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Jimmie Johnson Reflects on Emotional 2016 NASCAR Championship Win – “I wish I could relive that!”

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
December 26, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Jimmie Johnson Reflects on Emotional 2016 NASCAR Championship Win – “I wish I could relive that!”

Nov 9, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (84) during qualifying for the Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time Cup Series champion, recently opened up about the emotional roller coaster of his 2016 championship win during an appearance on a podcast. Johnson, one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, along with the late Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, described the unforgettable race at Homestead-Miami Speedway that sealed his seventh and final title.


The Homestead Drama: From Hopeless to Historic

Johnson’s seventh championship in 2016 wasn’t a straightforward triumph. With just 15 laps to go, he was sitting in sixth place, seemingly out of contention for both the race and the title. However, a set of red flags dramatically shifted the tide, allowing him to capitalize on the chaos and ultimately secure the historic win.

“I’d go back to winning the seventh championship in Homestead in 2016—that evening,” Johnson recalled. “Just the emotions that we went through that evening to tie with the greats of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.”

The race was a microcosm of Johnson’s career—marked by perseverance, resilience, and a knack for rising to the occasion under pressure. Johnson acknowledged the immense strain he felt in the closing moments of the race, describing it as one of the most emotionally charged experiences of his career.

“15 laps before I won the race, I won the championship, and I was in 6th place. I was not going to win the race or the championship. And we had a red flag that then set off a series of restarts.”


“An Emotional Roller Coaster”

Johnson admitted that the final laps at Homestead put him on an emotional roller coaster, ranging from sadness and anger to the sheer elation of victory. Despite the pressure, Johnson believes those moments revealed strengths he didn’t know he possessed.

“I didn’t realize the strengths I had under pressure until I was in those moments. How low I was and how bummed and sad and angry I was, 15 laps before the end, and to where we ended. Like that emotional roller coaster, I wish I could relive that experience again.”


A Career Shaped by a Pivotal Decision

Johnson’s journey to NASCAR greatness might never have happened without a key decision from his father. Johnson grew up racing motorcycles and had dreams of becoming a professional motocross racer. However, after suffering multiple injuries, his father steered him toward off-road car racing, a move that would shape his legendary career.

“I grew up on bikes. I got my first motorcycle on Christmas when I was 4 and then started racing at 5,” Johnson shared. “I found my way to four wheels when I was a teenager, just had too many broken bones, and my dad found a way to get me into a similar type of racing but with a roll cage around myself in stadium off-road racing, and things kind of took off from there.”


Legacy On and Off the Track

Johnson’s transition from motocross hopeful to NASCAR champion has left an indelible mark on the sport. His seven championships, including his iconic 2016 win, have solidified his place in NASCAR’s pantheon. Now, as the co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, Johnson is in a position to influence the next generation of racing talent.

Fans and peers alike are thankful for the pivotal decisions and unwavering determination that defined Johnson’s career. His contributions to NASCAR, both as a driver and now as an owner, ensure that his legacy will continue to grow.

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