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Learn More About Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR Race Car Driver
“When there’s a will, there’s a way,” as the famous phrase goes, perfectly describes famed race car driver Jimmy Johnson. Johnson, who was born into a working-class household, had a fascination for racing vehicles but had no idea how to pursue that dream.
Not to add that he had no sponsors or links.
Without hesitation, the devoted Johnson left his home to pursue his dream of becoming a race car driver.
A rookie racer who was mostly ignored attempted to build the links himself, waiting for hours for the race crew to eat and have time to talk with them.
The ambitious racing car driver received what he needed, a chance, which has now become him one of the world’s most famous race car drivers.
Today, Jimmie Johnson is one of the wealthiest racing car drivers, having won the most NASCAR championships.
This article is dedicated to this industrious and dedicated race car driver, his hardships, accomplishments, and life in general.
Early Life
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson, called Jimmie, was born on September 17, 1975, in El Cajon, California, USA, as the eldest son of Cathy (Mother) and Gary Johnson (Father).
Jarit Johnson and Jessie Johnson are Johnson’s two younger brothers.
Both of his brothers made their off-road racing debuts in TORC: The Off-Road Championship.
Johnson was born and reared in a middle-class family; his mother drove a school bus and his father was a mechanic.
Johnson attended Granite Hills High School and graduated in 1993.
Jimmie was involved in sports such as long-distance running, water polo, and others even throughout his high school years.
During the weekends, Johnson would also practice his motor racing.
Johnson did not attend university after graduating from high school, instead focusing on his career as a professional car racer.
How did Jimmie Johnson get his start in racing?
When Jimmie Johnson was four years old, he began racing motorcycles.
At the age of eight, he won his first motorcycle racing championship.
He subsequently found his mentor, Rick Johnson, who assisted him in honing his skills.
Rick Johnson saw Jimmie compete and was impressed by his skills at such a young age.
Johnson began racing vehicles in his teens after being inspired by watching local off-road events with his father.
He wanted to do the same but didn’t know where to begin.
So he began establishing connections with the buggy owners in order to gain permission to drive.
He was finally authorized to drive, and he began racing the automobiles.
At the age of 17, he won his maiden racing car championship.
When Jonson was 21, he left California for Charlotte, North Carolina, to make a reputation for himself in car racing.
It was difficult for this Rookie to get the opportunity, but he was tenacious and devoted.
Johnson would go to places where the auto racing crew would go to meet them and create rapport.
He was seeking an opportunity.
Johnson was trying everything he could to be competitive in motor racing.
Professional Development
Johnson’s professional career began in 1998 when he was given the opportunity to race in the American Speed Association.
He was named Rookie of the Year.
The following year, he began racing in NASCAR’s Butch series.
He began competing in various contests and leagues.
Finally, Jimmie was crowned Rookie of the Year in all six championships in which he competed.
Short-Course Off-Road Drivers Association, SCORE International, and Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group were among them.
In 2002, he joined Herzog Motorsports’ Busch team.
However, Herzog Motorsports lost its sponsor the following year, and Johson moved to Hendrick Motorsports.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
To get to where he is now, Johson had to take small steps.
He made his debut in the Winston Cup Series in 2001. (now NASCAR Cup Series).
However, he was placed fourth last.
This did not demotivate him, and he went on to improve his skills even further.
Johnson began competing professionally in 2002, winning three races in the Cup Series and finishing fifth.
In 2006, Johnson achieved his long-awaited Cup Series victory.
He won the Cup series with 13 top 5 and 24 top 10 finishes.
Furthermore, from 2006 to 2010, the champion successfully defended his championship four years in a row.
He was the first NASCAR driver to be named Male Athlete of the Year and the first champion to win four consecutive titles.
The champion, however, fell to the sixth position in 2011 and third place in 2012. However, he regained his title in 2013.
However, the victory came after his worst season in 2014, when he finished outside the top ten in the series.
In 2015, he was rated tenth.
To everyone’s amazement, Johnson returned to top place in 2016, claiming his seventh NASCAR championship.
He shared the record for the most NASCAR championships with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
The final racing season
Johnson announced his retirement as a full-time NASCAR racer on November 20, 2019; he stated that the 2020 Cups season would be his final full-time racing.
The champion qualified for the Daytona 500, finishing fourth, and then entered the 2020 Busch Clash, starting 16th and climbing to 11th as the defending champion.
He then competed in the 2020 Bluegreen Vacations Duels, finishing second.
Jimmie’s wife and children accompanied him to his final race of the season and waved the green flag before the race.
To honor Johnson, the fans and audience gave him four-wide salutes.
He retired from NASCAR after a 20-year career.
The IndyCar Series
Johnson competed in the Indycar series in 2020 after retiring from the NASCAR division.
When asked why he entered Indy Car, Johson stated that it was a childhood dream of his.
He revealed on September 9, 2020, that he has joined Chip Ganassi Racing and would be a part-time racer in the Indy Car championship.
However, the NASCAR champion suffered in Indy Car due to spins and crashes.
Jimmie Johnson | Awards and Recognition
- Year’s Best Driver (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2013)
- 2009 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year
- In 2011 and 2012, he was ranked first on Forbes.com’s list of the Most Influential Athletes.
- 2018 Byrnsie Award
- Men in the fast lane in the year 2000.
- Champion of the NASCAR Cup Series (2006-2010, 2013, 2016)
- Holder of the most NASCAR Cup victories.
- The Daytona 500 (2006, 2013)
- The Southern 500 (2004 & 2012)
Wife of Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson is married to Chandra Janway, a former model.
They met in 2002 through mutual acquaintances of Jeff Gordon.
Ingrid Vandebosch, Jeff Gordon’s wife, knew Chandra.
Soon after their first meeting, the couple fell in love and began dating.
They were already engaged a year later.
In fact, they got engaged on a skiing trip in 2003.
Jimmie proposed to her, and she gladly accepted.
In 2004, a year after their engagement, the pair married in St.Bart.
Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra Janway, as well as their daughters Genevieve and Lynda.
The couple spent their honeymoon cruising around St. Bart in a 150-foot yacht.
Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, gave them the yacht as a wedding gift.
The couple became parents with the birth of their first child, Genevieve Johnson, in 2010.
They had another daughter, Lynda Johnson, three years later.
Foundation
In 2006, Jimmie Johson and his wife, Chandra, founded The Jimmie Jonson Foundation.
The foundation’s mission is to assist needy children, families, and communities.
It helps the community by supporting various charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Victory Junction.
Every year, the foundation holds a golf tournament in San Diego to generate funds for K-12 public education.
It has raised approximately $8 million since its inception.
In 2006, the foundation provided $1.5 million to California public schools to help pay for the schools’ and kids’ fundamental needs and standards.
In addition, the charity has assisted the American Red Cross with disaster aid.
Net Worth of Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson’s net worth is believed to be $160 million.
This net worth is the result of the racer’s career as a racing champion, endorsements, and sponsorship.
Johnson has won around $130 million in his career and makes approximately $10 million in endorsements.
Johnson has a lavish lifestyle in Charlotte, North Carolina. He did, however, just purchase a $14.25 million mansion in New York.
Johnson’s luxury automobile collection includes a 1971 Chevy Corvette, a Chevy SS, a 1967 Camaro, and a Ford Fusion.
Jimmie Johnson is a brand ambassador for Gatorade, Seiko Watch Corporation, Blue Bunny, and Chevrolet, among others.
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Social networking | Jimmie Johnson
Instagram has 508 thousand followers.
Twitter has 2.5 million followers.
1 million Facebook fans
