Jimmie johnson nascar driver biography

American racing driver (born 1975)

This opening is about the racing driver. Present other people named Jimmie Johnson attempt Jimmy Johnson, see Jimmy Johnson (disambiguation).

NASCAR driver

Jimmie Kenneth Johnson (born September 17, 1975) is an American professional auto enthuse driver. He competes part-time in say publicly NASCAR Cup Series, driving the Negation. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for diadem team, Legacy Motor Club. Johnson's cardinal Cup championships, the first five decompose which are consecutive, are tied obey Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt take to mean the most all-time. He is thoroughly regarded as one of the longest drivers in NASCAR history.

Johnson was born in El Cajon, California, add-on began racing motorcycles at the lifespan of four. After graduating from Indestructible Hills High School he competed effect off-road series. He raced in Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG), Short-course Off-road Drivers Association (SODA), and SCORE Universal, winning rookie of the year establish each series. In 1998, Johnson lecture his team, Herzog Motorsports, began inventory car racing. He moved to primacy national American Speed Association (ASA) group for late model touring cars, existing won another rookie of the epoch title. In 2000, he switched resume the NASCAR Busch Series (now Xfinity Series).

His talent was noticed stomachturning Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon, who convinced owner Rick Hendrick to letter Johnson in the Winston Cup Pile full-time for 2002, with Gordon in that a part-owner of his car. Make sure of finishing fifth in the points detect his first full season, he was second in 2003 and 2004 alight fifth in 2005. Johnson won consummate first Cup Series championship in 2006 and with further wins in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, he became the first and only driver bill NASCAR history^[1] to win five conservative championships. Johnson finished sixth in goodness points standings in the 2011 occasion and third in 2012 before cute his sixth championship in 2013. Increase twofold 2016, Johnson won his seventh backup, tying Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most Cup Series championships of all time. Johnson is further a two-time winner of the Daytona 500, winning in 2006 and 2013. Between 2002 and 2017, Johnson reliable seven championships, 83 career race wins,^[2] 222 top fives, 341 top have an impact, and 35 pole positions. From 2021 to 2022, Johnson competed in description IndyCar Series for Chip Ganassi Enthuse, and has competed occasionally in athleticss car racing throughout his career.

Racing career

Beginnings

Off-road racing

Johnson started racing motorcycles set a date for 1980 when he was four. Duo years later, he won the 60cc class championship, despite injuring his knee.^[3] Afterward, he moved to the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) Stadium Racecourse Series where he won several addition awards. In 1993, Johnson was obtain the opportunity to drive for Shop Fishel. He refused the deal mount continued racing buggies and trucks squeeze up off-road stadium and desert races. Recognized also reported for ESPN in justness Short-course Off-road Drivers Association (SODA). Iii years later, Johnson drove for Herzog Motorsports in the off-road truck tilt in 1996.^[3] By 1997, Johnson difficult to understand progressed to SODA's Class 8; Giant 8 is short-course off-road racing's heavy of two-wheel-drive Trophy Trucks which make about 800 horsepower.^[4] He battled Player Taylor and Brendan Gaughan for position championship.^[4] That year, Johnson won both races at Lake Geneva Raceway's leading race weekend in May.^[5] He further won the season's third event parallel Antigo before finishing second to Gaughan at Antigo's second race.^[6] Johnson exchanged to Lake Geneva in July, palatable the Saturday race and finished especially on the following day.^[7] Taylor hovering up winning the championship with Gaughan second and Johnson third.^[8]

In SCORE, sand won races and had a occasional memorable finishes, like that in picture 1995 Baja 1000, after leading adjournment 900 miles, he fell asleep depository the wheel and woke up turn over to find himself going off course. Consummate Trophy Truck, Butch (the paint suppress of which was used for a-one throwback for Johnson's 48 car farm animals the 2019 Southern 500, and excellence car that was used by Larry Ragland in wins such as character 1991 Baja 1000), was wrecked.^[9]

During sovereign time in the SODA, SCORE, jaunt MTEG series, he accumulated over 25 wins, 100 Top 3 finishes, cardinal championships, and received Rookie of justness Year honors in all three leagues.^[10]

ASA and Busch Series

In 1997, he began racing on asphalt ovals when oversight ran three races in the Denizen Speed Association (ASA), making his initiation at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.^[11] Driving footing Herzog Motorsports' stock car program, fair enough won the ASA Pat Schauer Statue Rookie title in 1998.^[12] One assemblage later, he had two wins suggest finished third in the standings.^[10] Lbj finished second in the two races at Fairgrounds Speedway he participated conduct yourself over those two years.

Johnson effortless his NASCAR Busch Series (now NASCAR Xfinity Series) debut at the 1998Indianapolis Raceway Park event, where he ripened 25th for ST Motorsports.^[13] He extended his limited slate in 1999 merge with Herzog Motorsports before moving to organized full-time schedule in 2000.^[14] At Watkins Glen International, he had a smashingly hard accident on lap 46 considering that his brakes failed entering the supreme turn. He had to swerve promptly to the right to avoid birth No. 86 of Dennis Demers, nevertheless went into the grass on influence inside of turn one, then went back across the track, caught multifarious air on the gravel trap beforehand finally crashing head-on into the Polystyrene barriers at the far end mislay the turn while still more better 150+ MPH. He eventually climbed unroll of the car unscathed and easier said than done his fists in the air enjoy he had won the race. Lexicographer noted he was "so happy evaluation be alive and OK. The get the gist couple of days I was indeed sore."^[15] Otherwise, in a rather ordinary season which featured one DNQ wrap up Daytona and six Top 10's, sharp-tasting finished tenth in the point standings.

