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Jimmie Johnson found a big plate of crisp, greasy French fries in front of him when he sat down to dinner recently. As tempted as he was to sample a few – okay, maybe more than a few -- he resisted.
Fans and racing insiders have always known the three-time defending Sprint Cup champion had self control on the track.
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Now they know he has it off the track, which is important particularly when it comes to proper diet and daily workout routines that are becoming more crucial with the strength and energy it takes to drive the new car.
It’s even more important during the hot summer months where mental and physical toughness are almost as important as horsepower and handling.
"My workout and being in great shape has really helped me out,’’ Johnson said. “I tend to not mind the hot weather or the longer races. Staying in shape and keeping hydrated has certainly helped with that because you obviously don’t want to fall out of the seat because you’re tired or you’re worn out.
“I feel like we are athletes and as an athlete you have to make sure you are in the best shape so you can perform your best.”
Johnson always has tried to eat healthy, but he hasn’t always been so health conscious. Much of the credit goes to John Sataris, a trainer in New York City.
Instead of the on-again, off-again workout routine Johnson practiced for years, Sataris has him on a program than he’s maintained for about a year and a half.
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“The workouts have definitely helped me become stronger, but the thing I was missing the most was more in my diet and understanding my body type,’’ Johnson said. “I have made a strong effort with my diet and eating what is right for my body type."
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“It has made a huge difference in my energy level and sleep pattern,” added Johnson. “That all leads to more energy to work harder and become stronger. It’s been a good year of working on it. I’m definitely feeling better and am seeing improvements in myself.’’
That has to send chills down the spines of fellow competitors. Johnson was tough enough before this health kick, collecting more wins [42] since entering the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2002 than any driver and capturing the last three championships.
Now his edge goes beyond Hendrick Motorsports technology.
“Physical fitness is key,’’ said Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus. “If you’re a little overweight you’re not feeling as motivated as you are when you’re slim and trim. If you eat properly and work out regularly you’re going to be in better shape and it’s going to carry you longer through the summer.
“If it’s hot and you don’t have the proper nutrition or you’re not eating the right foods, it weighs you down and you just feel sluggish.’’
Johnson focuses on balance in his diet and workout. Because he uses the right side of his body more to make constant left turns he has to work harder to make sure his left side is as strong and flexible.
Much of his training is similar to that of a boxer through the use of jump ropes and wind sprints.
“There are a lot of things to elevate my heart rate and get it out of whack so that I can recover,’’ Johnson said. “Our strategy is the more I can train my body to recover when I’m on a straightaway, my body can recover faster. When we’re under caution, I can recover faster. The weeks between races, I can recover faster. That’s kind of the raw goal.’’
Johnson’s diet has gone from two or three large meals a day to six small meals with more of what he calls “clean’’ calories, not empty calories that one often finds in fried or junk foods that put on fat instead of building muscle and stamina.
“I’m eating like a horse,’’ Johnson said. “It’s a lot of food, but it’s good food and my body is just burning through it.’’
Johnson’s at-track crew follows a similar plan and has a trainer employed by Hendrick Motorsports to make sure they follow it. That means power bars, not Heath bars. That means outdoor training to prepare for the heat, not a cool workout in an air-conditioned gym.
“We do rope courses, obstacle courses and other things like that outside to get their core temperature up and try and sustain that for a period of time,’’ Knaus said. “Let’s say for instance, you’re at Talladega and its 101 degrees, you need to be prepared for that.’’
Drivers and crewmen didn’t always have trainers and dieticians to help stay in shape. Bobby Allison used to train for the heat by driving in his street car with the windows up and the heater on full blast in the summertime.
Many drivers were so far from being in shape that they were questioned about being athletes.
Today’s drivers put in arguably more time in the gym than they do behind the wheel. Mark Martin, Johnson’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, has been an inspiration for the shape he’s in at the age of 50.
“I mean, look at Mark Martin’s body posture,’’ Johnson said. “That man turned left for a lot of years and he’s in great shape.’’
That doesn’t mean Johnson isn’t occasionally tempted to cheat on his daily routine, but it’s not usually French fries that get him.
“That’s easy,’’ he said. “Ice cream. I love ice cream.”
And with a workout routine that rivals most stick-and-ball athletes, Johnson can probably afford the whole sundae with the full works – just not as often as he might like.
