Jimmie Johnson

TRAGEDY STRIKES FAMILY OF NASCAR CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON: IN-LAWS AND NEPHEW FOUND DEAD IN SUSPECTED MURDER-SUICIDE

Story and photo Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra Janway,  at a 2009 rally with then-Supervisor Dianne Jacob in Santee, where Johnson and his wife were honored for their charitable foundation’s generous donations to local schools.

June 27, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The parents of NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson’s wife, Chandra Janway, Johnson, were found dead today at a home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, along with Johnson’s 11-year old nephew.  Raised in El Cajon, Johnson has long been hailed as a hometown hero not only for his NASCAR wins, but also for the generosity of the foundation that he and his wife ran, donating millions of dollars to help children in need and benefit local schools.

Police investigators report that they believe Terry Janway shot and killed her husband, Jack Janway, and their grandson, Dalton, then killed herself.  

NASCAR issued this statement.  “We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family.  The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie, and the entire Johnson and Janway families.”


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JIMMIE JOHNSON AND HIS WIFE TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Miriam Raftery: Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra, in 2009 in Santee

July 3, 2020 (El Cajon) – Jimmie Johnson has become the first NASCAR driver to test positive for COVID-19. The seven-time NASCAR champion and El Cajon native will miss this weekend’s INDY doubleheader races in Indianapolis Saturday and Sunday.

Johnson has no symptoms, but took the test after his wife had mild symptoms and tested positive. He will remain sidelined until cleared by a physician, one more setback in what Johnson earlier announced would be the final racing season of his career.


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NASCAR CHAMP JIMMIE JOHNSON CANCELS SPONSORSHIP OVER RACIST TWEETS, DENOUNCES NOOSE LEFT IN STALL OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN DRIVER BUBBA WALLACE

 

Update June 23, 2020:  In a show of solidarity, all drivers in the Talladega race yesterday afternoon joined together to push Bubba Wallace's car to the front before the race began, after Jimmie Johnson announced he would stand with Wallace during the national anthem.  During the race, Wallace's vehicle ran out of gas, so another drived pushed him over the finish line and he came in 14th.  Johnson finished 13th and said he is "very proud of our sport."

Later in the day, the FBI announced that video shows the rope noose used as a door pull had been in the stall newly assigned to Wallace's team since 2019.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, left: Jimmie Johnson and Bubba Wallace, creative commons via 2.0 by Zach Catanzareti

June 22, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, an El Cajon native and hometown hero, is ending his final year in the sport by taking a strong stand against racism in the sport.

Last week, NASCAR announced a ban on the Confederate flag, a move long pushed for by Bubba Wallace, one of the most successful African-American drivers in NASCAR racing history. 

Yesterday, NASCAR announced that a noose had been found in the stall of the Wallace team 43 prior to the Talladega Super Speedway race in Alabama (which has been postponed until 1 p.m. today Pacific Standard Time due to inclement weather). 

The U.S. Justice Department and NASCAR have both announced investigations into the action, which could be charged as a hate crime.

Jimmie Johnson tweeted, “I can’t begin to fathom the pain this action has caused. I stand with you @BubbaWallace.”


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JIMMIE JOHNSON WINS SEVENTH SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

 

For more sports coverage, visit ECM's Sports section

Source: NASCAR.com

Cover photo:  Creative Commons under Nascarking (Wikipedia).  Newsflasher photo:  Creative Commons under Flickr upload bot

November 20, 2016 (Miami) - Jimmie Johnson today won his seventh Sprint Cup championship and his first in three years at the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Miami.  The 41-year-old and El Cajon native is now tied with Dale Earnardt and Richard Petty as a seven-time premiere series champion.


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JIMMIE JOHNSON CHAMPIONS GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

 

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2014 (El Cajon)--Once again, six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has proven himself to be a hero for education in his hometown, El Cajon.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education has awarded $556,623 in grants for 2014—including grants to three schools in the Grossmont Union High School District.  The local grants include

  • Chaparral High School - $29,482 to create a computer lab that will augment the program at Chaparral through the use of online learning and digital arts instruction.
  • El Capitan High School - $23,000 to purchase new laptops for teachers so they can be better equipped to use digital/paperless resources and to teach students how to use the online resources and apps available to them.
  • Grossmont High School - $80,458 to integrate technology and foster collaboration and making connections between the arts and core academic classes.