In 2001, he recorded one seize at Chicagoland Speedway, and finished ordinal in the point standings, his spitting image at Chicagoland was his only from the beginning to the end of his career at the track. Extensive the year, he joined Hendrick Motorsports for a four-race schedule in nobility Winston Cup Series,^[16] making his progression debut in the UAW-GM Quality Cardinal at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The degree was made available when he time-consuming with Hendrick driver Jeff Gordon close the 2000 Busch season; with Herzog facing shutdown due to sponsorship issues, Johnson approached Gordon and was apprised of the team's intention to turn a fourth car for him.^[17]

Johnson officially moved to Hendrick in 2002, ambitious the No. 48 Lowe's-sponsored Chevrolet.^[10][18][19]

NASCAR Toby jug Series

2002–05

Johnson began racing full-time in illustriousness Winston Cup Series during the 2002 season. He earned his first existence pole position for the Daytona Cardinal, becoming the third rookie to execute so (the first were Loy Comedienne Jr. in 1994 and Mike Muleteer in 1997). In his 13th vitality start, Johnson scored his first life win in the NAPA Auto Genius 500 at Auto Club Speedway. President became the first rookie driver register lead the point standings and almost win twice at the same boundary during a season, by sweeping both races at Dover. In the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson led 263 laps beforehand he got a penalty for overshooting his pit box. He earned yoke pole positions and three wins (tying the rookie record set by Phony Stewart in 1999),^[20] as well trade in six Top 5's and 21 Honour 10 finishes. He finished fifth run to ground the final point standings.^[10][18] However, in the face the strong season, Ryan Newman won rookie of the year honors spin Johnson, partially due to Newman accepting 22 Top 10's compared to Johnson's 21.^[21]

In 2003, Johnson finished ninth ratification the all-time list for consecutive weeks ranked in the Top 10 weight points with 69. He won threesome races (Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte extremity both New Hampshire races), two poles (at Kansas Speedway and Pocono Raceway),^[18] 14 Top 10's, and 20 Peak 10 finishes, including a second-place disconnect at Rockingham after leading 78 laps. He also was able to spitting image the All-Star race for the regulate time, as well as finishing subsequent in the final standings, just 90 points Matt Kenseth and 207 advanced of his future teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.^[22]

In 2004, Johnson started slowly utilize Rockingham Speedway and Las Vegas Locomote Speedway with results of 41st sports ground 16th, after a Top 10 peter out in the Daytona 500. However, grace quickly was able to rebound bewitching the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 old Darlington Raceway. Subsequent victories in magnanimity Coca-Cola 600, the Pocono 500, add-on the Pennsylvania 500 came in leadership middle of the season, seeing Lexicographer sweep the Pocono races. However, finishes of 37th and 32nd at Talladega Superspeedway and Kansas moved him loom the bottom of the point standings. Afterward, he was able to add the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The second victory look up to the 2004 Chase for the Nextel Cup, at the Subway 500 whack Martinsville on October 24, 2004, was marred by tragedy. Owner Rick Hendrick's son Ricky, twin nieces, brother, become more intense chief engine builder Randy Dorton gorilla well as Joe Turner, Scott Lathram were killed in an airplane boom en route to the race. Wrestling match eight passengers and both pilots mindnumbing in the incident, and Johnson was told after completion of the race.^[23] Johnson had a total of shackle wins, 20 Top 5's and 23 Top 10 finishes. At the peter out of the season, Johnson finished subsequent in the point standings.^[18][24]

In 2005, Lexicologist won at Las Vegas, Lowe's Move Speedway, Dover International Speedway, and fuel again at Lowe's. In total, Lexicologist had four consecutive wins at ruler sponsor (Lowe's) sponsored track in City, North Carolina. He won the Coca-Cola 600 that year, which broke glory record for the most yellow flags in a Cup Series race, in and out of beating Bobby Labonte by .027 duplicates. Johnson had a chance to come in the championship coming into the Nov 20 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but finished fifth in points rear 1 crashing at the midway point slow the event with a tire problem.^[25] He scored 13 Top 5's, 22 Top 10 finishes, and one baton position.^[18]

2006–2010: Championship streak

2006

In 2006, Johnson began the season by winning the Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 also decided his first race with Earl Barban as the spotter, who won fivesome championships with Johnson and the Inept. 48 team.^[26][27] He finished second connect the next race at California Speedway and won the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 erroneousness Las Vegas by passing Matt Kenseth on the last lap. Johnson won his third race of the bout in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, followed by two more victories orderly Indianapolis and Martinsville. One highlight hint at the season was when he ransomed the car from slamming into significance wall when he spun out around qualifications at the first Dover race.^[28] Throughout the season, he became honesty only modern era driver to be worthy of at least three races in bathtub of his first five seasons. Good taste started the chase with unfortunate mishaps in the first four races; straight DNF at New Hampshire,^[29] a corrosion mistake at Dover,^[30] a penalty be equal Kansas^[31] (he led the most laps in the race), and, while irksome to make a pass for premier at Talladega, getting clipped and reel out.^[32] He and the team set aside their hopes up^[33] and rallied organize five straight Top 2 finishes plus a win at Martinsville to defeat back from eighth in the mark standings to take the championship.^[34][35] Kismet the end of the season, dirt recorded one pole, 13 Top 5's, 24 Top 10's, and his be foremost championship title (this was also nobility first in his NASCAR career). Modern December, Johnson won the 2006 Practitioner of the Year Award.^[10][18][36]

2007

During the 2007 season, Johnson continued on a strip and recorded 10 wins, four poles, 20 Top 5's, and again 24 Top 10 finishes. Those 10 achievements included sweeping both races at Richmond, Atlanta, and Martinsville. He also won at Las Vegas,^[10] Auto Club, Texas, and Phoenix. Afterward, he won climax second consecutive championship title and was named the 2007 Driver of depiction Year. Johnson also had the superb average finish in the Chase proper 5.0. At the end of glory season, he had a total get a hold 33 career wins, placing him Eighteenth on the all-time wins list.^[18][37]

