Jimmie Johnson facts for kids

Jimmie Kenneth Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson
	Jimmie Johnson
Born	September 17, 1975 (age 45); El Cajon, California
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Achievements	2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016 Sprint Cup Series championships; Sprint All-Star Race XIX, XXII Winner; 2006 Daytona 500 Winner
Awards	1998 ASA Rookie of the Year; 2009 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year; 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Driver of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
Car no., team	No. 48 – Hendrick Motorsports
2015 position	10th
Best finish	1st – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, [[2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series\|2016]],
First race	2001 UAW-GM Quality 500 (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
First win	2002 NAPA Auto Parts 500 (Auto Club Speedway)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
Best finish	104th – 2008
First race	2008 O'Reilly 200 (Bristol Motor Speedway)

Jimmie Kenneth Johnson (born September 17, 1975) is an American stock car driver from El Cajon, California. Johnson drives the 48 Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet SS, a car that is owned by Rick Hendrick and teammate Jeff Gordon. In 2010 Johnson became the only driver to win five Sprint Cup Series Championships in a row. Johnson is married to Chandra Janway, and they had their first child, which was a girl named Genevieve Marie Johnson on July 7th, 2010.

Early racing career

Johnson started racing on motorcycles when he was five years old. Johnson left motorcycle racing and went on to drive in some off-road races. While he was off road racing, he met Herb Fischel. Fischel was the head of Motorsports at General Motors, who owns the Chevrolet brand Johnson drives for today.

In 1998, Johnson started racing in the American Speed Association (ASA) series. He had only raced in six stock car races in his life before the season. Johnson ended the season fourth in points, and he won the Rookie of the Year award. Johnson also started to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He drove in three races during 1998. In 1999, Johnson raced in both the ASA Series and the Nationwide Series. He won twice and finished 3rd in the ASA series. In 2000, Johnson raced the full season in the Nationwide Series. He drove for Herzog Motorsports, and finished 10th in the points standings. He won his first and only Nationwide Series race in 2001 at the Hills Brothers Coffee 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in his 81st start in the series. It was at this time that Johnson was teamed up with crew chief Chad Knaus who he still works with today.

At a driver's meeting before the Nationwide Series race at Michigan International Speedway, Johnson asked NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon for advice. Gordon liked Johnson, and after the talk Gordon suggested Johnson to team owner Rick Hendrick. Hendrick gave Johnson an offer to drive for him. Gordon became part owner and Johnson's car, the #48.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career

2002–2005

In 2002, Johnson started racing full time in the Winston Cup Series. Johnson finished the season 5th in the points standings, and had won 3 races. In 2003 Johnson once again won 3 races, had 14 top-five finishes and 20 top-ten finishes. He finished the season second in the Winston Cup Series points standings to Matt Kenseth. In 2004 Johnson had 8 wins, 20 top-fives, 23 top-tens and he finished the year 2nd in the point standings. In 2005 Johnson stayed in the top five in the points standings all year, winning 4 races. He finished the 2005 season 5th in the Nextel Cup Series points.

2006–2010

In 2006 Johnson won five races and his first Nextel Cup Series championship. Johnson had 13 top-fives, 24 top-tens, 1 pole, and he led 854 laps during the 2006 season. In 2007 Johnson had 10 wins, 4 poles, 20 top-fives, and 24 top-tens. At the end of the season, he had won his second championship.

Jimmie Johnson racing in the 2008 Daytona 500

In his 2008 season Johnson got 7 wins, 6 poles, 15 top-fives, 22 top-tens, and his third Sprint Cup Series Championship. Johnson only failed to finish one race in the 2008 season. During the 2009 season Johnson had 7 wins, 4 poles, 16 top-fives, 24 top-tens, and he led a total of 2,238 laps. He finished the season 1st in points, becoming the only driver to win four championships in a row.

In 2010, Johnson won his 5th Sprint Cup Series championship. He finished the season withd 2 pole positions, 17 top-fives, 23 top-tens, 6 wins, 1326 laps led. He failed to finish four of the races in the 2010 season. With this championship, Johnson became the only driver to have won 5 championships in a row.

Images for kids

Jimmie Johnson in the Chevy Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway
Johnson qualifying at Auto Club Speedway in 2005
Johnson (No. 5) and Jeff Gordon during the 2011 All-Star Race
Johnson pits his car in 2012
Johnson racing during the 2013 STP Gas Booster 500
Johnson during practice for the 2013 NRA 500
Johnson leading the 2015 Daytona 500
Johnson during 2015 Toyota/Save Mart 350 qualifying
Johnson driving a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 Abarth at the 2007 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium
Johnson (center) with his wife Chandra and President Barack Obama in 2011