Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jimmie Johnson
How Jimmie Johnson built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Jimmie Johnson is a highly accomplished American professional auto racing driver, currently competing part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. Renowned for his remarkable achievements, Johnson has secured seven Cup championships, including an unprecedented five consecutive titles, placing him alongside Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt as the drivers with the most championships in NASCAR history. His exceptional skill and consistent performance have solidified his reputation as one of the greatest drivers to ever compete in NASCAR.
1972: Modern Era of NASCAR
At the time of his retirement, Jimmie Johnson was ranked third among drivers who have competed during the sport's modern era (1972–present).
1975: Third Driver to Make Up Points for Title
In 1975, Jimmie Johnson became the third driver to make up points to win the championship.
1980: Started Racing Motorcycles
In 1980, at the age of four, Jimmie Johnson began racing motorcycles, marking the start of his racing career.
1982: Bobby Allison Sweeps Daytona
In 1982, Bobby Allison swept both Daytona races in a season, a feat Johnson matched in 2013.
1991: Butch's Victory
In 1991, Larry Ragland drove the Trophy Truck Butch to victory in races such as the Baja 1000. This is the same truck that Johnson wrecked in 1995
1993: D. Earnhardt
In 1993, D. Earnhardt celebrated a further achievement.
1993: Opportunity with Herb Fishel
In 1993, Jimmie Johnson declined an opportunity to drive for Herb Fishel, choosing instead to continue racing buggies and trucks.
1994: D. Earnhardt
In 1994, D. Earnhardt marked another significant milestone.
1994: Loy Allen Jr. Daytona 500 Pole
In 1994, Loy Allen Jr. got the pole position at the Daytona 500. This was a fact that related to Jimmie Johnson also getting pole position in 2002.
1995: Baja 1000 Incident
In the 1995 Baja 1000, Jimmie Johnson led for over 900 miles before falling asleep and wrecking his Trophy Truck.
1996: Drove for Herzog Motorsports
In 1996, Jimmie Johnson began driving for Herzog Motorsports in the off-road truck series.
1997: SODA Class 8
By 1997, Johnson had progressed to SODA's Class 8, competing for the championship against Scott Taylor and Brendan Gaughan.
1997: Asphalt Oval Debut
In 1997, Jimmie Johnson began racing on asphalt ovals, running three races in the American Speed Association (ASA), starting at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.
1997: Mike Skinner Daytona 500 Pole
In 1997, Mike Skinner got the pole position at the Daytona 500. This was a fact that related to Jimmie Johnson also getting pole position in 2002.
1998: Stock Car Racing Debut
In 1998, Jimmie Johnson and Herzog Motorsports began stock car racing, marking Johnson's transition into this discipline.
1998: NASCAR Busch Series Debut
In 1998, Jimmie Johnson made his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Indianapolis Raceway Park, finishing 25th.
1998: ASA Rookie Title
In 1998, Jimmie Johnson won the ASA Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie title, driving for Herzog Motorsports' stock car program.
1999: Limited Slate in Busch Series
In 1999, Jimmie Johnson continued with a limited schedule in the Busch Series, driving for Herzog Motorsports.
1999: Tony Stewart Rookie Record
In 1999, Tony Stewart set a rookie record by earning three wins in his rookie season. Jimmie Johnson tied this in 2002.
2000: Connection with Jeff Gordon
In 2000, Jimmie Johnson connected with Hendrick driver Jeff Gordon during the Busch season. This connection eventually led to Johnson joining Hendrick Motorsports.
2000: Full-Time Busch Series Schedule
In 2000, Jimmie Johnson moved to a full-time schedule in the NASCAR Busch Series and had a severe crash at Watkins Glen International but emerged unscathed.
2001: First Busch Series Win
In 2001, Jimmie Johnson recorded his first Busch Series win at Chicagoland Speedway, his only win at the track, and joined Hendrick Motorsports for a four-race Winston Cup schedule.