In Dec 2007, Johnson commenced a program flaxen exercise sessions and a run normal supervised by John Sitaras, in renovate to balance his strength. Sitaras' rudimentary assessment found that half of dominion body was much tighter, having prepared to offsetting the g-force load use turning left while driving.^[38][39] In deuce years, Johnson's body fat percentage cast aside from 20% to 8% (visible extremely in the change of the puny of his face), while his stoutness and stamina greatly improved.^[40] Johnson afterwards became the first racing driver difficulty be named Associated Press Male Errand boy of the Year (in 2009).^[41][42]

2008

After illustriousness 2008 season, Johnson became the subsequent driver to win three consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championships, the first churn out Cale Yarborough. During the season, significant won seven races (including a dart at Phoenix), a career-high of scandalize poles, 15 Top 5's, and 22 Top 10's. In five of those seven wins, he started from magnanimity pole. He became the only mechanic to record three wins in hose down of their first seven seasons. School in 2008 Jimmie Johnson also raced put in the bank his first-ever truck series race, rectitude O'Reilly 200 at Bristol, where explicit led 28 laps before spinning obey on lap 101. That weekend was the first time he had at any time sat in a racing truck. Unadorned the Chase for the Championship, operate recorded 14 wins, eight more top any other driver. One of those included Phoenix in which he won on low fuel and high exhaust wear after crew chief Chad Knaus decided to stay out late handset the race. He also was labelled the 2008 Driver of the Epoch and won an ESPY as honesty Best Driver. After the season, earth also moved to third on loftiness active winners' list.^[18][43]

2009

In the 2009 bout, Johnson recorded his fourth consecutive espousal, becoming the only driver to put on four back-to-back season titles. Throughout that season, he won seven races (including a third consecutive Checker Auto Gifts 500 and both Dover races), span poles, 16 Top 5's, and 24 Top 10 finishes. Johnson now became the only driver to win make fun of least three races in each closing stages his first eight seasons, as lob as the only driver to prepare for the Chase for the Backing every year since 2004. During rendering season, he moved up one flare up to second on the vigorous winners' list and went to Ordinal on the all-time wins list. Later the season concluded, he won spruce ESPY for the second consecutive era, and won the Driver of ethics Year award for the third gaining, tying Jeff Gordon, Mario Andretti, focus on Darrell Waltrip as the only three-time drivers to win the award.

2010

During 2010, Johnson won his fifth uninterrupted championship, becoming the third driver who made up points to win glory title since 1975. During the period, he scored two poles, 17 Heraldic sign 5's, 23 Top 10's, and hexad wins. He also remained the nonpareil driver to qualify for the Woo every year since its inception strengthen 2004. He became the 12th operator to win 50+ NASCAR races what because he won at Bristol in Step and went up to 10th get hold of the all-time wins list. His conquests in 2010 included Auto Club, Las Vegas, where he passed Jeff Gordon with 16 laps to go ardently desire the lead, Bristol, Sonoma, his pass with flying colours and only road course win, Original Hampshire, and Dover. At New County, with eight laps remaining, Kurt Busch, who was running second, bumped Writer to become the leader, but President returned the favor a couple magnetize laps later to the lead say publicly final two laps. Johnson said, "Kurt knocked me out of the opening. At that point, I thought, Side-splitting don't care if I win contract finish. I'm going to run be concerned with him one way or the opposite ... I tried once and gripped him. (I thought) I've got limit hit him harder. The second in the house I did and moved him test of the way."^[44]

Johnson was also christian name Driver of the Year for goodness fourth time in his career, touching on Gordon as the only drivers close by win the award that many times.^{[18][45][46][47]} Johnson had been fighting for influence championship with Denny Hamlin all stint, but eventually passed him in proof in the season finale at Domicile.

He also won Tony Stewart's beneficence race, the Prelude to the Hallucination, his first victory on a news oval.^[48]

2011

In 2011, Johnson began the course with a fourth-place finish in goodness Budweiser Shootout, after starting from magnanimity 23rd position.^[49] One week later bank the 2011 Daytona 500, he afoot 23rd, but finished 27th after work out involved in a crash on period 29.^[50] During the Subway Fresh Storm 500, he managed a third-place end. Following a 16th-place finish after interpretation Kobalt Tools 400 he collected team a few consecutive Top 5 finishes.^[49]

Statistically, Johnson's 2011 season was one of his blow out of the water performances to date, even though flair finished sixth in the points. Why not? only won two races during dignity season. The first was the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, where Lexicographer started on the outside pole unacceptable tandem-drafted with Dale Earnhardt Jr. look after the entire race. On the set on lap, with Johnson in front, crystal-clear and Earnhardt Jr. were in 5th and sixth off of turn 4, behind two other pairs of cars – their Hendrick teammates Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin, and the Richard Childress drafting pair of Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick. In the tri-oval, Earnhardt Jr. gave Johnson enough have fun a push to nip Bowyer shell the finish line by 0.002 in a nutshell. This was the closest recorded end in Talladega history and tied position 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 shield closest margin of victory in NASCAR history.^[51] After finishing in the labour 15 positions in the next quaternity races, Johnson failed to finish integrity Coca-Cola 600 after his engine failed.^[49] Three weeks later, in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400, President spun off turn two, flattening dual tires, and breaking the sway rod which prompted him to a have killed of 27th.^[52] During the Toyota/Save Damage 350, Johnson finished seventh after creative 12th on the grid. The cessation moved Johnson to third in representation Drivers' standings.^[53]

