Johnson Signs With Hendrick Motorsports

HARRISBURG, NC - Young driving sensation Jimmie Johnson has signed with Hendrick Motorsports as driver for a full-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series team in 2002, Hendrick Motorsports CEO Rick Hendrick announced today.

Johnson, who currently drives the #92 Alltel Chevrolet owned by Herzog Motorsports on the Busch Grand National circuit, will compete in four Winston Cup events for Hendrick Motorsports next season before assuming full-time driving duties in 2002.

"We are thrilled to have Jimmie Johnson as a part of our organization and we're indebted to Herzog Motorsports for making it happen," Hendrick said. "One of our main priorities here is to discover and develop the best young talent in racing. And Jimmie has shown he has the potential to be a part of that next wave of Winston Cup superstars."

Johnson, a 25-year-old native of California, burst on to the national racing scene in l999 when he captured Rookie-of-the-Year honors on the highly competitive American Speed Association circuit, which has long served as a training ground for future NASCAR stars.

In 1999, he continued his ASA success by winning two races including the season finale to finish third in the national point standings in just his second full season of ASA racing. This year, Johnson has four top-10 finishes and ranks 10th in the Busch Grand National point standings as a rookie. In addition to four Winston Cup races, Johnson will run a full Busch schedule next season with his team at Herzog Motorsports.

"Jimmie is a pure racing talent and this is a great opportunity for him," said Randy Herzog, co-owner of Herzog Motorsports. "Hendrick Motorsports is a tremendous organization and Rick has done a great job in bringing along young talent. We wish Jimmie the best as he makes the move from Busch to Winston Cup racing."

At Hendrick Motorsports, Johnson's cars will be fielded from the #24 DuPont Team Shop of three-time Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon, who will be directly involved with Johnson's fledgling Winston Cup team.

"This is just an unbelievable opportunity for me," Johnson said, "Having the resources that Hendrick Motorsports provides and the opportunity to work with Jeff Gordon is a huge career step for me."

Johnson added, "I want to thank everybody at Herzog Motorsports for their support, Without them, this opportunity would not have been available to me."

Gordon called Johnson "an exceptional talent."

"I'm really looking forward to working with him and developing his new race team" Gordon added. "I think a two-team operation under one organizational structure could be the way of the future as it pertains to managing race teams."