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Memorable quotes from Jimmie Johnson, Rick Hendrick
By Staff Report | Published: November 21, 2019 15
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"Jimmie was a good friend of my son Ricky and Ricky told me he was going to be a champion." -- Rick Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"My dream was to be a Cup driver and to win a race … to be able to do that in my 13th start at my home track was very special for me." -- Jimmie Johnson
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"Breakfast is an important part of the day and a focal point for my kids. Lydia was midway through her pancakes when I started the video and could not be bothered by the video and said to pass the butter." -- Johnson
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"At the end of the day, this is about time. When I look at next year, I’ve been dreaming of racing as much as I could for 40 years."-- Johnson
"I still have that fire and I am coming back next year and it’s not a mail-it-in year. It is a year when we’re going to win races and compete for a championship."
"I still have that fire and I am coming back next year and it’s not a mail-it-in year. It is a year when we’re going to win races and compete for a championship."
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"Every time one of these drivers calls me and they want to come to my house, I know that’s not a good situation." -- Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"I’ve talked to greats like Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, Jeff (Gordon) and Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. and everyone’s had their own journey and maybe some of those guys set a date and left before their heart really wanted to leave. Or maybe a lot of other athletes, their time is called and they don’t have the opportunity to pick their moment. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity." -- Johnson
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"I think that’s the only time (Jeff Gordon) has said ‘man, that guy’s unbelievable’. He was so amazed with his car control." -- Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"I think sometimes people didn’t respect him because he was too perfect. He didn’t have that big edge but he could win and do it like that and be a gentleman and race people clean. Never had any problems. As history looks back at him, it’ll say that this guy was an unbelievable athlete, father, charities. … I think in every box that you check in life, what you do with kids, how you raise your family, and you’re a champion … the stats speak for themselves but people are going to remember the man, Jimmie Johnson." -- Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"When I look back on the years I’ve had so far at NASCAR, I fall back to the experiences of the people. Those are the things that come to mind. Not holding the trophy in Victory Lane or on the stage at Las Vegas as we did so many times. It's the people." -- Johnson
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"He’s not going anywhere. He’s going to be a buddy and a friend and we’re going to do things together … this chapter’s going on but he’s just an unbelievable person and an unbelievable friend. He’s not just a driver, he’s family." -- Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"If you just said I’m going to make a list of what the perfect driver would be … the talent, the ability to work with sponsors, athlete, he’s just raised the bar of our company. Fitness, charity, it’s unbelievable how perfect he is." -- Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"When you look back at a seven-time champion that did it right, he represented the sport as a true champion. You never had to make an excuse for Jimmie Johnson. He was always on his mark and he never embarrassed anybody. Role model for kids and a role model for drivers. An athlete that I don’t see in any kind of sport." -- Hendrick
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"I still have that fire and I am coming back next year and it’s not a mail-it-in year. It is a year when we’re going to win races and compete for a championship." -- Johnson
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
"The outlook for next year is absolutely to win races and be in the final four. … That is absolutely the goal for next year." -- Johnson
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
"I’m wide open (to opportunities). This is not a retirement from driving race cars, it’s slowing down from 38 weekends a year." -- Johnson