| NAME: Jimmie Johnson |
| BIRTHDATE: 9/17/75 |
| HOMETOWN: El Cajon, CA |
| RESIDENCE: Mooresville, NC |
| MARITAL STATUS: married - Jessica Bergendahl |
| HEIGHT: 5'11" |
| WEIGHT: 175 |
| FAVORITE FOOD: Mexican |
| FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Friends, That 70's Show |
| FAVORITE TRACKS: California, Dover, Chicago |
| HOBBIES: Boating, water sports, dancing, spending time with friends |
His automobile racing career came along at the age of 15. From the age of 4 to age 15, Jimmie raced motorcycles. To show for it he has 6 Championships including the 1996 and 1997 SODA Winter Series Championship.
Johnson also competed in SCORE Desert Series and the Mickey Thompson Stadium Series. Totaling over 25 wins, 3 Rookie of the Year and more than 100 Top-3 finishes. That is totally amazing. Such talent!!
Besides being busy on the track, Jimmie is busy off the track. He worked as a racing commentator for ESPN, and a spokesperson for the Chevrolet Division of General Motors. He joined the ranks of past and of course present spokespersons such as; Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Scott Sharp, Al Unser Jr. and Rick Mears. He represented Chevrolet at a wide variety of functions across the US. Come 1997, young Jimmie started his ASA (American Speed Association) career. How did that turn out? Well, glad you asked! In 1997, he raced 3 races and got some strong runs. In 1998 Johnson ran the #44 Herzog Motorsports Chevy Monte Carlo full-time in the ASA. The same year, he finished 4th in the final point standings. Also, was crowned the 98’ Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year.
Now here is where it gets interesting. While running full-time in ASA in 1999 – he also ran 5 Busch races for Herzog Motorsports. Jim collected 2 ASA wins and finished 3rd in the final point standings.
Come 2000, he ran full time for Herzog Motorsports in the Busch Series running in the #92 Alltel Chevy. At the end of the season they came out in 10th place with the help of crew chief Tony Liberati. They also came out in 3rd at seasons end in Rookie point standings.
Now in the 2001 Busch season, Jimmie took home 1 win that being the inaugural Busch race at Chicagoland. He finished 8th in the final standings with 4 top-5 finishes and 8 top-10 finishes.
Some of you may not know this but he also ran 3 races in the Winston Cup Series.
Wow now we’re up to 2002 for Jimmie Johnson! He is running full time in the Winston Cup Series in the #48 Lowe’s Chevy. For being just a rookie he has achieved so much. Capturing 3 wins and 4 Bud Poles. The first Pole being for the Daytona 500.
Let us sort of take a peak at the 2003 season. Near everyone has talked about the Sophmore slump for him and Ryan. Only thing is; he isn't going through much of a slump. Despite the times of being wiped out at the end on the last lap, or caught up in a wreck - Jimmie has run strong and finished well in these first few races.
Much like last year Jimmie will run the Power of Pride car. More so this year for it is his way to show his support for the troops in Iraq. He as well helped out at a Army Surplus to send care packages off to the soldiers. He signed boxes as well as hats, shirts and etc.
Jimmie needs a lot of credit. Despite not racing like most drivers we know, he has proven that he has what it takes to win and beat the best. Being only 27 years old he has come a long way. Being the only Rookie EVER to lead the WC points just as an example. In years to come we will see Jimmie make a name for himself in NASCAR, no one I’m sure will be surprised to see one year Jimmie take home the Championship.
But we also have to also remember that he has guidance from his boss and fellow team mate Jeff Gordon. Experience and raw talent = excellence
CAREER HIGHTLIGHTS; TAKE A PEAK.
2002:
| 4 Bud Pole Awards (Daytona, Talladega, Lowe's, Richmond) |
| 3 Wins (California, Dover- twice) |
| Qualified on the pole for his first Daytona 500 |
| Became the first rookie in Winston Cup history to sweep both races at a single venue (Dover). |
| The first rookie in the history of Winston Cup to lead the points standings. |
2001:
| Qualified 30th and finished 25th on the lead lap of the Pennzoil Freedom 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 11 |
| Qualified 15th and finished 39th in the UAW-GM Quality 500 on Oct. 7 at Lowe's Motor Speedway -- his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series appearance |
| Posted his first career NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division win at the inaugural Hills Brothers Coffee 300 at Chicagoland Speedway (7/14) |
2000:
| Finished 10th in the Busch Series point race and third in the Rookie-of-the-Year point standing |
| Best finish of sixth (three times) at South Boston (Va.) Speedway (6/10), Michigan International Speedway (8/15) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (11/11) |
| Recorded best Busch Series start (fourth) at Darlington Raceway (9/2) |
1999:
| Ran five Busch Series races - The Milwaukee Mile, North Carolina Speedway, Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway |
| Earned a seventh-place finish in first Busch Series start at The Milwaukee Mile (7/4) |
| Finished third in the American Speed Association's (ASA) national championship point race |
| Captured ASA wins at Memphis Motorsports Park (6/12) and at Orange County (N.C.) Speedway (10/12) |
1998:
| Ran three Busch Series races - Indianapolis Raceway Park, Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., and Homestead Miami Speedway |
| Finished fourth in the American Speed Association's (ASA) national championship point race during his first full season |
| Named ASA Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year |
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© JG Alley 1999-2009