From a Rookie to an Icon: Jimmie Johnson Completes Two Decades With Hendrick Motorsports
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From a Rookie to an Icon: Jimmie Johnson Completes Two Decades With Hendrick Motorsports
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Jimmie Johnson enjoyed a long and illustrious career in NASCAR. On September 22nd, 2000, he signed a deal with the Hendrick Motorsports team to race in the Winston Cup Series. 20 years down the line, the 45-year-old is set to close a chapter in his NASCAR book.
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Who would have thought that the fresh-faced rookie in 2000, would soon become a 7-time Cup Series winner? Now in 2020, Jimmie Johnson is still loyal to Hendrick Motorsports. Since joining the team, he delivered all seven NASCAR Cup Series titles for the #48 car.
The Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports was a match made in heaven. It was even on par with the Dale Earnhardt-Richard Childress partnership and the Richard Petty-Petty Enterprises partnership.
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20 years ago today.@JimmieJohnson 🤝 @TeamHendrick pic.twitter.com/3Nb7VvkDBj
— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 22, 2020
Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports through the ages
Over the years, the Hendrick Motorsports team has driven with different car numbers and different drivers. However, when Johnson joined the team, all the way in 2001, he practically made the number 48 his own. So when he finally hangs up his boots at the end of the season, it will be hard to see any other driver in that #48 car.
To this day, Johnson has only ever switched numbers on one occasion. To be precise, he adopted the No. 5 as part of a sponsorship promotion for the non-points 2011 NASCAR All-Star Race.
Who knows, maybe the team could try and retire the number and ensure that he is always immortalized as the #48 driver. However, that is practically wishful thinking, even though Johnson is a legend.
He is also one of the few drivers who never changed teams during his career. Ever since the Hendrick Motorsports team recruited him, he has kept the faith in them through thick and thin.
Now, after 20 long years, 7 Cup Series titles, 83 wins, 36 poles, and 373 Top-10s later, he is all set to hang up his boots. Admittedly, his legacy will be immortal. All this in spite of the fact that he has missed out on overtaking Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
