For the fourth consecutive year Jimmie Johnson finished in the top five in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. The finish also marked the second time in as many years that Johnson and his Lowe's team were in contention to win the championship going into the final race of the season. His tenure in the Nextel Cup Series also includes finishes of fifth in his inaugural year and second in his sophomore season.

Throughout his racing career Johnson used hard work and determination to propel him toward success. This humble but engaging California native began his racing career on two wheels.

With the support of his family, Johnson started on 50cc motorcycles at the age of five. His father, Gary, worked for a tire company and his mother, Cathy, drove a school bus. With Jimmie and younger brothers Jarit and Jessie in tow, the family spent most of their weekends camping and doing what they loved - racing. During these weekends, it wasn't unusual to see Gary preparing the tracks for the kids to race and Cathy running the concession stand.

Johnson was successful on motorcycles at an early age. By the time he was eight, he won the 60cc class championship despite blowing out his knee with several races remaining in the season.

From motorcycles, Johnson graduated to the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) Stadium Racing Series where he won more awards. A 1993 meeting arranged by his mentor, supercross champion Rick Johnson (no relation), proved fortuitous for the eager driver.

While racing at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Rick Johnson introduced his young protégé to the Executive Director of GM Racing, Herb Fishel. The protégé lived up to his billing, impressing Fishel with his driving ability and business acumen.

Fishel kept his eye on Johnson that year. He later walked into an off-road racing team meeting and threw a picture of Johnson on the table informing the team that Johnson was the man they needed to drive their car.

Johnson seized the opportunity, spending the next few years driving buggies and trucks in off-road stadium and desert races. Johnson also improved his ability to connect with fans and potential sponsors by reporting for ESPN in the Short Course Off-Road Drivers Association Series (SODA).

The work paid off in another way as Johnson met his future car owners Stan and Randy Herzog while working in the series. The eager driver crafted a proposal and took it to his friend, Fishel. Fishel gave the owners and their ambitious driver a shot and in 1997 Johnson climbed behind the wheel of an American Speed Association car and got his first taste of pavement racing and never looked back.

His victories in the ASA Series paved the way for his move to NASCAR (initially in the Busch Series) where his winning ways continue.

Jimmie Johnson Career Highlights

In 147 Nextel Cup races, Johnson's record includes: 18 wins, eight poles, 53 top-five and 86 top-10 finishes

• Finished fifth in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup
• Lead the point standings for 17 weeks during the season
• Visited victory lane four times; Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway (2x), Dover Downs
• Amassed one pole, 13 top-five and 22 top-ten finishes
• Swept both events at a track (Lowe's Motor Speedway) for the fourth consecutive year
• Only driver ranked in the top 10 in point standings after every race during the season (streak began at Atlanta in March 2004)

• Capped off season with a second-place finish in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup
• Visited victory lane 8 times, the most of any driver
• Notched 20 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes and led 24 races for a total of 1,312 (the most of any driver for the 2004 season)
• For the third consecutive year swept both events at a track (twice in the season-Pocono and Darlington)

• Finished the season second in the Nextel Cup points standings with three wins (Lowe's Motor Speedway and twice at New Hampshire International Raceway), 14 top-fives, 20 top-10s and two poles (Pocono and Kansas)
• Won All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway
• Finished the season 9th on the all-time list for consecutive weeks (69) ranked in the top-10 in points.

• Notched three victories in rookie campaign - twice at Dover Downs and once at California Speedway; the first rookie in series history to sweep both races at a track
• Along with the three wins, compiled six top-five and 21 top-10 finishes
• Fastest qualifier four times - Daytona 500, Talladega Superspeedway(spring), Lowe's Motor Speedway (spring), and Richmond International Raceway(fall)
• First rookie in the history to lead in the point standings

• Made first NASCAR Nextel Cup appearance - qualified 15th and finished 39th on Oct. 7 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
• Qualified 30th and finished 25th on Nov. 11 at Homestead Miami Speedway
• Posted his first career NASCAR Busch Series win at the inaugural race at Chicagoland Speedway, finished eighth in final point standings

• Finished 10th in the Busch Series point standings and third in the battle for Rookie of the Year
• Best finish of sixth (three times) at South Boston Speedway (6/10), Michigan International Speedway (8/15), and Homestead-Miami Speedway (11/11)
• Recorded best Busch Series start (fourth) at Darlington Raceway (9/2)

• Started five Busch Series races - The Milwaukee Mile, North Carolina Speedway, Memphis Motorsports Park, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead Miami Speedway
• Earned a seventh-place finish in the first Busch Series start at The Milwaukee Mile (7/4)
• Finished third in the American Speed Association's (ASA) national championship point race
• Captured ASA wins at Memphis Motorsports Park (6/12) and Orange County Speedway (10/12)

• Started three Busch Series races - Indianapolis Raceway Park, Gateway International Raceway, and Homestead Miami Speedway
• Finished fourth in the ASA national championship point race during his first full season
• Named ASA Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year