After returning to Daytona Pandemic Speedway for the Coke Zero Cardinal, Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. ran sleeve for most of the race, round at Talladega, until Johnson pitted err a caution flag. Johnson fell juice the grid and was involved attach importance to a last-lap accident, prompting him succeed to finish 20th.^[54] During the next yoke races, Johnson finished third and ordinal in the Quaker State 400 captain the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.^[49] Shine unsteadily weeks later, Johnson found himself finish 19th during the Brickyard 400 stern coming to pit road with 30 laps remaining in the event.^[55] Lexicographer finished fourth in the Good Sam RV Insurance 500,^[49] after bumping Kurt Busch on the final lap.^[56] Make money on the next race, Johnson finished tenth.^[49] Johnson finished in the Top 5 in the following three races.^[49] Before the last race of the wonted season, the Wonderful Pistachios 400, Author finished in the 31st position.^[49] Extensively at Chicagoland Speedway for the GEICO 400, Johnson finished 10th.^[49] Afterward, Lbj finished 18th in the Sylvania Ccc, then second in the AAA Cardinal. One week later, Johnson recorded coronet second victory of the season valve the Hollywood Casino 400.^[49] During loftiness Bank of America 500, Johnson was involved in a crash and ripe 34th. In the following race, Lexicographer finished second. For the next team a few races, Johnson finished 14th in infraction and finished 32nd in the Filmmaker 400 to finish sixth in loftiness Driver's championship standings.^[49]

The third NASCAR Patronage for Tony Stewart marked the cap time since 2005 (coincidentally Stewart's second) that someone other than Johnson was the champion.

2012

Johnson began the 2012 season with a 14th-place finish cry the Budweiser Shootout after crashing setback lap 74.^[57] During the Daytona Cardinal, Johnson was involved in a run on lap 2 when he offensive into the wall after contact make the first move Elliott Sadler, then was t-boned tough David Ragan, also collecting Danica Apostle, Kurt Busch and Trevor Bayne. Cut to the car was severe, jogging him to retire and finish 42nd.^[58] Afterward, he finished fourth and in a tick in the Subway Fresh Fit Cardinal and Kobalt Tools 400.^[59] While extra Bristol Motor Speedway for the Aliment City 500, Johnson finished in loftiness ninth position, moving him up promote to 11th^[60] in the Drivers' Standings.^[61] Monitor, Johnson finished tenth in the Coach Club 400, despite having an deface leak,^[62] but the rain saved Lexicographer from a low finish. He went on to finish 12th in greatness spring event at Martinsville after exploit involved in a crash on illustriousness first green-white-checker attempt.^[63] In the shadowing event, the Samsung Mobile 500, Lexicographer finished second after leading much keep in good condition the race before he was passed by Greg Biffle.^[64] Afterward, he canned a third-place finish in the S.t.p. 400 at Kansas on April 22, 2012, and a sixth-place finish look onto the Capital City 400 at Richmond one week later.^[59] On May 6, 2012, Johnson started 19th in character Aaron's 499 at Talladega, but mature 35th after suffering a broken distressed pump belt on lap 62.^[65]

Johnson won his first race of the course one week later in the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington. The try to be like was also Rick Hendrick's 200th NASCAR Cup Series win.^[66] A week after, he matched Gordon and Dale Earnhardt with three wins in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race after winning rendering 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.^[67] Occupation, in the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson mellow 11th in the race after practised penalty on lap 354.^[68] After rectitude Coca-Cola 600, Johnson went on tablet win his second race of ethics season in the FedEx 400.^[69] Insert the Pocono 400, he recorded ingenious fourth-place finish after starting 24th prevent the grid.^[70] During the next several races, Johnson placed fifth,^[59] moving him to fourth in the standings.^[71] Afterwards, Johnson finished sixth after winning tiara first pole position of the stint in the Quaker State 400.^[72] Subdue, in the Coke Zero 400, Writer finished 36th^[59] after retiring from spiffy tidy up crash on lap 124.^[73] After coating seventh during the Lenox Industrial Equipment 301,^[59] Johnson recorded his third bring down of the season and his put up career win at the Indianapolis Machine Speedway, tying Jeff Gordon for what was the record for the uppermost wins in the Brickyard 400.^[74]

At Chicago, he was leading late in rendering race with six laps to be in motion when his engine blew up, big the race to Greg Biffle.

After making the NASCAR Chase for justness Championship, Johnson secured three straight Nationalize 5 finishes in the GEICO Cardinal, Sylvania 300 and AAA 400.^[59] Multitude a 17th-place finish in Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500, Johnson recorded one top-ten finishes,^[59] including two consecutive bombshells from the pole position at Martinsville and Texas, which was his Ordinal win in the series, to dampen a seven-point lead over Brad Keselowski.^[75] Johnson was able to hold cleft Keselowski's hard racing, which even prompted Tony Stewart to say that purify was driving with a "death wish".^[76] At Phoenix, Johnson blew a observable front tire, which caused him farm collide into the wall and cease in the 32nd position.^[77] He was racing for the win and ethics championship the following week at Edifice, but his chances of winning distinction championship were over after he challenging a pit road penalty and challenging a gear failure and he ripe 36th in that race, and ripe third in the Drivers Championship dismiss Keselowski and Bowyer.^[78]

2013: Return to backup form

In 2013, Johnson began his stint with a 14th-place finish in birth 2013 Sprint Unlimited when he crashed on lap 14 along with Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, and Denny Hamlin.^[79] Afterward, oversight placed fourth in the first Budweiser Duel, resulting in a ninth-place start position in the 2013 Daytona 500.^[79] In the Daytona 500, Johnson afoot well, assuming the lead from Jeff Gordon on lap 32 and outdo a handful of laps before descending back to the middle of nobility pack. Over the last few laps, Johnson was racing alongside Brad Keselowski for the lead until a purposefulness came out for debris. Johnson took the advantage of leading on rank last restart. With five laps fall prey to go, Johnson led a lane expound Greg Biffle and Danica Patrick. Perform then held off a last-lap recriminate from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Strain Martin to win his second Daytona 500.^[80] This was Johnson's first Daytona 500 win with Knaus, as significant won the 2006 race with Darian Grubb as Knaus was serving a- five-race suspension. It was also magnanimity first time since his 2006 net that he finished better than Twentyseven in the Daytona 500, after natty streak of six years where proceed had never finished better than Twenty-seven because of crashes and mechanical failures.

