Johnson adds his own personal touch to HOF

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- With 13 days until its opening, the NASCAR Hall of Fame announced four prominent historic items to be on display at the 150,000-square-foot interactive, entertainment attraction -- Jimmie Johnson's four Cup Series trophies. The reigning four-time Cup Series champion has loaned his four personal trophies to the venue for six months.

"The NASCAR Hall of Fame is going to have so many cool things, showing the history of our sport. I was definitely humbled that they asked for something of mine to display," Johnson said. "It's an honor for me and the whole No. 48 team. I hope fans appreciate seeing the trophies up close. I know how special they are to me, and I've certainly enjoyed seeing them the past four years."

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The Hall of Fame will bring NASCAR's history to life and preserves that history in the appropriate environments. The facility will allow fans to have the opportunity to relive the sport's greatest moments.

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While the NASCAR Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR, a current item such as Johnson's trophies recognizes the importance of history in the making. Eight years ago, Johnson captured his first Cup Series win on April 28, 2002, at Auto Club Speedway, and since then, he has earned a spot in the record books as the only driver to win four consecutive Cup Series titles.

"To showcase all four of Jimmie's personal trophies emphasizes the importance of the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the veterans of the sport and the history-makers of today," said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "These trophies represent his back-to-back championships and are iconic to this new era of NASCAR racing. We are honored to show these to the public.

"We initially requested Jimmie's 2009 championship trophy to display, and Jimmie graciously offered to loan us all four. Of course we were thrilled. His offer really illustrates how supportive the sport has been of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We sincerely appreciate Jimmie and all the other members of the NASCAR community for their generosity and support."

The driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet began his storied run to four championships in 2006. Since that time, Johnson and team have recorded 32 wins, 69 top-five finishes and 100 top-10s, most notably winning the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Sprint All-Star Race.

In total, Johnson has tallied 50 wins, 122 top-fives and 186 top-10s. Among active drivers, he is second in total wins, 32 wins behind car owner Jeff Gordon (82). Johnson has won at least one Cup Series race at all but five (Michigan, Infineon, Chicago, Watkins Glen and Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.

The El Cajon, Calif.-native is currently tied with two-time Cup champion Ned Jarrett and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Junior Johnson for 10th on NASCAR's all-time win list. In addition, the four-consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase ties a modern-era NASCAR record.

The Cup Series trophy was crafted by world-renowned jeweler and silversmith Tiffany & Co. Weighing in at 27 pounds and 24 inches tall, the sterling silver trophy debuted in 2004 with the entry of Nextel as NASCAR's premier series sponsor. It features flowing checkered flags and a perpetual base listing the names of each Cup champion since 1948, four of those spots dedicated to Johnson.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame opens to the public May 11 at 10 a.m. ET. The opening ceremony for the high-tech, interactive attraction begins at 9 a.m. ET. The one-hour ceremony will culminate with NASCAR celebrities, elected officials and other dignitaries officially opening the venue. The opening ceremony will be followed by free outdoor activities from 10 a.m. through the late evening. Activities will include NASCAR celebrities, question-and-answer sessions, strolling entertainment, food vendors, and free concerts by country music artists Lee Brice, Bomshel and Love And Theft.

Tickets for the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling (877) 231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling (704) 654-4400.