2002: Full-Time Winston Cup Series Debut
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson began competing full-time in the Winston Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, with Jeff Gordon as a part-owner of his car, marking a significant step in his NASCAR career.
2002: Full-Time Winston Cup Debut & First Win
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson began racing full-time in the Winston Cup Series, earned his first career pole at the Daytona 500, and scored his first win at Auto Club Speedway. He finished 5th in points.
2002: Move to Hendrick Motorsports
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson formally moved to Hendrick Motorsports, driving the No. 48 Lowe's-sponsored Chevrolet.
2002: Race of Champions
In 2002, Jimmie Johnson participated in the Race of Champions in Europe, where he was eliminated in the first runoff by Marcus Grönholm. However, he, Jeff Gordon, and Colin Edwards won the teams' championship as Team USA.
2003: Second in Points
In 2003, Jimmie Johnson finished second in the points standings, demonstrating his growing success in the Winston Cup Series.
2003: All-Star Race Win
In 2003, Jimmie Johnson won the All-Star race for the first time and finished second in the final point standings.
2003: Closest Margin of Victory
In 2003, the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 was tied with the 2011 Aaron's 499 for the closest margin of victory in NASCAR history.
2004: Grand-Am Debut
In 2004, Jimmie Johnson began racing in Grand-Am, participating in the 24 Hours of Daytona, where he finished eighth.
2004: Second in Points Again
In 2004, Jimmie Johnson finished second in the point standings for the second year in a row, showcasing his consistent performance.
2004: Qualified for the Chase
In 2004, Jimmie Johnson qualified for the Chase for the Championship every year since its inception, continuing his streak.
2004: Playoff Inception
In 2004, Jimmie Johnson qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, marking the inception of his consecutive playoff appearances.
2005: Four Consecutive Wins at Lowe's
In 2005, Jimmie Johnson achieved four consecutive wins at Lowe's sponsored track in Charlotte and won the Coca-Cola 600, finishing fifth in points after crashing at the season finale.
2005: Finished Fifth in Points
In 2005, Jimmie Johnson finished fifth in the point standings after crashing at the season finale, missing out on the championship.
2005: Last Coca-Cola 600 Win Until 2014
In 2005, Jimmie Johnson had his last Coca-Cola 600 Win until 2014.
2005: Tony Stewart's NASCAR Championship
In 2005, Tony Stewart's second NASCAR Championship marked the first time since 2005 that someone other than Jimmie Johnson was the champion.
2006: Jimmie Johnson Foundation Launch
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra, launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation to help children, families, and communities in need.
2006: First Cup Series Championship
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won his first Cup Series championship, marking a major milestone in his career.
2006: First Daytona 500 Win
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won his first Daytona 500 with Darian Grubb as Knaus was serving a five-race suspension.
2006: Daytona 500 Win & First Championship
In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 and his first Cup Series championship after rallying from mishaps in the early Chase races. He was also named the 2006 Driver of the Year.
2007: Race of Champions Elimination
During the 2007 Race of Champions, Jimmie Johnson was eliminated before the quarter-finals by Formula One driver Sébastien Bourdais of France.
2007: Second Consecutive Championship
During the 2007 season, Johnson recorded 10 wins, four poles, 20 Top 5's, and 24 Top 10 finishes and won his second consecutive championship. He was also named the 2007 Driver of the Year.
2007: Jimmie Johnson's Victory Lanes Opening
In 2007, Jimmie Johnson opened Jimmie Johnson's Victory Lanes in Randleman, North Carolina, a four-lane bowling alley for campers at Pattie and Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp.
2008: J. Johnson
In 2008, J. Johnson marked another significant milestone.
2008: Rolex 24 at Daytona
In 2008, Jimmie Johnson joined Bob Stallings Racing with Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty to race in the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where the team finished second.
2008: Third Consecutive Championship
In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won his third consecutive Cup Series championship, joining Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to achieve this feat.