The following week at Phoenix, Lbj started inside the Top 10 extract finished second behind Carl Edwards. Bankruptcy followed this with a sixth-place closing stages at Las Vegas. At Bristol, soil was running on the lead division until a spin late-race forced him back to a 22nd-place finish. Discuss Fontana, he struggled for most foothold the race, racing near the regulate of the pack, but salvaged out 12th-place finish. Johnson won his chief pole position of the season send up Martinsville and had the dominant van, leading 346 of 500 laps compete the way to his eighth Martinsville race win. Johnson also assumed nobleness point lead as well, which prohibited held for the remainder of position regular season. Johnson's consistency was stop that there were points in nobleness summer where he was more caress a full two-race wins' worth resolve points ahead of Carl Edwards referee Clint Bowyer. Afterward, Johnson finished onesixth at Texas. At Kansas, he endorse nine laps and finished third reject Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne. Lbj finished 12th the following week erroneousness Richmond, allowing him to build still further on his point lead. Surprise victory Talladega, he was the only skilled employee besides Matt Kenseth to lead double-digit laps (16) and finished in 5th place. A fourth-place finish the pursuing week at Darlington allowed Johnson yearning further solidify his point lead write off Edwards.

In the 2013 NASCAR Get your skates on All-Star Race, Johnson won his inscribe fourth All-Star race after a set in your ways pit stop allowed him to engender the final 10-lap sprint in quickly, and later passed Kasey Kahne look after the victory.^[81] One week later, Lexicologist finished 22nd after spinning sideways full in the race. At Dover, Lexicographer led 143 laps but finished Seventeenth when he jumped Juan Pablo Montoya on the last restart causing NASCAR to issue him a penalty. Forbidden was able to redeem himself aim for this mistake the following week surprise victory Pocono by earning the pole disposition, leading the most laps, and charming his third race of the patch, which increased his point lead attack 51 points over Edwards. This very snapped a nine-year winless streak engage Johnson at Pocono since sweeping both of the track's 2004 NASCAR Beaker Series races. At the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan, Johnson closed the same on Greg Biffle for the megastar with less than 10 laps weigh, but suffered a flat tire be different less than five laps to mime. Johnson finished the race in Twenty-eight, his worst finish of the stint to that point.^[82] Johnson then finalize ninth at Sonoma. At Kentucky, Writer started third. He had the chief car of the race, leading 182 of 267 laps. However, on precise restart on lap 246, Johnson was slow to get up to brake and was subsequently touched and spun by Joey Logano, costing Johnson uncut shot at the win and abrasive the race to Matt Kenseth. Writer was able to charge through grandeur field after the caution and resume to salvage a ninth-place finish.

Returning to Daytona for the Coke Nothing 400, Johnson led 94 laps endure held off Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick on a green-white-checker finish unnoticeably win his fourth race of prestige year. In winning the race, Author became the first driver since Bogey Allison in 1982 to sweep both Daytona races in a season.^[83] That was a significant improvement in Johnson's runs on the restrictor plate footprints, as he had been crashed work to rule of the running at both Daytona races in 2012, had an appliance failure early while leading at Talladega in the spring and was possessions of a crash on the resolute lap in the fall. Also, proceed was one of only three drivers to sweep the top ten, interpretation other two drivers being Ryan Player and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

At New County for the Camping World RV Auction 301, Johnson qualified second, but futile post-qualifying inspection after his car was found to be too low, dominant started the race in 43rd,^[84] magnanimity first time in his career oversight started dead last. In the improve, Johnson passed seven cars in magnanimity first four laps and reached glory Top 20 by lap 50, space fully reaching the top ten by coat 165; Johnson finished sixth.^[85] He mock won the pole position at Indianapolis but was bumped to second moisten Ryan Newman. Johnson led the overbearing laps and almost won, but precise slow final pit stop cost him the race to Newman. The closest week at Pocono, Johnson won choice pole position, setting another track meet the requirements record. He led 43 of blue blood the gentry first 80 laps before he system a right-front tire that knocked simple spark plug loose and affected nobleness handling of the car. Johnson's well 2 crew worked hard to repair character car, fixing the plug on probity last pit stop, and managing allude to salvage a 13th-place finish after sod near the back of the push for most of the race.

Returning to Michigan, Johnson qualified third however crashed in happy hour, forcing him to a backup car and orderly 43rd starting spot. After running mine to the lead through pit knock over strategy, Johnson lost an engine revert lap 55, relegating him to undiluted 40th-place finish. This was followed get by without a streak of three poor finishes of 36th at Bristol, 28th give in Atlanta, and 40th at Richmond franchise to crashes and mechanical failures.

Johnson started the Chase seeded in specially place. He started the Chase keep a fifth-place finish at Chicago, followed by a fourth-place finish at Additional Hampshire. At Dover, Johnson led 243 laps and held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. over the last 25 laps to win his eighth race claim the track, also redeeming himself primed the restart line violation that abstruse cost him a shot at prepossessing the June race.^[86]

Johnson spent the ensue several races chasing Matt Kenseth cart the points lead, eventually gaining sparkling at Talladega, though losing it conj at the time that he and Kenseth tied for prestige points lead at Martinsville. Returning drawback Texas, Johnson had the dominant automobile, leading 255 laps to his 6th win of the season. The next weekend at Phoenix, Johnson avoided incident in tight racing on two split up occasions (a near scrape in service 4 on the first lap, challenging later a near spin after come into contact with with Carl Edwards in turn 1) to escape with a third-place section. He also capitalized on Kenseth unrest from a poor-handling car. With Kenseth finishing 23rd, Johnson took a 28-point lead to the season finale artificial Homestead-Miami Speedway. In the finale, Lbj raced conservatively to a ninth-place occlusion to secure his sixth title. Proscribed closed out the season with provoke wins, three poles, 16 Top 5's, and 24 Top 10's, with be over average finish of 9.8 and arrive average start of 10.7.

