Rare Photos of Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR superstar Jimmie Johnson, winner of 74 Sprint Cup Series races and six championships since his humble beginnings as a middle-of-the-road driver 14 years ago, turned 40 on Sept. 17, 2015. In celebration of his 40th birthday, we present these 40 rare photos of Johnson through the years.

Rare Photos of Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

Courtesy of Jimmie Johnson

circa 1982

Jimmie Johnson

Courtesy of Granite Hills High School

circa 1992

Jimmie Johnson

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

April 24, 2003

Jimmie Johnson and father Gary Johnson

Greg Foster for Sports Illustrated

May 20, 2003

Matthew McConaughey and Jimmie Johnson

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

February 19, 2005

Jimmie Johnson and Vanessa Marcil

Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images

December 15, 2005 — Filming "Las Vegas" episode: "Urban Legend"

Molly Sims and Jimmie Johnson

Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images

December 15, 2005 — Filming "Las Vegas" episode: "Urban Legend"

Jimmie Johnson and Nikki Cox

Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images

December 15, 2005 — Filming "Las Vegas" episode: "Urban Legend"

Jimmie Johnson

Terry Renna/AP

February 19, 2006 — Daytona 500

Jimmie Johnson and Paul Newman

E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Disney Pictures

May 26, 2006

Owen Wilson and Jimmie Johnson

E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Disney Pictures

May 26, 2006

Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson

Michael J. LeBrecht II for Sports Illustrated

June 16, 2006

Jimmie Johnson and Kelly Clarkson

Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

September 3, 2006

Chandra and Jimmie Johnson

Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images

September 25, 2007

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Casey Mears, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon

Michael J. LeBrecht II for Sports Illustrated

November 16, 2007

Jimmie Johnson, Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

July 31, 2008 — Filming "Live! with Regis and Kelly"

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jimmie Johnson and Jay Leno

Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images

November 6, 2008 — Filming "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"

Jimmie Johnson and wife Chandra

Michael J. LeBrecht II for Sports Illustrated

November 13, 2008

Jimmie Johnson and wife Chandra

Michael J. LeBrecht II for Sports Illustrated

November 13, 2008

Jimmie Johnson and Brian Giles

Matt Stroshane/Wire Image for BrandIT Group

January 30, 2009

Jimmie Johnson and Nick Lachey

Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

January 31, 2009

Ryan Reynolds and Jimmie Johnson

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

June 7, 2009

Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson

Chuck Burton/AP

September 30, 2009

Conan O'Brien, Christian Slater and Jimmie Johnson

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

October 8, 2009 — Filming "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien"

Jimmie Johnson

Michael J. LeBrecht II for Sports Illustrated

October 16, 2009

Jimmie Johnson, Snoop Dogg and Nick Lachey

Christopher Polk/Getty Images

February 4, 2010

Jimmie Johnson, Eli Manning and Nick Lachey

Christopher Polk/Getty Images

February 4, 2010

Jimmie Johnson and Carrot Top

David Becker/Getty Images for NASCAR

December 2, 2010

Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick and Brian Wilson

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

July 13, 2011 — ESPY Awards

Jimmy Fallon and Jimmie Johnson

Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images

October 25, 2011 — Filming "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"

Jimmie Johnson and daughter Genevieve

Robert Baker/AP

July 29, 2012 — Brickyard 400

Jimmie Johnson and Maria Sharapova

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

July 11, 2012 — ESPY Awards

Jimmie Johnson, Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan

Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Disney-ABC Domestic TV via Getty Images

September 13, 2012 — Filming "Live! with Kelly and Michael"

Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson

Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

November 14, 2013

Jimmie Johnson

Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

November 17, 2013

Jimmie Johnson

Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

November 17, 2013

Jimmie Johnson and The Great Gonzo

Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images

March 23, 2014

Jimmie Johnson with wife Chandra, and daughters Genevieve and Lydia

Chris Keane for Sports Illustrated

April 27, 2014

Jimmy Fallon and Jimmie Johnson

Douglas Gorenstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

September 10, 2014 — Filming "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"

Jimmie Johnson and Emily Kinney

Rick Diamond/Getty Images for dcp

December 15, 2014