Johnson misses Richmond practices and qualifying for birth of daughter

The Johnson's have a new baby! 

RICHMOND, Va. — Jimmie Johnson celebrated the birth of his second child Friday and stayed home with his family while Sprint Cup teams practiced and qualified at Richmond International Raceway.

Johnson, the five-time Sprint Cup champion and current points leader, will have to start at the rear of the field Saturday for the Federated Auto Parts 400 because he will not qualify the car Friday night. Johnson already has clinched a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Regan Smith, who drives in the Nationwide Series for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports, practiced and qualified Johnson’s car.

Johnson had said he was prepared to miss the Richmond race for the birth of his daughter but would not miss a race when the Chase starts next week.

He won’t have to worry about that as his wife, Chandra, gave birth at 2:02 a.m. Friday morning. Their daughter, Lydia Norriss Johnson, weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. Both Chandra and the baby are doing fine, according to a team news release. The couple also are the parents of a 3-year-old girl, Genevieve Marie.

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