drives the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS and
Chevrolet Impala SS owned by his teammate Jeff Gordon and
operated by Rick Hendrick's Hendrick Motorsports. In his
rookie year 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 five full seasons. He has never
finished below fifth in the final NEXTEL Cup points
standings and finished second twice (in 2003 and 2004) and
won the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship. Since his
rookie season Johnson ranks second among all active drivers
with an average of 4.5 wins a season (behind Jeff 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 NEXTEL 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.
Jimmie Johnson began his racing career on 50cc motorcycles
at the age of five. 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 attended Granite Hills High School in El
Cajon, California near San Diego. He went to the same high
school as friend and current San Diego Padres second baseman
Marcus Giles.
Johnson has been married to Chandra Janway since December
11, 2004.
He is an avid San Diego Padres and San Diego Chargers fan as
they are his hometown teams. He also follows the Atlanta
Braves and the Carolina Panthers (His adopted team since he
is now based in North Carolina; the latter is based in
Charlotte, close to Lowe's headquarters in Mooresville, NC).
As is the custom on Fox's NFC Championship Game broadcasts
(or Super Bowl when Fox has the Super Bowl that year),
Jimmie appeared on the post-game show for the 2007 NFC
Championship game when the Chicago Bears defeated the New
Orleans Saints (The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion makes an
appearance during that game). His interview aired directly
opposite of the opening kickoff of the AFC Championship
game.
Johnson maintains strong ties to the San Diego area. He is a
part of one of the local San Diego Chevy dealers that
carries his name (along with owner Rick Hendrick). Jimmie
Johnson Chevrolet in the Kearny Mesa section of San Diego
County. Jimmie was named San Diego's Pro-Athlete of the Year
by the San Diego Hall of Champions on January 31, 2007. San
Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders also proclaimed January 31, Jimmie
Johnson Day.
Johnson hosts a weekly radio show, "Not What You Expected",
on XM Satellite Radio. Marty Smith, NASCAR journalist and
friend of Johnson's, hosts it with him. They have had
numerous guests on the show including Major League Baseball
player and Johnson's high school friend Marcus Giles, fellow
drivers Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon, crew
chief Chad Knaus, singer and friend Nick Lachey, and others. |
|
|
Other Information |
Runner-up for the 2003 Nascar Winston Cup Series
Championship
Runner-up for the 2002 Nascar Winston Cup Series Rookie of
the Year.
Drives the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, owned by Jeff Gordon.
[2004]
Runner-Up for 2004 Nascar Nextel Cup Championship
1998 ASA Series Rookie of the Year.
Winner of the 2006 Daytona 500.
Grew up in North Carolina
2006 NEXTEL Cup Champion. |
|
|
|
since October 31, 2007