by Paula S. Thompson

Created on: May 20, 2009

California native Jimmie Johnson made NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history in 2008, becoming only the second driver to win three consecutive Cup championships (Cale Yarborough did it 30 years prior, in 1976, 1977, and 1978). His rise to the top started on two wheels at a very young age.

Johnson began racing motorcycles at age five, and was winning championships by age eight. After motorcycles, Johnson moved to off-road racing, accumulating over 25 wins, 100 top-three finishes, six championships, and three Rookie of the Year titles from the top leagues (SODA, SCORE International, and Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group).

Johnson ran full-time in the American Speed Association (ASA), as well as part-time in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1998 and 1999, winning ASA Rookie of the Year and finishing in the ASA top five both seasons. Johnson moved to the Busch Series full-time in 2000, finishing 10th in points and 3rd in the Rookie of the Year standings. Johnson's team, however, lost their sponsorship deal mid-season; Johnson asked another driver, Jeff Gordon, for advice, and shortly thereafter, Hendrick Motorsports (Gordon's team) offered Johnson a contract as a development driver.

Johnson's move to Winston Cup - now Sprint Cup - in 2002 started with pole position for the Daytona 500. He went on to win three races, post 21 top-ten finishes, earn five poles, and finish 5th in the final points standings. In 2003, he added three more wins and two poles on his way to a runner-up finish in points; he also won The Winston (now the Sprint All-Star Challenge), a high-paying, non-points shootout race.

2004 and 2005 saw Johnson add 12 more wins to his resume, along with five more poles. Johnson was again the runner-up in points in 2004 (the first year of the Chase for the Cup), but slipped to 5th place in 2005.

2006 began on a high note for Johnson - winning the Daytona 500 - and from there, he was on a roll. He won at Talladega and Indianapolis, on his way to five wins and his first championship for Hendrick Motorsports in the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet. Johnson posted 10 wins in 2007 as well as four poles on his way to championship #2.

With a possible shot at history - a third-straight title - on the line, Johnson didn't disappoint in 2008. Seven wins and six poles led Johnson to his third championship; three of his seven wins came during the 10-race Chase for the Cup.

Off the track, Johnson is an avid football and baseball fan, and co-owns a Chevrolet dealership with Rick Hendrick. He also had his own XM Satellite Radio show with Marty Smith, "Not What You Expected." Johnson and his wife Chandra also put extra effort into the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. Founded in February 2006, the Foundation assists children, families, and communities in need throughout the U.S., working with the likes of Make-A-Wish, the American Red Cross, the Victory Junction Gang, and Habitat For Humanity.

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