Jimmie Johnson Thanks San Diego After 7th NASCAR Championship

The third driver in history to win seven series titles has never forgotten his home town

For years Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt have been auto racing’s Untouchables.

The King. The Intimidator. The luminaries that took NASCAR from the back roads of the American South to every corner of the country.

Both men won seven championships on NASCAR’s premiere series. After Earnhardt was tragically killed at Daytona International Speedway in 2001 most people believed no driver would ever win seven titles again.

Of course, folks in auto racing also didn’t think kids from Southern California would ever be major players on the NASCAR circuit. But that very same year, in 2001, Jimmie Johnson made his first Sprint Series start. If this was a Hollywood movie that would be called “foreshadowing.”

On Sunday the El Cajon native and alum of Granite Hills High School won at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his record-tying seventh title on NASCAR’s premiere series. It’s something not even Jimmie himself saw happening.

“I grew up racing because it’s what I love to do,” said Johnson, who still spends part of the year near his home town (during the season he lives near Charlotte, NC, the default capitol of the NASCAR world). “I dreamed of it maybe being a career path for me. I had no idea it would lead me to the East Coast, lead to Hendrick Motorsports, 80 wins now and these championships … there’s no way. I’ve gotta pinch myself every day.”

Johnson has now won 80 races, four more than Earnhardt. Interestingly, JJ’s teammate is Dale Earnhardt Jr., who took time after the championship to let Johnson know how his father would have responded to having a third driver share racing’s most hallowed record.

“Dale spent the time and filled me in on his dad some and how his dad probably would have come up there and given me a head lock and told me good job and been very proud of me.”

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With his win in Miami, Johnson has won at every track on the circuit except three: Chicago, Kentucky and Watkins Glen. It’s now possible to get another milestone of reaching Victory Lane at every track on the circuit.

“That would be a fun one to take down. Sure I’ll focus on it and look at it but I’ve never really been motivated by stats. It would be awesome if we’re able to do it. Of course we’ll start the season trying the win the (Daytona) 500 and then start looking ahead to the Championship.”

The support for Johnson on social media from his home town was immense. Through his Jimmie Johnson Foundation he has donated hundreds of thousands to San Diego County schools and built multiple homes for families in El Cajon. For all his fans back home, JJ had a special message.

“Thank you, that’s so cool. Thank you everybody for your support.”

At the age of 40, Johnson is still in his prime as a NASCAR driver. His quest for an unprecedented 8th title begins on February 26th at the Daytona 500.

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