Who better than Jimmie Johnson to inspire children?

Currently competing in his eighth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Jimmie Johnson is rapidly writing his name all over the NASCAR record books. Johnson made his full-time Cup Series debut in 2002 in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's Chevrolet. As of May 1, 2009, his 41 career wins place him third among active drivers on NASCAR's all-time wins list.

The 33-year-old El Cajon, Calif.-native is the winner of the last three Sprint Cup championships. His 2008 run was truly historic, becoming only the second driver in NASCAR's 60-year history to win three consecutive Sprint Cup Series championships.

But Johnson's impact isn't limited to the race track. Johnson and his wife, Chandra, launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in 2006 and support it with a variety of public fundraising activities. In 2007, the couple opened Jimmie Johnson's Victory Lanes, a four lane bowling center for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses at Victory Junction in Randleman, N.C.

In addition to supporting organizations such as the Hendrick Marrow Program and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Johnsons host the annual Jimmie Johnson Foundation Golf Tournament in San Diego. The tournament has raised more than a million dollars in just two years for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and other charitable causes in his hometown.

While Johnson's success on and off the track has come in a relatively short amount of time, it took years of hard work, dedication and help from a variety of people. With the support of his family, Johnson's racing career started on 50cc motorcycles at the age of five. His father, Gary, worked for a tire company and his mother, Cathy, drove a school bus. With Jimmie and younger brothers Jarit and Jessie in tow, the family spent their weekends camping and doing what they loved - racing.

Johnson was successful on motorcycles at an early age. At age eight, he won the 60cc class championship. From motorcycles, Johnson graduated to the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group Stadium Racing Series. Soon after, he was introduced to the Executive Director of GM Racing, Herb Fishel. Johnson impressed Fishel with his driving ability and business acumen. Fishel walked into an off-road racing team meeting and threw a picture of Johnson on the table informing the team that Johnson was the man they needed to drive their truck.

Johnson seized the opportunity driving in off-road stadium and desert races. Johnson also improved his ability to connect with fans and potential sponsors by reporting for ESPN in the Short Course Off-Road Drivers Association Series. In 1995, the work paid off as Johnson met his future car owners Stan and Randy Herzog. The following year Johnson began driving the brothers' off-road truck.

After two years, Johnson was ready for the next opportunity and crafted a proposal, taking it to Fishel. Fishel gave the owners and their ambitious driver a shot and in 1998, Johnson climbed behind the wheel of an American Speed Association car and got his first taste of pavement racing and never looked back.

Johnson was honored as the National Motorsports Press Association's Richard Petty Driver of the Year three times and received the Mario Andretti Trophy as SPEED Channel's Performer of the Year three consecutive years (2006-2008). Sports Illustrated and Sporting News have named him the top driver in the series. In 2008, he was honored with an ESPY for his accomplishments on the track and as the March of Dimes Sportsman of the Year for his philanthropic work.