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| Jimmie Johnson was fastest during a Las Vegas test session. |
Jimmie Johnson on racing at Atlanta:
“Leaving Daytona, we all certainly have a little spark of energy. To be able to recover from the wrecks we were involved in and be there at the end is certainly a great start. This weekend in Atlanta is a completely different deal as we roll out the 2019 rules package. In my eyes, the cars are going to be faster and we are all going to be closer together, there will be more passing, and there is going to be a lot of excitement with the 2019 package. I was able to test Las Vegas and we had some drafting sessions. It was really racy. I’m also looking forward to being in the booth (for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race) with (Kevin) Harvick for FOX. I’ll be doing some homework leading into the weekend for sure, it’s a whole different kind of pressure.”
Driver Jimmie Johnson
Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 43
“Leaving Daytona, we all certainly have a little spark of energy. To be able to recover from the wrecks we were involved in and be there at the end is certainly a great start. This weekend in Atlanta is a completely different deal as we roll out the 2019 rules package. In my eyes, the cars are going to be faster and we are all going to be closer together, there will be more passing, and there is going to be a lot of excitement with the 2019 package. I was able to test Las Vegas and we had some drafting sessions. It was really racy. I’m also looking forward to being in the booth (for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race) with (Kevin) Harvick for FOX. I’ll be doing some homework leading into the weekend for sure, it’s a whole different kind of pressure.”
Driver Jimmie Johnson
Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 43
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, at 2:45 p.m. local time in the Atlanta Motor Speedway media center.
RALLY 500 FINISH: The 61st annual running of the DAYTONA 500 was an emotional roller coaster of sorts for seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Kevin Meendering and the No. 48 team. Earlier in Speedweeks, Johnson clocked the third-fastest qualifying speed in a one-two-three-four Hendrick Motorsports sweep on pole day, and later that afternoon won “The Clash” exhibition race. He started the DAYTONA 500 in 17th place and finished Stage 1 in ninth and Stage 2 in 17th. Coming to pit road with 40 laps to go, Johnson was a victim of bad luck as he was hit unexpectedly from behind on pit road, causing damage to the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Meendering, who was participating in his first race as Johnson’s crew chief, remained cool and calm as he directed repairs on pit road. Johnson lost two laps in the process due to a pit road penalty, but was the benefactor of two free passes during subsequent cautions to find himself back on the lead lap. With nine laps to go, Johnson was involved in another multiple-car incident in which the No. 48 Chevy suffered front-end damage. Following more repairs, Johnson dodged two more incidents and raced to a ninth-place finish in overtime.
EXCELLENT IN ATLANTA: Currently, Johnson has 28 intermediate track (1.5-mile) wins, which is the most all-time. He currently has five wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway – which is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for the most all-time – the most recent of which came back-to-back in 2015 and again during his 2016 championship season. Johnson’s average finish at Atlanta is 11.59 over 27 starts. He scored his first emotionally-charged win at Atlanta on Oct. 31, 2004, in the aftermath of the tragic Hendrick Motorsports plane crash.
THE OLDER, THE BETTER: The last time the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway put asphalt down was 1997. It ranks third among the oldest racing surfaces on which the NASCAR Cup Series competes. All five of Johnson’s wins on the track have come on its current racing surface. The oldest track surface is Dover (1995), where Johnson has 11 wins, and California (1996), where Johnson has six wins.
JOHNSON IN THE FOX BOOTH: Johnson will trade his helmet for a microphone on Saturday, Feb. 23, as he will join fellow competitor Kevin Harvick and FOX play-by-play analyst Adam Alexander in the booth for the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It marks the first time the El Cajon, California, native will appear in an analyst role in the booth.
BOSTON MARATHON ANNOUNCEMENT: On Feb. 12 during Daytona Speedweeks, Johnson, along with personal sponsor Gatorade, announced Johnson is in training to enter the prestigious Boston Marathon. Never having run a marathon, Johnson’s training is in full-force, running an average of 75 to 100 miles a week in preparation for the 26.2-mile race on April 15.
WHEELFORCE TEST: In October 2018, Johnson and Meendering participated in a wheelforce test at Atlanta Motor Speedway on behalf of the Hendrick Motorsports organization.