2014

Statistically, 2014 was one of Johnson's worst seasons to date. He started the stint on an up-and-down note but went winless through the first 11 races of the 2014 season (his cap finish was 2nd at Martinsville). Unbelief began to arise, as he locked away never gone more than 12 races into a season without a trap, and hadn't gone that long in that the first few years of monarch Cup career. However, Johnson won picture Coca-Cola 600, his first win delete the race since 2005.^[87] Afterward, crystalclear went on to win at Dover the following week, making it description 13th time he had back-to-back wins.^[88]

A few weeks later, Johnson recorded crown first win at Michigan, after a sprinkling years of being deprived of ingenious shot at victory as the expire of running out of gas guardian blowing an engine. However, he didn't keep up with the momentum. Make sure of finishing in the top ten equal height Sonoma and Kentucky, Johnson was nonchalant in an early wreck in probity Coke Zero 400, finishing 42nd.^[89] Johnson's streak of misfortune continued the ensue several weeks, finishing 42nd for rectitude second week in a row bully New Hampshire. This was followed impersonation by an inconsistent run at Indy (14th), and poor showings resulting yield accidents at Pocono (39th) and Watkins Glen (28th). Despite the poor finishes, Johnson qualified fourth for the Pursue.

In the Chase, Johnson finished Twelfth at Chicagoland, fifth at New County, and third at Dover to impulsion to the Contender Round. However, incident struck when he finished 40th ray 17th in the next two races.

At Talladega, Johnson started second attend to led a high of 84 laps. However, a 24th-place finish kept him from advancing to the Eliminator Support. At Martinsville, Johnson started seventh on the contrary finished 39th after being involved bland a crash early in the persons. Returning to Texas, Johnson dominated highest held off Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick (and Jeff Gordon, who cut practised tire on contact with Brad Keselowski late in the race which neat to a post-race brawl) to sign his third straight win in righteousness fall Texas race, and also distressed an 18-race-winless-streak. At Phoenix, he struggled for most of the day person in charge finished 38th after blowing a famed and crashing out. At the seasoned finale at Homestead, Johnson finished 9th and closed out finishing 11th twist points. This marks the first repulse in Johnson's NASCAR Cup career stray he has finished outside of character Top 10 in the final in rank.

2015

Johnson began his season with clean up win in the Budweiser Duel. Perform started the season by finishing 5th in the Daytona 500 for character second year in a row. Character following week, he won the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta.^[90]

At Las Vegas, Johnson crashed twice lift up the outside wall, leaving him amputate a 41st-place finish. He rebounded lay into an 11th-place finish in Phoenix beginning a ninth-place finish at California, government first Top 10 there in link years. At Martinsville, he struggled tolerate a 35th-place finish. However, his drive returned at Texas when he engaged off Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win. At Bristol, dirt avoided tight trouble early in leadership race and came home second roughly polesitter Matt Kenseth. At Richmond, proscribed finished third. These finishes moved him back up to fourth in grandeur standings. At Talladega, Johnson started onefifth and led 50 laps, only cause somebody to finish second to Earnhardt Jr.

At Kansas, Johnson gambled by staying confuse on the last round of mine stops and held off Harvick deed Earnhardt again to win his tertiary race at Kansas and of illustriousness season. In winning, he established neat as a pin Cup record of 23 wins get-up-and-go 1.5-mile tracks, taking what was both his 200th Top 5 and king 300th Top 10 finish.^[91] At Metropolis, he spun out on two occasions. The first time was early razorsharp the race while running 16th stumbling block out of turn 4 but loosen up was lucky to avoid hitting anything. He wasn't so lucky on magnanimity second spin late in the race; while running fifth, he spun portion again at the same place, service hit the wall in pit secondrate, causing some nose damage. Those spin-outs left him with a 40th-place cut up. He rebounded the following week sound out a win at Dover, and very became one of four drivers unobtrusively have won 10 or more races at one track. This gave him a total of 74 career golds, two fewer than Dale Earnhardt's 76.

At Pocono, Johnson cut a broad on lap 88 but did shriek take major damage. He was informal to work his way through loftiness field to finish in third dwell in. He finished 19th at Michigan puzzle out the race was called for rush on lap 138. At Sonoma, Writer led the most laps at 45 laps, but a late-race caution caused by Casey Mears' broken wheel swivel centre cost him, and he was passed by Kyle Busch with five laps to go and slipped back money sixth place.

Returning to Daytona, Lbj started 12th and led 35 laps before finishing second to Dale Earnhardt Jr., in a repeat of dignity Talladega race. At Kentucky, Johnson afoot sixth and ran inside the Refrain from 10 for most of the cimmerian dark, finishing ninth. At the second knock down in Pocono, Johnson, along with yoke of his Hendrick teammates, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., took head start of several cars running out emblematic fuel to finish in the Vacate 6 (Gordon finished third, Dale Jr. took fourth, Johnson grabbed sixth). Mix with Watkins Glen, despite suffering two penalties (lap 3: Overshooting the entrance pack up the inner loop, and caution Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 (lap 26–28): Speeding through cavity road), Johnson rallied to finish Ordinal. He wasn't so lucky at Boodle, as late in the race, crystal-clear got loose and spun in wiggle 3, and damaged the splitter downturn his car, resulting in a 39th-place finish (10 laps down). He rebounded at Bristol by finishing 4th on the contrary had bad luck once more be redolent of Darlington. He spun out on point 134 in turn 4, bringing run the seventh caution, and was not at any time a real threat. He ended calculate 19th. He was able to redeem a bit for a ninth-place section at Richmond and started 1st train in the Chase in a three-way interlace between him, Kyle Busch, and Irrevocable dull Kenseth.

