#48 Jimmie Johnson
Shot by "The Daredevil" at Daytona 2008
CCA 2.0 License
In three short years he became the 60cc class champion and a name well known throughout the El Cajon area in California. While the success was evident, there was something about race cars that drew Johnson's attention away from the Motoworld. So he ventured into the auto racing industry hoping not to disappoint his fans. It all started with SODA (Short course Off-road Drivers Association) Series, the SCORE International, and MTE during the 1990s. After grabbing six championships during his time in the SODA Series, ESPN gave him the opportunity to be a field analyst until the league eventually fizzled out. Johnson joined his fourth league, the American Speed Association (ASA) in 1998 and immediately made an impact as usual with another Rookie of the Year award. Not a person that likes having a lot of free time on his hands, Jimmie started running in NASCAR's Nationwide Series for the next two years. While he didn't win Rookie of the Year honors, he did get a ride with Herzog Motorsports by the 2000 season. He didn't get his first start in the NASCAR Cup Series until 2001 thanks to a recommendation from
Jeff Gordon
at
Hendrick Motorsports.
Even though it was a developmental deal, Jimmie took full advantage of the situation and by 2002 had a full time ride. Fittingly he saw the checkered flag for the first time in his home state of California after winning the Napa Auto Parts 500. Overall he ended up winning three races that year the one in California and both races at Dover and for a week he held the points lead with a couple months to go. Over the years Johnson has become one of the best drivers in NASCAR today. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 Johnson took home the series title. He won two of NASCAR's biggest races the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 during his first series championship season in 2006. Off Track While his on the track efforts have been nothing short of magnificent, his off the track contributions to society are just the same. During the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR season, Jimmie and his wife Chandra Johnson decided to start the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. The big picture is to help children, families, and communities who are going through difficult times across the United States. It doesn't matter if they are giving money to organized charities around the country or building bowling alleys for children with life threatening issues at the Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has changed the lives of many. In the years to come it will only get better.
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