Jimmie Johnson won his second straight Nextel Cup as NASCAR’s overall season champion. The driver of car No. 48 doubled his wins en route to his second title with 10 wins, following five in 2006.
The Nextel Cup standings, based on season points, were coming down to a close race at the end of the year until Johnson won four straight races. Those four victories virtually clinched the title before heading inot the final race of the 10-race Chase for the Championship that concluded at Homestead in Florida.
For the year, Johnson had 24 top-10 finishes and 13 top-five finishes. After earning $15,770,125 in 2006, he bumped his career earnings to $59,531,336.
After Johnson’s win at Atlanta, the same week that the wildfires devastated San Diego County in late October, he donated his $1 million prize to the American Red Cross. The donation was matched by Hendrick Motorsports, Johnson’s racing team; Lowe’s, Johnson’s primary sponsor; and the Atlanta Speedway Motorsports.
Johnson frequently credits teamwork for his success. Johnson races for Hendrick Motorsports, which featured three drivers in the top five of the final Nextel Cup championship standings.
Hendrick Motorsports, based in Charlotte, N.C., where Johnson now makes his home, poured resources and testing into the Car of Tomorrow and was ahead of the pack once the new cars rolled on to the track for the 2007 season. As a group, Hendrick Motorsports won the first five races in which the Car of Tomorrow was driven.
Johnson is a Star of the Year for the second straight year and third time overall. He is a 13-time Star of the Month.
Posted on February 1, 2008 by admin
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