Other grants went to schools in North Carolina, Okalahoma, and to Loma Portal Elementary School in San Diego.


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EL CAJON HOSTS TRIBUTE TO JIMMIE JOHNSON, NASCAR CHAMPION, ON TUESDAY JUNE 17

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 5, 2014 (El Cajon)--Six-time NASACAR Champion Jimmie Johnson will be returning to his hometown of El Cajon for a special tribute on Tuesday, June 17. 

Weather permitting, the El Cajon City Council will hold a special celebration to recognize the hometown hero for his racing accomplishments—and also his philanthropic contributions to the community.  The City is encouraging everyone to attend and show support for one of the racing world’s biggest stars.


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EARNHARDT BEATS JOHNSON TO WIN DAYTONA 500

 

February 24, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Daytona 500  race on Sunday, February 23. It was his second Daytona victory in a decade, at the same track where his father was killed back in 2001.


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JIMMIE JOHNSON CAPTURES SIXTH SPRINT TITLE, RACES INTO RECORD BOOKS AMONG SPORTS GREATEST CHAMPIONS

November 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – East County’s own Jimmie Johnson zoomed into sports history tonight, wining is sixth Sprint Cup championship to become one of the top NASCAR racing competitors ever.  He trails only Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt, racing legends who each scored seven wins.

Sporting News writer Jeff Owens now names Johnson among the greatest athletes of all time, in any sport.  Today’s win ties Johnson with LeBron James of NBA fame as the two most dominant pro athletes in pro sports today, each with six l titles in eight years, surpassing basketball’s Kobe Bryant and basebal’s Derek Jeter.

“Johnson rivals golf’s Tiger Woods and tennis star Roger Federer as the most accomplished individual athletes in pro sports,” Owens added.


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ZOOM! JIMMIE JOHNSON HEADS TO NATIONWIDE RACE AFTER WINNING DAYTONA 500

 

March 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – What do you do after winning your second Daytona 500 race?  The Harlem Shake, of course!  View video of East County native and five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and his teammates shaking things up as they celebrate their latest victory: http://www.jimmiejohnson.com/cantina

Next up, Johnson will race in Saturday’s Nationwide Race at the Phonenix International Raceway.  Also this week, Johnson announced that Lowe’s has renewed its sponsorship.

“We've been together for this crazy ride, and I'm so happy we're continuing it together,” Johnson said, USA Today reported.


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JIMMIE JOHNSON CRASHES AT DAYTONA

By Miriam Raftery

 

February 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, a hometown hero who grew up in El Cajon and Santee, wiped out on the second lap of the Daytona 500 tonight in a multi-car pileup.


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WHITE HOUSE TO HONOR NASCAR CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON

September 3, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama will honor East County’s hometown hero, Jimmie Johnson, in a ceremony at the White House next Wednesday.

 


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JOHNSON GETS PUSH FROM EARNHARDT TO WIN AARON'S 499

 

April 18, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -Teamwork is often a forgotten concept in a sport like stock car racing, where individual accomplishment gains the most attention. Jimmie Johnson didn't forget the concept at the Aaron's 499 race at Talladega Speedway Sunday, April 17. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., gave him a push at the finish, giving Johnson his first win of the season and 54th of his career. 

 


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EAST COUNTY’S JIMMIE JOHNSON NAMED AP MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

HOMETOWN HERO BECOMES FIRST RACE CAR DRIVER TO WIN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

 

December 22, 2009 (El Cajon) –Jimmie Johnson of El Cajon, the only driver ever to win four consecutive NASCAR championships, has been named Male Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. The only race car driver ever to with the award since its inception 78 years ago, Johnson received 42 votes from editors of newspapers that are members of the AP, beating out golfer Tiger Woods, NBA star Kobe Bryant, tennis star Roger Federer, Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt and baseball slugger Albert Pujols for the honor.


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“HOMETOWN HERO” & NASCAR CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON DONATES $500,000 TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

 

December 2, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Jimmie Johnson, the first driver in history to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup titles, has donated half a million dollars to local schools. Johnson made several local appearances this week, including an event honoring him in Santee hosted by Lowe’s Tuesday night.

 

“We are most proud of you,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, noting that Johnson grew up in East County and graduated from Granite Hills High School. “Besides the greatness you’ve achieved, you’ve given back to your community—you haven’t forgotten your roots.” The San Diego County Board of Supervisors named December 1st “Jimmie Johnson” day in his honor.


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