VERGE OF A MILESTONE: Johnson is on the verge of his 84th points-paying NASCAR Cup Series win. He secured his 83rd in June 2017 to tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for sixth on the all-time wins list. An 84th win would tie Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth all-time. Johnson is currently 10 wins behind former teammate Gordon, who has 93 victories and is third on the list. Johnson has the most wins of all active drivers.
CHASE ELLIOTT FOUNDATION SHOES: This year, Johnson will take part in the Chase Elliott Foundation’s “DESI9N TO DRIVE” shoe program. Benefiting the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta summer camp program, Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates selected racing shoe designs created by patients of Children's. After the race, the race-worn shoes will be signed by Johnson and auctioned off online by the Chase Elliott Foundation.
1.5-MILE TEST: Johnson, Meendering and the No. 48 team participated in a two-day test session on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the 2019 rules package took to the 1.5-mile track for the first time.
RALLY 500 FINISH: The 61st annual running of the DAYTONA 500 was an emotional roller coaster of sorts for seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Kevin Meendering and the No. 48 team. Earlier in Speedweeks, Johnson clocked the third-fastest qualifying speed in a one-two-three-four Hendrick Motorsports sweep on pole day, and later that afternoon won “The Clash” exhibition race. He started the DAYTONA 500 in 17th place and finished Stage 1 in ninth and Stage 2 in 17th. Coming to pit road with 40 laps to go, Johnson was a victim of bad luck as he was hit unexpectedly from behind on pit road, causing damage to the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Meendering, who was participating in his first race as Johnson’s crew chief, remained cool and calm as he directed repairs on pit road. Johnson lost two laps in the process due to a pit road penalty, but was the benefactor of two free passes during subsequent cautions to find himself back on the lead lap. With nine laps to go, Johnson was involved in another multiple-car incident in which the No. 48 Chevy suffered front-end damage. Following more repairs, Johnson dodged two more incidents and raced to a ninth-place finish in overtime.
EXCELLENT IN ATLANTA: Currently, Johnson has 28 intermediate track (1.5-mile) wins, which is the most all-time. He currently has five wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway – which is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for the most all-time – the most recent of which came back-to-back in 2015 and again during his 2016 championship season. Johnson’s average finish at Atlanta is 11.59 over 27 starts. He scored his first emotionally-charged win at Atlanta on Oct. 31, 2004, in the aftermath of the tragic Hendrick Motorsports plane crash.
THE OLDER, THE BETTER: The last time the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway put asphalt down was 1997. It ranks third among the oldest racing surfaces on which the NASCAR Cup Series competes. All five of Johnson’s wins on the track have come on its current racing surface. The oldest track surface is Dover (1995), where Johnson has 11 wins, and California (1996), where Johnson has six wins.
JOHNSON IN THE FOX BOOTH: Johnson will trade his helmet for a microphone on Saturday, Feb. 23, as he will join fellow competitor Kevin Harvick and FOX play-by-play analyst Adam Alexander in the booth for the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It marks the first time the El Cajon, California, native will appear in an analyst role in the booth.
BOSTON MARATHON ANNOUNCEMENT: On Feb. 12 during Daytona Speedweeks, Johnson, along with personal sponsor Gatorade, announced Johnson is in training to enter the prestigious Boston Marathon. Never having run a marathon, Johnson’s training is in full-force, running an average of 75 to 100 miles a week in preparation for the 26.2-mile race on April 15.
WHEELFORCE TEST: In October 2018, Johnson and Meendering participated in a wheelforce test at Atlanta Motor Speedway on behalf of the Hendrick Motorsports organization.
VERGE OF A MILESTONE: Johnson is on the verge of his 84th points-paying NASCAR Cup Series win. He secured his 83rd in June 2017 to tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for sixth on the all-time wins list. An 84th win would tie Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth all-time. Johnson is currently 10 wins behind former teammate Gordon, who has 93 victories and is third on the list. Johnson has the most wins of all active drivers.
CHASE ELLIOTT FOUNDATION SHOES: This year, Johnson will take part in the Chase Elliott Foundation’s “DESI9N TO DRIVE” shoe program. Benefiting the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta summer camp program, Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates selected racing shoe designs created by patients of Children's. After the race, the race-worn shoes will be signed by Johnson and auctioned off online by the Chase Elliott Foundation.
1.5-MILE TEST: Johnson, Meendering and the No. 48 team participated in a two-day test session on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the 2019 rules package took to the 1.5-mile track for the first time.
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