Today’s NASCAR drivers often train like endurance athletes to endure the intense heat inside the cockpit and the extreme G-forces experienced while racing. Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, played a pivotal role in highlighting the importance of physical fitness for driver performance. His commitment to peak fitness helped change how drivers approach their conditioning.
From Traditional Gym Workouts to High-Performance Triathlons
In an interview on The RACER magazine’s YouTube channel, Johnson shared insights into his fitness evolution. Initially, he started as an ordinary gym-goer focused on weightlifting, but this laid the foundation for his professional approach to being a Cup Series driver. He explained how adopting a disciplined lifestyle improved his focus and decision-making:
“I just made better decisions during the week. From what I was eating, my rest, I was up earlier, I was more efficient during the day, got deeper into my notes, deeper into engineering and all these different elements.”
However, Johnson found the repetitive nature of gym workouts monotonous, which led him to discover triathlons. Growing up with a background in mountain biking and swimming, he quickly connected with the multi-sport challenge.
Embracing Triathlons and Its Impact on Racing Focus
Johnson began incorporating triathlons into his routine and even encouraged some of his race team members and fellow driver Kasey Kahne to join him in competitions. He recounted their experience:
“We raced a July race in Daytona, and then the next morning did a sprint-distance triathlon in Charleston, South Carolina, and I was just hooked, man. It was like another form of racing.”
Through structured training in swimming, cycling, and running, Johnson found enhanced accountability in areas such as nutrition, hydration, and mental focus. He elaborated on how these disciplines helped him organize his day and maintain sharpness for race preparation:
“I started building some structured training around it and I found again that the accountability, the nutrition, the hydration, the meditative nature of following a line in the bottom of the pool and swimming to being on my rides, to running. I got my day organized and all I would think about was the race car and what I needed to do there.”
Endurance Milestones and Legacy for Future Drivers
Johnson reached impressive fitness milestones, including running 100 miles a week in 2018 as part of his preparation for the Boston Marathon. His physical commitment sets a high standard that many aspiring NASCAR drivers admire but few truly understand the demands of achieving. His journey remains a testament to how evolving fitness practices can enhance performance inside the race car and beyond.