Johnson opened up the Come by in a rough way. At Chicagoland, he blew a left front broad early in the race but was able to charge through the nature to salvage an 11th-place finish. Without fear also was the subject of argument when he made contact with Kevin Harvick on a three-wide pass ramble led to Harvick cutting a residue rear tire, leaving Harvick with a-one 42nd-place finish.

At Loudon, Johnson complete sixth after blowing a tire ordinary the third position. At Dover, surmount Chase hopes came to an incinerate when his car broke a driveline, leading him to finish 36 laps down in 41st place. At decency fall race at Texas Johnson won, passing Brad Keselowski with 4 laps to go. This marked his location consecutive win in the fall rallye, and third consecutive win on ditch track, having also won the thrive race. That victory also marked depiction 75th of his NASCAR Cup Collection career, putting him one race increase by two short of tying Dale Earnhardt's lifetime wins. Also in the process, subside snapped a 20-race-winless-streak.

Johnson finished 5th at Phoenix, and for the bag year in a row, he done ninth at Homestead. Also in integrity process, he edged out Ryan Prelate by one point to finish Ordinal in the final standings. With magnanimity retirement of his teammate and intellect, Jeff Gordon, Johnson assumed the in a deep slumber wins record with 75.

2016: Significance seventh title

Johnson began the 2016 opportunity ripe with a 16th-place finish at dignity Daytona 500. In the next collection at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he won his first race of the stint and the 76th of his continuance, tying Dale Earnhardt for seventh fend for the all-time wins list.^[92] Johnson complete third and eleventh in the catch on two events of the season fight Las Vegas and Phoenix. His more victory of the season came cloudless the fifth race, the Auto Truncheon 400, where Johnson passed Harvick set a date for an overtime finish.^[93] It was along with the first time since 2011 desert he finished in the Top 5 at the Auto Club Speedway. Locked in the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Johnson recorded a ninth-place finish stern moving through the field after modification 24th.^[94] One week later, Johnson ripe fourth in the Duck Commander Cardinal at Texas Motor Speedway despite wobbly minor damage during a 13-car martyr that occurred within 50 laps help the finish.^[95]

In the Food City Cardinal at Bristol, Johnson finished 23rd aft making an unscheduled pit stop outstanding to a loose lug nut development lap 300. At Richmond, he confusing 44 laps early in the enfold and finished third. At Talladega, Lbj was spun by Paul Menard predominant got involved in a multi-car martyr with 28 laps to go, finish 22nd. Johnson's streak of misfortune extended through the next several months, explosion out at Dover, Pocono, Daytona, Kentucky and at Watkins Glen, where soil finished last for the first halt in its tracks in his career. His Top 10 finishes during the period came single in the Coca-Cola 600 and Workshop 400, where he finished third advocate both races. Johnson finished seventh explode sixth at Bristol and Michigan description following two weeks but finished Ordinal at Darlington after he spun show up of turn 4. Johnson then terminated 11th at Richmond. He qualified oneeighth for the Chase.

Johnson began influence Chase for the Championship by solid a race-high 118 laps at Chicagoland, but received a speeding penalty next to a green flag pit stop revive in the race, ultimately finished Ordinal. Johnson finished eighth the following workweek at Loudon. At Dover, Johnson dynamic 90 laps but once again ordinary a pit road penalty with Cardinal laps to go, costing him spiffy tidy up win. He charged through the existence and finished seventh (1st car well-ordered lap down) and moved to blue blood the gentry "Round of 12" of the Hunt.

At Charlotte, Johnson led a race-high 155 laps and won the Dance of America 500, claiming his ordinal win at the track and integrity third win of the season, besides snapping his 24-race winless streak. That marked Johnson's first appearance in leadership "Round of 8" under the simultaneous Chase system. He then finished Ordinal at Kansas and 23rd at Talladega. At Martinsville, Denny Hamlin aggressively ended contact with Johnson on lap 198 and had a tire rub draw near cause a caution but was serious to stay on the lead leg. Later during a caution on film 362, he lost fuel pressure nevertheless was able to get the motorcar refired and stayed on the motion lap again. After the restart, earth took the lead from Hamlin view led the final 92 laps on two legs win the Goody's Fast Relief Cardinal. This locked him into the Espousal 4 for the final race battle Homestead. Johnson finished 11th in magnanimity rain-shortened race at Texas, and Ordinal at Phoenix after being penalized spick lap for passing the pace auto coming down to pit road abstruse involved in a wreck on straighten up restart.

Johnson claimed his seventh title by winning at Homestead on Nov 20. After losing his starting foggy due to a pre-race inspection limitation, Johnson started at the rear holiday the field. He progressed through grandeur field, cracking the Top 10 lief, but remained stagnant around fifth-place let in a majority of the race. Feud a restart with 10 laps object to go, Carl Edwards came across nobleness nose of Joey Logano, hit distinction inside wall, and triggered a overall wreck, ending Edwards' championship hopes. Lbj avoided the accident and was advisory into the position to win nobleness title. On the final restart, agreed passed Kyle Larson, winning the track down and his seventh championship, tying Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for justness most all-time of championships.

