"Wear your best outfit": When Jimmie Johnson and wife Chandra reflected on the unexpected twist during their marriage proposal

Jimmie Johnson once told his now-wife Chandra Janway to wear her best outfit for a marriage proposal he secretly planned. However, the scene had an unexpected twist after Janway knelt before Johnson.

Johnson is a 49-year-old California native who won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships with Hendrick Motorsports. He proposed to Janway in 2003 during a ski trip in Beaver Creek, Colorado, after Jeff Gordon introduced them to each other.

In an interview with Graham Bensinger in 2021, the couple shared how Johnson proposed a year after graduating full-time to the Cup Series.

“We were in Beaver Creek and I remember Jimmie said, ‘Wear your best outfit today, we’re going to take photos.’ I thought that’s strange,” Janway said. [2:15]

The former model continued by telling Bensinger that they had a photographer snowboarding with them. She thought it was interesting, saying, “They don’t usually do that. I should have known.”

Johnson then shared that the proposal got awkward after Janway knelt on her knee as well, as she thought that they should kneel for a photo op.

“It was a little awkward when I went down on a knee. She thought she was supposed to kneel for the photo as well. And I was like, ‘No, no, honey, you need to stand,” he said. [2:38]

The couple got married in December 2004, and now have two daughters. The firstborn, born in July 2010, was named Genevieve Marie. She was followed by Lydia Norriss, who was born in September 2013.

Jimmie Johnson with his family when he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2024 (Source: Imagn)

Johnson is currently working as a co-owner and part-time driver at Legacy Motor Club. He will be joining the field in the final race of the season at Phoenix Raceway in the No. 84 LMC Toyota Camry, which will sport a fan-made desert-themed livery.

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Jimmie Johnson shared how Jeff Gordon introduced him to his now wife

In a later interview with Graham Bensinger, Jimmie Johnson shared how Jeff Gordon helped him meet his now-wife Chandra Janway. Johnson said Gordon’s newly divorced status helped him live out his bachelor life, eventually meeting Janway.

The former No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports driver stated:

“He was just newly divorced when I came into the scene and joined racing and you know his means and ability and desire to see the world worked perfectly with my single life schedule and on that journey, I'm with my wife. [Jeff Gordon] helped introduce me to my wife.” [1:36]

The seven-time champ added:

“There were some summer trips to France and Italy that were just mind blowing. I meant to stroll over there in my early 20s, Channy [Chandra Janway] and I together with Jeff, checking out various parts of the world was pretty wild.” [1:58]

Before settling down with Johnson, Janway was a model in her teenage years. She also landed a role in 2007’s Devil’s Canyon as Jill/Jenna. Today, Janway owns a Charlotte-based gallery called SOCO Gallery, which she opened in 2015. It features contemporary art created by emerging to mid-career artists.