Daytona 500
Jimmie Johnson, right, feels pretty good about how his racing career has unfolded.
Jimmie Johnson doesn’t seem terribly obsessed about winning a seventh Cup title.
“My life sucks. That would be terrible,” he said with a smile Tuesday when asked about the prospect of not winning another title. Now 40, Johnson hasn’t won a title in two seasons, thoughit’s hardly adrought.
Johnson has six championships. His No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet is one of NASCAR’s iconic rides. He is married to a former model. Has two daughters and oodles of money.
Not bad for a California kid, the son of a blue-collar family that once lived in a trailer park. Johnson now has all the perks of success, including a private jet and motor home.
“Man, honestly, my goal was to win a race when I came in,” he said. “I thought, ‘Man, if I can win a race, they’ll keepmearound for a couple more years, make a little money. Then I’llgoback to racing dirt; life will be good.’
“To win three in that first year (2002), I realized quickly that I needed to reframe my goals and set some new marks out there formyself. Then I looked at a championship, then we knocked off five straight, on and on. So, yes, I’m very happy with where I’m at.”
Danica’s Valentine: Love means having to make sacrifices. Even if it means spending Valentine’s Day at a dirt track near Daytona International Speedway after pole qualifying for the Daytona 500. Ask Danica Patrick, whohungout with her man, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
“I mean, Valentine’s Day at the dirt track, I couldn’t have thought of anything better,” she said.“But part of being in a relationship is that you see somebody that you love and care about doing something that they love so much and that they’re happy. So going to the dirt track makes him that happy.
“If it wasn’t so dirty, I’d probably love it a little bit more. But I always have to shower afterward. I always have to cleanmy shoes off. I can’t wear nice shoes to the track. Such a bummer.”
Daytona sellout: Reserved stadium tickets — featuring 101,500 permanent and wider seats—for the Daytona 500 are sold out. Premium hospitality, in field admissions and Sprint FANZONE/ access remain on sale.
Fans who want to check out the refurbished motorsports stadium can attend an open house Wednesday. Self-guided tours will showcase the vertical transportation, wider and more comfortable seats and 11 spacious social areas.