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Ask any race car driver on any given day why they love to race and they will tell you that it's something that you're born with. It's a passion that you either have or you don't, a passion that never dies. There is one thing though, that separates the good from the great - talent. And Jimmie's cup surely runneth over with talent.

At age five he was already a fierce competitor in the 50cc motorcycle class and by the time he turned eight, he had captured his first championship in the 60cc class. The amazing part of it is that he competed for a majority of the season with a knee injury. Even at a young age he showed tenacity.

From motorcycles he moved on to SODA, SCORE, and Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group, all of which are off-road leagues, the first two holding their events in the desert. In the time that Jimmie spent with these leagues, he took over twenty-five wins, one hundred top three's, six championships, and won Rookie of the Year in all three leagues. He even tried his hand at journalism, being a field reporter for ESPN in the SODA series. Is it a wonder he's so charismatic?

In 1998 he joined the ASA, finishing fourth in points and winning yet another Rookie of the Year award while running the Busch series in three different events. He continued with both ASA and Busch in 1999, but by 2000 he left the ASA behind and concentrated his efforts on the Busch series for Herzog Motorsports. It was in 2000 that he finally achieved his first victory on the circuit after a career 81 races up to that point.

Not only did he nab his first Busch series win in 2000, but he also received the break that would eventually bust the seams of NASCAR wide open. Due to his team, Herzog Motorsports, losing his car sponsor for the next season, Jimmie was in a quandry about his future. So during a driver's meeting he asked none other than Jeff Gordon for some friendly advice about his impending situation. Jeff kept Jimmie in mind, contacting him frequently over the next few months, and shortly after their meeting, Hendrick Motorsports offered Mr. Johnson a driver development deal with the potential for advancement attached to it. This deal came about at the urging of Jeff Gordon, who is now a close friend of Jimmie's, as well as co-owner of his car.

2002 was this racing phenomenon's first season with the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP series, and he more than proved his abilities. Not only did he win the pole position at the season opener in Daytona, but he then went on to win three more races

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