California Driver Takes on 'Good Ole Boys' and Wins
By Johnny McDonald

Mayor Jerry Sanders (far right) proclaimed Jan. 31 as Jimmie Johnson Day.

It's a rarity when a California driver can wrest away a NASCAR stock car championship from the southern "good old boy" drivers.

Because of it, 2006 titleholder Jimmie Johnson was acknowledged by the governor, county and the city of San Diego in early February.

The gracious former El Cajon resident had a trunk full of proclamations to take back to Florida as he prepared to defend his Daytona 500 title on Feb. 11. Mayor Jerry Sanders proclaimed Jan. 31 as Jimmie Johnson day and the driver was awarded a pro athlete of the year plaque by the Breitbard Hall of Champions.

The attention didn't stop here because on Feb. 5 he was President George W. Bush's guest in the White House.

A far cry from the boyhood days he and a pal, Rick Johnson (no relation), rode dirt motorcycles around Barona Oaks. Rick went on to win four national motocross championships and is in the AMA Hall of Fame. Jimmie has become a star in NASCAR.

An overflow crowd at the Hall of Champions ceremony crushed around him for almost an hour for autographs and pictures.

Jimmie Johnson was honored on Jan. 31 by the Brietbard Hall of Champions as San Diego pro athlete of the year. Photos by Darrel Kinney

"People here know that you are the same Jimmie Johnson when you were young. The proclamation is not only for you as a driver but as a person, particularly because of your charity work for kids' causes," Sander said.

The 31-year-old driver replied: "I'm shocked and blown away. I never thought this day would ever come. It's great that a passion of mine has turned into a great career."

Although his 43-race schedule keeps him away from the area,

he does have a Chevrolet dealership in Kearny Mesa. Johnson and his wife Chandra,established the Jimmie Johnson foundation, which is dedicated to assisting children, families and communities in need.

"I had a simple background, working hard to prove myself," he continued. "I didn't think I was doing that well until I got into the Nextel Cup races. I may have won a race here and there but didn't have all the success that would lead to this. Whatever success (achieved) I didn't want it to go to my head."

Jimmie Johnson taking time for photos.

At a young age he was driving for the top team in off-road racing but a Chevrolet representative asked if he would like to try something else. Nothing materialized until he met fellow driver Jeff Gordon on the Hendricks Racing Team. Gordon became his car owner.

"I spent a lot of years riding motorcycles in Barona Oaks and the desert," Johnson said. "But first, my parents made sure I maintained a good grade point average."

Approaching a new season he said: "I'll be a little more relaxed, just doing our job and remaining focused on our stuff in the right areas. Challenges will be tougher. NASCAR has made changes and some tracks have been resurfaced. "

About the entry of Toyota, he said: "I think it's good for the sport. Look at the reasons Home Depot and Lowe's got into the sport, Budweiser and Miller, too. Corporate America spends a lot of money in our sport."

He said some of the toughest times for him include writing speeches for a banquet and making sure you're not reading it. He also recalled being on "The David Letterman Show," an experience that "keeps your heart pounding."

He has eyes on other racing and would like to race in LeMans, France, other sports car races and even the Indianapolis 500.