Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson: One of these things is not like the others. All three own seven NASCAR season championships, but only one did not grow up in North Carolina as a second-generation stock car racer. The third grew up in California racing motorcycles and surfing.
With mentor Jeff Gordon (who both brought him into the fold at Hendrick Motorsports and later memorably complained after a string of on-track entanglements—alluding to his mentee’s championship count—that “Four-time expects to be treated differently”), Johnson exemplifies the changing demographics of NASCAR.
When he made his debut in 2001, just three drivers from outside the South had won a season championship.