| | | | | | | 48 - Jimmie Johnson | El Cajon, CA |
| | Primary Sponsor: Lowe's
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Car Owner: Jeff Gordon
Team: Hendrick Motorsports If you’ve been keeping up with NASCAR news then the name Jimmie Johnson shouldn’t be unfamiliar to you. The 2006 Nextel Cup Series Champion is the best stock car racer of 2006. Born on September 17, 1975, this champion has been winning since he was eight years old. Johnson’s NASCAR championship had been a long time coming; maybe too long. After four straight wins and three consecutive wins in the NASCAR's majors he finally sealed the deal.
This California native didn't start out with cars, though. Johnson started out with motorcycle racing before making the move to four wheels. Participating in off-road leagues such as the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group, SODA, and SCORE International, he accumulated 100 top three finishes, more than 25 wins, six championships and Rookie of the Year in all three circuits. Proving to be multi-talented he was also a commentator for ESPN in the SODA series. In 1998, Johnson picked up another Rookie of the Year, this time in the ASA circuit for finishing fourth in points. At the same time, he made his debut in the Busch Series racing in three events. Continuing into the 1999 season while driving for both the ASA and Busch series he finished third in points in the ASA, won twice, and finished seventh in five Busch races.
In 2000, Johnson ran a full schedule in the Busch series. He finished 10th in points, six top-tens, and third in the Rookie of the Year standings. 2001 would be a definitive year for Jimmie Johnson. After sponsor troubles, his car owner threatened to pull his car off the track. After talking to Jeff Gordon, Johnson acquired a spot on the Hendrick Motorsports team as #48. Later in the 2001 season he made his debut in the Nextel Cup and finished fifteenth at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
When Johnson joined the NASCAR Nextel Cup series in 2002 people wondered how being paired off with Jeff Gordon would work out. In the end, he astonished everyone. He won the pole at the Daytona 500, he was the fastest qualifier four times, and finished fifth in points. At the end of his season he posted three wins, six top fives, and 21 top-10s in 36 races. He also became the first rookie in history to lead in point standings as well as the first rookie in series history to sweep both races at a track. During the 2003 NNC season Johnson reported another three wins. The first win was at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The second and third were in two consecutive weekends, one at NEXTEL All Star Challenge and the second at the Coca Cola 600 (it was his second time winning the Coca Cola 600). He also received two poles, 14 top-fives, and 20 top-10s, and finished second in points standing. After a slow start in 2004 Johnson bounced back nicely with a season high of eight wins. He led 24 races, and managed to get 20 top-5s, 23 top-10s, and finished with a second place for the NASCAR Chase for the Cup.
In 2005 Johnson’s winning streak continued. He received another pole and was the only driver ranked in the top ten in point standings after every race. After walking away with four victories, 13 top-5s, and 22 top-10s, it’s easy to see why Jimmie Johnson has become a household name over the years.
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