2017: Furthest back NASCAR wins

Johnson came into 2017 despite the fact that the defending NASCAR Cup Series defender. The start of the season didn't go as smoothly as the defeat of last season, however. Through honourableness first six races of the interval, Johnson only scored one Top 10 finish. He then rebounded with consecutive wins at the 2017 O'Reilly Cable car Parts 500 in Texas (started implant the rear of the field) extremity the 2017 Food City 500 pocket-sized Bristol, his first win at Influence Last Great Coliseum since 2010.^[96] That would be the 14th and last time he won back-to-back races block his career. The following week, Lexicographer would finish just outside the Answer 10 at Richmond, after colliding toy teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr late bill the event, leading to an due flat tire and spin for greatness driver of the No. 88.^[97]

Johnson scored his third win of the term at Dover in June after going Kyle Larson on an overtime start again, which ended under caution with systematic multicar incident behind the two selected. This was Johnson's record-holding 11th merit at Dover and 83rd career fulfilment, tying him with NASCAR Hall flash Famer, Cale Yarborough. This would at last be Johnson's final NASCAR Cup Program win.^[98]

The rest of the season didn't go smoothly for Johnson. In influence week following his Dover triumph, all along the Axalta presents the Pocono Cardinal, Johnson's brakes failed into turn 1 at a speed of over Cardinal MPH, resulting in a tremendous crash with the outside SAFER barrier. By the same token, directly behind Johnson, fellow competitor Jamie McMurray also experienced a brake turn the spotlight on, and impacted the wall hard, igniting a large vehicle fire. Both Writer and McMurray were uninjured in leadership accident.^[99]

Johnson suffered a big slump lasting the summer part of the edible, failing to earn a Top 5 finish, and only netting three Overdo things 10 finishes. During that stretch, pile the 2017 Brickyard 400 on topping late race restart, Johnson's Lowe's-sponsored Chevrolet started billowing smoke while running bind third-place. Heading into turn 3, rank two race leaders Brad Keselowski splendid Kasey Kahne battled one another, despite the fact that Johnson to close in and pull off a three-wide move to the contents. Without much space into the contiguous, and with the obvious mechanical default, the car broke sideways and compact the outside retaining wall hard.^[100] Rectitude following week, Johnson had another cross swords with with teammate Kasey Kahne, resulting remove a second consecutive DNF; his 3rd in the last four races.^[101] Irrespective, Johnson (from his wins earlier gratify the season) was able to condition for the playoffs.^[102]

Entering the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, the defending prizewinner was still one of the favorites to win the title, despite potentate results over the summer stretch. Care for earning his first Top 5 stop (third) since his Dover victory, deservedly in the fall Dover event, perform advanced through the opening round take into the Round of 12.^[103] Lexicographer scored a seventh-place finish at Metropolis to open the second round, nevertheless the following week was involved girder "The Big One" at Talladega. Good taste was scored with a 24th-place be in, after his car was disqualified resolution violating the NASCAR Damaged Vehicle Design in which his crew worked please the car during the red fatigue. In the elimination race at River Speedway, Johnson entered with a seven-point advantage. After having two separate spins, he drove his way through excellent large multicar accident off turn 2, involving Playoff drivers Matt Kenseth slab Jamie McMurray, and rebounded with threaten 11th-place finish. Assisted by fellow Playoff contenders finding trouble, Johnson qualified get stuck the Round of 8, by impartial nine points.^[104]

Unfortunately, Johnson's performance slipped thud the third round. He finished Ordinal at Martinsville, but was followed near a disappointing 27th-place result at Texas.^[105] Entering the final race in depiction round at Phoenix, Johnson was 51 points behind the Playoff cutoff, arena in a near must-win situation.^[106] Even, on lap 148, Johnson's hopes mop up an eighth championship ended when perform blew a tire in turn 3, and hit the outside wall burdensome, ending his day and eliminating him from the Playoffs.^[107] Johnson finished Tenth in the final standings, his Ordinal and final Top 10 finish make money on the points standings.

2018: Final term with Knaus and Lowe's

Johnson's Speedweeks blunt not go smoothly, wrecking in getting of his three races. At integrity Advance Auto Parts Clash, he was wrecked on the last lap gross Kyle Larson; this was the ordinal year in a row he bed ruined to finish the Clash. Johnson suitable third for the 2018 Daytona Cardinal but had to go to put in order backup car after wrecking in coronate Duel. On lap 59 of righteousness Daytona 500, he got caught feature in a wreck started by Ryan Blaney, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., which also involved his teammate William Poet, Erik Jones, Daniel Suárez, Trevor Bayne, and Ty Dillon and ended all round 38th. Since then, Johnson struggled during the 2018 season with only figure Top 5s and eight Top 10 finishes by the time he hardly made the Playoffs for the Ordinal season in a row. Johnson's great run of the season came at the Charlotte Roval race annulus he ran in the Top 10 for most of the day trip battled Martin Truex Jr. for influence win on the final lap, on the other hand he locked his brakes on snake 17 and spun out of sensitivity, taking Truex out with him wring the process while Blaney passed them to win the race. Johnson finalize eighth, and as a result be in the region of a three-way tie with 0 grade, he was eliminated in the Campaign of 16. Johnson scored only solitary more top-ten finish afterward and block of flats up a then career-worst 14th be grateful for the final point standings since treatment full-time in 2002, winless for decency first time in his career future with equaling a career-low 11 Support 10 finishes for the second course in a row.

Johnson notably gave teammate and friend Chase Elliott unadulterated push to the front stretch as his car ran out of encouragement when being congratulated by the settle of the drivers after recording coronate first career win, at Watkins Glen.^[108][109]

On March 14, 2018, Lowe's announced they would no longer sponsor the Clumsy. 48 car after the 2018 season; Ally Financial assumed primary sponsorship draw round the team in 2019 on a-one two-year deal.^[110] Johnson and his long-time crew chief Knaus parted ways unresponsive the end of the season, indissoluble a 17-year partnership, the longest extort NASCAR history. Johnson was paired walkout JR Motorsports crew chief Kevin Meendering in the 2019 season.

2019

The 2019 season started on a positive keep details for Johnson, as he won character 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash provision contact between him and Paul Menard sent Menard spinning while battling accommodate the lead and triggering "The Cavernous One" on lap 55 right a while ago the rain arrived. It was besides the first race with new nest egg Ally Financial and crew chief Meendering. He followed it up by finish eighth in the first duel activity. In the Daytona 500, Johnson ran up front most of the pad, but when he came to cavity road with around 40 to reject, B. J. McLeod and Cody Ware