Johnson attended the Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Most of us will never know what it feels like to stand on stage and give a speech after being inducted into the hall of fame of our chosen industry. I'm sure driving legend Jimmie Johnson does the same. Already this year, Johnson has been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Johnson is perhaps the most accomplished man to ever sit behind a steering wheel, with a record-tying seven championships, 83 race wins, and a staggering 374 top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series. .
Although he hasn't been on the track as much as he used to these days, the 48-year-old Johnson has not said when he will park his car permanently. For now, the Southern California native owns the Legacy Motor Club team and races part-time in the United States, living in London with his family and traveling in his free time. He seems happy to be there.
During one of his recent schedule pit stops, Johnson sat down with Forbes Travel Guide to talk racing, retirement and the only Asian country he hasn't reached yet.
What is your proudest accomplishment on the track during your storied career?
It's hard to choose one. That was it for a while. There were breakthrough moments in my career where certain victories opened up new opportunities. There are so many moments when I go back to my youth. But I think what's very logical and something that a lot of people can understand and understand is that we were able to win our seventh championship and tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
In addition to its amazing results, [2016 Ford EcoBoost 400] It was probably one of the most challenging races I've ever participated in. I think I only led one and a half laps in the entire event. But I was the one who led the most important lap. The emotional roller coaster I rode on that day with my family and fans. [was a lot]. With 15 laps to go, I knew this wasn't my year. He had no intention of becoming a champion. And after 15 laps I was immediately in the lead and couldn't even control myself. I was just flopping around, jumping all over the place like an idiot.
Won the Daytona 500 twice.
You're not retired, but you're not fully active on the NASCAR schedule. Define where you are in your career right now.
Yes, that's interesting. That was my announcement when I stepped away from full-time racing in NASCAR. That means I will no longer race full-time in NASCAR. I was immediately labeled “retired.” I spent several years in IndyCar and fulfilled my childhood dream of racing sports cars. I felt that if the right opportunity presented itself, I would come back to NASCAR.
Like many musicians, I can't put my instrument down. In my sport, I'm very fortunate to be able to continue doing it late in my career when many stick-and-ball players miss out on that opportunity in their late 20s to mid-30s. I feel that. To have this amazing sport that I can still compete in at 48 years old [is wonderful]. Trust me, as long as I get permission from my family and sponsors, I will push it even further.
I'm very interested [racing in] marquee event. I'm still very interested in racing and the experience with cars. This is where my focus changed a bit and I became a team owner. This was a great change for me. Because I get to enjoy the limited schedule I'm running, while at the same time fighting for a greater cause and making Legacy Motor Club stronger.
You mentioned marquee events. Let's talk about the trip to Daytona and Bristol and all these top events. What do you do to stay energized while moving around during the season?
I feel it was wise of me to be aware of the time zone of my destination and try to rest accordingly.Of course, stay hydrated [is key]. I always take a lot of vitamins. More so than usual.When I found out I could fly [I take vitamins] Just to fight off any viruses or diseases floating around that you might be exposed to.
I always just try to focus myself once I get somewhere, if I can do a little bit of training.Nothing crazy – or just go outside and take a nice walk or jog [it’s beneficial]. My wife loves walks, so she often goes for walks. If she is alone, she will go outside and run in wherever she is and take in the view. That grounding moment helps get my heart rate up and pulls me into that time zone.
Johnson enjoys traveling through Europe with his family.
Have you been able to explore much of England?
Well, it was adventurous and fun. We know we only have a short time here so we're trying to make the most of what England and its surroundings have to offer. We've already been to Scotland and Ireland. We have been to Holland, Spain and France many times. Tomorrow I will leave for Japan with my children.
Throughout the long struggle of racing non-stop, my wife and I have always loved traveling and have tried to spend time in Europe. Anywhere you can really go. There have been a few times in the summer when my family came to Europe and set up base here while I stayed and worked in the US. When I have a weekend off, which I don't have a lot of in NASCAR, I spend a few weeks with my family and then go back to racing. We love travel, we love culture, and we love culinary experiences.
We will make the most of our time here in the UK and do whatever we can. Even if I'm in the UK for a weekend, I go out by car. we are in the countryside. This past weekend we were exploring and eating in some great little pubs in the countryside and staying in quaint little cottages. That's something we would never do in America, right?
Exploring Japan for the first time?
Yes, it's my first time. We are avid skiers and we know the snow is amazing in Japan, so it was hard not to chase it. But taking the girls is a much more cultural experience. We will visit four different cities, starting with Tokyo and Kyoto. I can't remember the other two.
perhaps Osaka?
Well, I think Osaka is one of them. But there's one more thing. My wife is a gallerist and she owns an art gallery. The small town we go to has a permanent art installation on the island.
When you pack for a trip to Japan or anywhere else, what always goes in your luggage?
Well, since I'm in England, my boots [or rain boots] It looks like it's going to rain, so slickers are a must. It happens all the time. And that's new to me. We didn't have to plan for that much rain in America.
Also called earphones. This may seem ironic, but I've also found that listening to a sound bath or Tibetan bowl helps me fall asleep because it calms me down.I found something that would fit inside [my ears] We can sleep together. Let them sleep on the plane. Or if I need to take a nap to get into a certain time zone, the Tibetan Bowl knocks me out.
The Queen City is Johnson's U.S. home.
Where will you be based when you return to the United States?
I grew up in Southern California but moved to North Carolina in 1997 and have lived there ever since. Charlotte is the town we live in, there's still a place for us there, and we'll definitely be back when this adventure is over.
What do you miss most about Charlotte?
Charlotte is a great city. We really enjoyed watching her grow. I lived there for a long time and got to see it change, grow and mature. I'm glad I was able to participate in that. I now understand better that Charlotte isn't going anywhere. It's always there. But what I miss is the people. Been there for a very long time. I have a lot of great relationships, friends, colleagues, etc. I really miss people.
I'll be crossing Japan off my list of things I want to do next. Are there some other places you'd like to visit but haven't been yet?
We had planned a trip to Thailand but unfortunately had to cancel due to the riots a few years ago. And her wife became pregnant with her second daughter Lydia. We found out about it only 2-3 weeks before the trip. She had severe morning sickness and had to cancel her second trip.
There is still much to see in the world. However, our 20th wedding anniversary will be coming up this December. We have to make that journey. I don't know if that celebratory trip will work out, but I would like to go and experience it someday.
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