Genevieve Johnson knew that her dad didn’t win Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, so she didn’t understand why he was standing on a stage holding a trophy.
Her father, now six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, was being crowned yet again. When Johnson won his fifth title back in November of 2010, Evie as she’s called, was only an infant. On Sunday the now three-year-old had almost as much attention on her as her dad did, as she wondered around and played in the confetti, just being a curious kid.
“It’s been really neat. She gets it for the most part. The championship part, I’m not sure she understands how that all works just yet. She knew I didn’t win the race, but we were holding the trophy and celebrating,” Johnson said on Tuesday about watching his daughter in the midst of the celebration.
“She asked me a couple questions I’ve been trying to explain. I’ve been trying to explain for a few weeks about the championship, the points, what daddy is trying to do. It still hasn’t registered yet. Denny (Hamlin) was in Victory Lane. She didn’t understand why we were celebrating. It’s been fun trying to teach her all those things.”
Johnson and wife Chandra now have two daughters, Genevieve the oldest as two-month-old Lydia joined the family before the Chase began. On Sunday, after Johnson victoriously climbed from his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, as he’s done many times before, he became much more emotional than perhaps ever seen before.
It was after Chandra and Genevieve came over and gave him a hug. Johnson nearly broke down as he continued his live television interview. A driver that has been more machine than man the last eight seasons, recently has shown more of a personal side the last few. He mentions family more and makes sure there are family pictures to capture every Victory Lane moment.
Both he and championship rival Matt Kenseth were often asked about their friendship because of how close their daughters are. Johnson even sharing a story about play-doh back in Martinsville. They’ve been with Johnson every step of the way and Sunday each of them were there to celebrate his latest accomplishment.
“It’s an incredible experience. There’s such joy and pride. My family makes a lot of sacrifices to support me,” Johnson said. “So from respect and appreciation of the sacrifices made. I’m not sure why Chani was emotional as she was. She’s typically not, nor am I. When she started to lose it, it sucked me in, I started to lose it as well.”
As the celebration wore on and the pictures started to get rolling, Johnson watched – and then shared with the Twitter world – how Genevieve was far more interested in the confetti on the frontstretch. She carried around a large foam ring hat that the Lowe’s team had passed out and were wearing. Lydia joined her parents and older sister later that evening for pictures as well.
Chandra also basked in the glow of her husband’s newest championship. Taking pictures of he and crew chief Chad Knaus, then joyously telling the NASCAR world on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio how proud she was of him, the excitement and pride evident in her voice.
The couple met during Johnson’s rookie season in 2002, were married in 2004 and haven’t looked back since.
So, after laying his hands on his new NSCS trophy on Sunday for the first time, triumphantly hoisting it above his head, Johnson immediately turned to his family. He bent down and tried to show Genevieve and explain what a championship was. But while she didn’t understand the magnitude of the situation, Johnson did and it made him even more thankful of those he was sharing it with.
“There was just an overwhelming sense of pride. It comes from a lot of different angles, the work that goes into it, the sacrifice. I’m just a proud father and a proud husband,” said Johnson.
“There’s something activated in me – I think all parents can speak to this – once you have kids and they’re born, your heart changes and you love in different ways, a different capacity. All that stuff is going on, leads me down the road to where I am today, the position I’m in today, enjoying those moments.”