2008: Third Consecutive Championship & Truck Series Debut
In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship and also raced in his first-ever truck series race at Bristol. He was named the 2008 Driver of the Year and won an ESPY as the Best Driver.
2009: Education Champions Grants Program
During 2009, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation awarded $1.5 million for the Education Champions Grants program, benefiting public schools in California, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.
2009: Fourth Consecutive Championship
In 2009, Jimmie Johnson secured his fourth consecutive Cup Series championship, establishing a NASCAR record.
2010: Fifth Consecutive Championship
In 2010, Jimmie Johnson achieved his fifth consecutive NASCAR championship. During the 2010 season, he earned two pole positions, secured 17 Top 5 finishes and 23 Top 10 finishes, and celebrated six race victories. He also became the 12th driver to reach 50+ NASCAR race wins when he won at Bristol in March and went up to 10th on the all-time wins list. In 2010, his wins included Auto Club, Las Vegas, Bristol, Sonoma, New Hampshire, and Dover.
2010: Last Great Coliseum Win Until 2017
In 2010, Jimmie Johnson had his last Great Coliseum win until 2017.
2010: Rolex 24 and Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen
In 2010, Jimmie Johnson returned to GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen. His team finished 21st in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and sixth at Watkins Glen.
2010: Education Champions Grants Program (Continued)
In 2010, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation continued the Education Champions Grants program, awarding $1.5 million to public schools in California, Oklahoma, and North Carolina to fund various needs.
2011: Sixth in Points Standings
In 2011, Jimmie Johnson finished sixth in the points standings, ending his streak of consecutive championships.
2011: Rolex 24 at Daytona
In 2011, Jimmie Johnson participated in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where his team finished 15th.
2011: Fourth-Place Finish in Budweiser Shootout
In 2011, Jimmie Johnson started the season with a fourth-place finish in the Budweiser Shootout, after starting from the 23rd position.
2011: Won Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway
In 2011, Jimmie Johnson won the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, starting on the outside pole and tandem-drafting with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the entire race. Johnson nipped Bowyer at the finish line by 0.002 seconds. Statistically, the 2011 season was one of Johnson's worst performances to date, even though he finished sixth in the points with only two race wins.
2011: Last Top 5 at Auto Club Speedway Until 2016
In 2011, Johnson made his last Top 5 at the Auto Club Speedway until 2016.
April 22, 2012: Third-Place Finish at STP 400 in Kansas
On April 22, 2012, Jimmie Johnson recorded a third-place finish in the STP 400 at Kansas.
May 6, 2012: Finished 35th at Aaron's 499
On May 6, 2012, Jimmie Johnson started 19th in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, but finished 35th after suffering a broken oil pump belt.
2012: Third in Points Standings
In 2012, Jimmie Johnson finished third in the points standings, a rebound from the previous year.
2012: Victory in the Bojangles' Southern 500
In 2012, Johnson achieved his first race win of the season at the Bojangles' Southern 500 in Darlington. This victory also represented Rick Hendrick's 200th NASCAR Cup Series win.
2013: Reference to Past Daytona 500 Win
2025 Daytona 500 was Johnson's highest finish at the race since winning in 2013.
2013: Second Daytona 500 Win
In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won his second Daytona 500. He assumed the lead from Jeff Gordon on lap 32 and held off a last-lap charge from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin to secure the victory.
2013: Sixth Cup Series Championship
In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won his sixth Cup Series championship, further cementing his legacy in NASCAR.
2013: Record Fourth All-Star Race Win
In the 2013 season, Jimmie Johnson achieved a record fourth All-Star race victory.
2014: Ban Bossy Campaign Spokesperson
In 2014, Jimmie Johnson joined the Ban Bossy campaign as a spokesperson, advocating for leadership in young girls.
