“When you make a commitment to fitness, it’s a job”: When 7x NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson shared his training routine to keep himself in shape

Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. The Legacy Motor Club team owner and part-time driver had once shared tips on how he keeps himself in shape in an interview.

Unlike most budding stock car drivers, Johnson began his racing career racing motorcycles on dirt tracks. However, a knee injury forced him to switch to four-wheelers. After winning multiple accolades in off-road racing, the California-born racer switched to the NASCAR Busch Series (now Xfinity Series) in 1998. Three seasons later, Johnson entered the Cup Series and the rest is history.

In a Cup Series career of over two decades, the 49-year-old team owner/driver has managed to accumulate 36 pole positions, 83 race wins, and 374 Top 10 finishes. In terms of championships, he is tied with NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. with a total of seven titles to his name. To stay competitive for such a long duration, Johnson has always prioritized fitness.

In an interview with the Men's Journal in 2019, Jimmie Johnson shared tips on how he keeps himself in shape with a rigorous training routine. Here are some tips he shared during the interaction.

"Every three or four months, I add new elements to my training," Johnson said, higlighting the importance of change for better development.

"When you make a commitment to fitness, it’s a job," he recommended to help maintain focus.

"When you have a muscular imbalance, that’s when injury happens," Johnson added, suggesting excercising caution to avoid injuries while training.

The #84 driver further went on to highlight the importance of regular meals, wherein he managed to accommodate protein shakes in his schedule, even while racing hard on the track.

"They’ll pass one to me at the pit stop. Under caution, that’s mealtime for me," Jimmie Johnson explained.

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"I’ll definitely be in the car" - NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson plans to race in the 2025 Cup Series season

Jimmie Johnson greets fans before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. - Source: Imagn

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson ran a total of 10 races in the 2024 Cup Series season with his team, Legacy Motor Club. During a post-race interview with Frontstretch's Bryan Nolen at Phoenix Raceway, the seven-time Cup Series championship confirmed his plans to race in the 2025 season.

"Yep, I'll definitely be in the car, I just don't know how many," Johnson said (2:08 onward).

"Still to be determined, I'm talking with Carvana (primary sponsor for Johnson) now. It looks like we'll have at least a couple races with them. And we should have that out here pretty soon," he added (3:02 onward).

Here's a look at the entire interview available on YouTube:

As for the 2024 season, Johnson ended up 37th in the driver's table with an average start of 28.333 and an average finish of 30.556 in the 10 races he ran in the year.