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Jimmie Johnson
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Date Of Birth: September 17th, 1975 Years: Seven (2002-2008, series debut in ’01
with three starts) Jimmie Johnson got his first taste of the race at the tender age of five, racing 50cc motorcycles. By the time he was eight, he won the 60cc class Championship despite blowing out his knee! His family was involved & supportive throughout his early career & younger brothers were involved, as well. Jimmie moved on to the Mickey Thompson Stadium Racing Series, where he proceeded to embark on his winning ways garnering six off-road Championships & various class titles along the way. Jimmie was introduced by his mentor, Supercross Champ Rick Johnson (no relation) to some key individuals at GM racing, who professed the young man’s skills, determination & business savvy at executive meetings. Presented with further opportunities to race & showcase his talent, Jimmie jumped at every chance. Jimmie just didn’t wait for opportunity to come knocking at his door, however. The young, tenacious driver wrote up a professional proposal & brought it to the table of the head honchos for the team he had been racing stadium for & landed himself a coveted ride in the ASA series. Leading to a short stint in what is now Nationwide, Jimmie’s desire to achieve lead him quickly into the Cup series, and an even more coveted ride with Hendrick Motor Sports, with the recommendation of a one Mr. Jeff Gordon to bolster his resume, as well as his confidence. Jimmie’s first full Cup season (2002 under the “old points system” )culminated in his finishing 5th in points as a rookie, various records set at various tracks, as well as telling himself about the current Champ (then Winston Cup Champ Tony Stewart) “I want to be that guy”. By his second full season, 2003, Jimmie was getting closer to that goal, remaining in the top 10 in points for the entire season (the only driver to do so) & finishing second in points – relinquishing that prize this time to a “dark horse” Matt Kenseth. Jimmie continued on his drive to succeed the following year & finished 2nd in points to the “new system” Cup Winner (Nextel ousting the tobacco company in favor of technology this time) to Kurt Busch – only eight points separating the winner’s spot & second – the closest in Cup History. Jimmie continued to break track records the entire time, including the next year he finished a disappointing 5th (for Jimmie) in points & found himself looking up at that winner’s circle again at Tony Stewart, saying “I want to be that guy”. Jimmie, of course, meant the guy hoisting that trophy – the top honors of stock car racing. Jimmie, maintaining his own personality (while not flamboyant & pretty much even keeled, still his own) then embarked on a campaign with Crew Chief Chad Knauss to achieve just that. And for the next three years, that’s exactly what he did. Jimmie launched a racing assault most drivers never saw coming the first year he garnered the big brass leading those who questioned him, as well as those who admired him, -- even mentored him (Jeff Gordon) to keep an eye on that Comeback Kid! While there is much grumbling about “how it would have been” under the old points system vs the new, even Jeff Gordon, who had the rug pulled out from under him by his own investment, claims that Jimmie couldn’t have won the championship in any more difficult manner. Jeff maintains that stance to this day. Having won his championships under the old points system & none under the new, Jeff proclaims it is much more difficult under the new system. Personally, I think it’s the kid… but that’s another story. Jimmie Johnson’s “shotgun” rider in life is Chandra Johnson, a model for high-end fashion designers & quite possibly the skinniest farm girl ever known. Jeff Gordon introduced the two in 2002, & in 2003, although Jeff was going through quite the tumultuous divorce from his first wife, trophy girl & Miss Winston Brook Sealey, he encouraged Jimmie to propose to Chandy, as she is affectionately referred to by Jimmie, citing that while he was experiencing his own difficulties at the moment, marriage was good for him & would certainly be good for Jimmie (at the time, Jeff had already met Ingrid, however, they did not start dating, sources indicate, until after the Johnson/Janway nuptials).
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