2014: Coca-Cola 600 Win
In 2014, Jimmie Johnson won the Coca-Cola 600, his first win in the race since 2005. Statistically, 2014 was one of Johnson's worst seasons to date.
2014: K. Harvick
In 2014, K. Harvick marked another significant milestone.
2016: Seventh Cup Series Championship
In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won his seventh Cup Series championship, tying Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most all-time.
2016: Forza Motorsport 6 NASCAR Expansion
In 2016, Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 was playable in Forza Motorsport 6 via the NASCAR expansion pack. Johnson also provided commentary in the expansion as one of the "voices of motorsport" and had a role in developing the expansion.
2016: Atlanta Win Ties Dale Earnhardt
In 2016, Johnson won his first race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, tying Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the all-time wins list.
2016: First Pole Since 2016 at Texas
On March 29, 2019, Jimmie Johnson earned his first pole position since 2016 at Texas Motor Speedway.
2017: End of an Era
By 2017, Jimmie Johnson had recorded seven championships, 83 career race wins, 222 top fives, 341 top tens, and 35 pole positions.
2017: 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
In 2017, Jimmie Johnson entered the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as the defending champion, despite inconsistent results. He advanced to the Round of 12 after a third-place finish at Dover. Johnson qualified for the Round of 8 but faced challenges, including being involved in "The Big One" at Talladega and having spins at Kansas Speedway.
2017: Back-to-Back Wins at Texas and Bristol
In 2017, Jimmie Johnson rebounded from a slow start to the season with back-to-back wins at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 in Texas and the Food City 500 at Bristol. This would be the 14th and final time he won back-to-back races in his career.
March 14, 2018: Lowe's Sponsorship Ends
On March 14, 2018, Lowe's announced they would end their sponsorship of Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 car after the 2018 season.
2018: 2018 Season Struggles
In 2018, Jimmie Johnson struggled throughout the season, wrecking in multiple races, including Speedweeks. He barely made the Playoffs and had a notable incident at the Charlotte Roval, spinning out while battling for the win. Johnson finished the 2018 season with a career-worst 14th in points and went winless for the first time in his career.
2018: First Top 5 Since 2018 Coca-Cola 600
On March 31, 2019, Jimmie Johnson scored his first Top 5 finish since the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 two days prior.
July 29, 2019: Crew Chief Change
On July 29, 2019, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Cliff Daniels would replace Kevin Meendering as Jimmie Johnson's crew chief for the No. 48 car.
September 2019: Missed Playoffs Cut
In September 2019, Jimmie Johnson missed the NASCAR playoffs for the first time in his career after a crash at the Brickyard 400.
October 4, 2019: Ally Extends Sponsorship
On October 4, 2019, Ally extended its sponsorship of Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 car for three more years through the 2023 season.
November 20, 2019: Retirement Announcement
On November 20, 2019, Jimmie Johnson announced that the 2020 Cup season would be his last full-time season of racing.
2019: New Sponsorship and Crew Chief
In 2019, Ally Financial became the primary sponsor of Jimmie Johnson's team on a two-year deal. He also parted ways with crew chief Chad Knaus and was paired with Kevin Meendering.
2019: Throwback Paint Scheme
In 2019, Jimmie Johnson used the paint scheme of his 1995 Baja 1000 Trophy Truck for a throwback in the Southern 500.
2019: 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash Win
In 2019, Jimmie Johnson won the Advance Auto Parts Clash. He also had a ninth place finish in the Daytona 500, and later in the season, he achieved multiple top-ten finishes.
2019: End of Playoffs Streak
Up until 2019, Jimmie Johnson was the only driver to have qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs every single year since its inception.
July 28, 2020: IndyCar Test
On July 28, 2020, Jimmie Johnson participated in a test with Chip Ganassi Racing's IndyCar Series team, overseen by Chip Ganassi and Scott Dixon. He called driving an IndyCar a "childhood dream."
