Reigning Champion Jimmie Johnson Adds Personal Touch to NASCAR Hall of Fame
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 28, 2010) – With 13 days until opening, the NASCAR Hall of Fame today announced four prominent historic items to be on display at the 150,000-square-foot interactive, entertainment attraction – Jimmie Johnson’s four NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM Trophies. The reigning four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion has loaned his four personal trophies to the venue for six months.
"The NASCAR Hall of Fame is going to have so many cool things, showing the history of our sport. I was definitely humbled that they asked for something of mine to display,” said Johnson. “It’s an honor for me and the whole 48 Lowe’s team. I hope fans appreciate seeing the trophies up close. I know how special they are to me, and I’ve certainly enjoyed seeing them the past four years.”
While the NASCAR Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR, a current item such as Johnson’s trophies recognizes the importance of history in the making. Eight years ago today, Johnson captured his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win on April 28, 2002 at California Speedway, and since then, he has earned a spot in the record books as the only driver to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championships (2006-2009).
“To showcase all four of Jimmie’s personal trophies emphasizes the importance of the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the veterans of the sport and the history-makers of today,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “These trophies represent his back-to-back championships and are iconic to this new era of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing. We are honored to show these to the public. We initially requested Jimmie’s 2009 championship trophy to display, and Jimmie graciously offered to loan us all four. Of course we were thrilled. His offer really illustrates how supportive the sport has been of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We sincerely appreciate Jimmie and all the other members of the NASCAR community for their generosity and support.”
The driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet began his storied run to four championships in 2006. Since that time, Johnson and team have recorded 32 wins, 69 top-five finishes and 100 top 10s, most notably winning the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
In total, Johnson has tallied 50 wins, 122 top-five finishes and 186 top-10 finishes. Among active drivers, he is second in total wins, 32 wins behind car owner Jeff Gordon (82). Johnson has won at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at all but five (Michigan, Infineon, Chicago, Watkins Glen and Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.
The El Cajon, Calif.-native is currently tied with two-time NASCAR Champion Ned Jarrett and NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Junior Johnson for 10th on NASCAR’s all-time win list. In addition, the four-consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ties a modern-era NASCAR record.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy was crafted by world-renowned jeweler and silversmith Tiffany & Co. Weighing in at 27 pounds and 24 inches tall, the sterling silver trophy debuted in 2004 with the entry of NEXTEL as NASCAR’s premier series sponsor. It features flowing checkered flags and a perpetual base listing the names of each NASCAR Champion since 1948, four of those spots dedicated to Johnson.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame opens to the public May 11 at 10 a.m. EDT. The opening ceremony for the high-tech, interactive attraction begins at 9 a.m. EDT. The one-hour ceremony will culminate with NASCAR celebrities, elected officials and other dignitaries officially opening the venue. The opening ceremony will be followed by free outdoor activities from 10 a.m. through the late evening. Activities will include NASCAR celebrities, question-and-answer sessions, strolling entertainment, food vendors, and free concerts by country music artists Lee Brice, Bomshel and Love And Theft.
Tickets for the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling 704-654-4400.
About NASCAR Hall of Fame
Opening May 11, 2010 in uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, 275-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. www.NASCARHall.com