September 9, 2020: Part-Time IndyCar Deal
On September 9, 2020, Jimmie Johnson announced that he would join Chip Ganassi Racing on a part-time basis in 2021 and 2022 to drive the road and street courses on the IndyCar circuit.
2020: Reference to Previous Race Finish
2025 Daytona 500 was Johnson's highest finish since the 2020 Drydene 311 doubleheader at Dover.
2020: Cup Series Race Wins
In 2020, Jimmie Johnson had won a Cup Series race at every track on the schedule except at Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Watkins Glen International, The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.
2020: Special Scheme by Lefty Designs
In 2020, Jimmie Johnson ran a special scheme at the fall Texas race created by designer Noah Sweet (Lefty Designs), after Sweet faced harassment for a pride flag design. The car finished 36th due to engine issues.
2020: Final Full-Time Season
In 2020, Jimmie Johnson started his final full-time season with a fourth-place qualifying run at the Daytona 500. Throughout the 2020 season, he had some notable moments, including finishing fifth in Las Vegas and seventh at Auto Club Speedway, with his family waving the green flag at the start of the race.
December 15, 2021: Full 2022 IndyCar Schedule
On December 15, 2021, Jimmie Johnson announced that he would contest the full 2022 IndyCar schedule driving the No. 48 car for Chip Ganassi Racing.
2021: Ganassi's NASCAR operations were sold
In 2021, Ganassi's NASCAR operations were sold to Justin Marks and absorbed into the Trackhouse Racing Team the following year.
2021: IndyCar Series Debut
In 2021, Jimmie Johnson competed in the IndyCar Series for Chip Ganassi Racing, marking a shift in his racing career.
2021: IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Races
In 2021, Jimmie Johnson returned to racing in an Ally Financial-sponsored No. 48 Cadillac DPi-V.R for Action Express Racing, finishing second at the Daytona race for a third time in his career. Alongside Simon Pagenaud and Kamui Kobayashi, he participated in all IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races for 2021, including Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Road Atlanta. The team finished third at Sebring but were moved to the rear of DPi classification for violating drive time rules.
July 24, 2022: First IndyCar Top 5
On July 24, 2022, Jimmie Johnson collected his first career IndyCar top 5 at Iowa Speedway.
September 26, 2022: Stepping Back from Full-Time Racing
On September 26, 2022, Jimmie Johnson announced that he would be stepping back from racing full-time.
November 4, 2022: Ownership Stake and Cup Return
On November 4, 2022, Jimmie Johnson purchased an ownership stake in Petty GMS Motorsports and announced his part-time return to the Cup Series in 2023.
2022: Continued IndyCar Series Competition
In 2022, Jimmie Johnson continued to compete in the IndyCar Series for Chip Ganassi Racing.
2022: Part-Time IndyCar Deal
In 2022, Jimmie Johnson continued with his part-time IndyCar deal.
January 11, 2023: Team Rebranding
On January 11, 2023, the team was rebranded as Legacy Motor Club, and Jimmie Johnson was announced to be running the No. 84.
February 14, 2023: Daytona 500 Entry
On February 14, 2023, Jimmie Johnson made the Daytona 500 entry field by scoring the fastest lap among the non-chartered teams.
2023: Part-Time Cup Series Return
In 2023, Jimmie Johnson returned to the Cup Series on a part-time basis, starting with an attempt to make the Daytona 500.
2024: Reference to Previous Race Finish
2025 Daytona 500 was Johnson's highest finish in the Next Gen cars; his previous best was 26th at the 2024 season finale at Phoenix
2024: 2024 Part-Time Season
In 2024, Jimmie Johnson started his part-time season with a 28th-place finish at the Daytona 500. He also raced in other events and Legacy Motor Club released Jason Burdett.
January 27, 2025: Majority Owner of Legacy Motor Club
On January 27, 2025, Jimmie Johnson was named majority owner of Legacy Motor Club, with Knighthead Capital Management purchasing a minority stake.
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