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How Jimmie Johnson fulfilled an NFL player’s dream

By Asher Fair

Jimmie Johnson, Chip Ganassi Racing, IndyCar - Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmie Johnson, Chip Ganassi Racing, IndyCar - Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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NASCAR-turned-IndyCar driver Jimmie Johnson helped fulfill an NFL rookie’s dream this past weekend at Belle Isle Street Circuit.

In the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft back in late April, the Washington Football Team selected Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Jamin Davis with the 19th overall pick.

On the “Get to know Jamin Davis” screen that ESPN showed when Davis was selected, several items were listed. One of those items? “Hoping to one day meet Jimmie Johnson.”

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That one day arrived, possibly sooner than expected for the 22-year-old from Ludowici, Georgia.

Several people alerted Johnson of Davis’s message, and that led to Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and even NASCAR tweeting at the NFC East team’s newest first rounder.

Here is what Davis had to say, according to the Washington Post.

"“At first I didn’t think it was real until I had actually clicked it, because I don’t really pay attention to social media as much. But when I finally got on there and saw that him and Dale Jr. and NASCAR were actually tweeting me, I was just like, ‘Wow. What the heck?’”"

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Johnson competed in the Cup Series for 19 seasons as the full-time driver of the #48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, winning a record-tying seven championships and 83 races.

After retiring from NASCAR after 2020, the 45-year-old El Cajon, California native made the move to IndyCar ahead of the 2021 season, joining Chip Ganassi Racing as the driver of the #48 Honda for the road and street course races.

He and Washington head coach Ron Rivera, the former head coach of the Carolina Panthers, formed a relationship during Rivera’s time in Charlotte, and Johnson reached out to him after hearing about what Davis had shared during the draft.

"“I sent him a text that said, ‘One of your inbound players is a fan. Hope to get you guys to a race.’ We just started a little dialogue there, and he expanded on how great of an individual Jamin is and how he truly is a fan and it would be neat if we could get him to a race. It was evident we were going to hit it off well and we were going to figure out how to make it work in Detroit before his schedule got too busy.”"

And Davis did get the opportunity to join Johnson for his fourth career IndyCar race weekend at Belle Isle Street Circuit for the doubleheader last weekend.

Davis received a #48 team crew shirt, and his weekend included the opportunity to listen to qualifying over the headset, the opportunity to ride in the two-seater, and much more.

Here is what Davis had to say about the experience.

"“It was just cool to meet someone I grew up watching and being able to sit and tell him about races that he probably forgot about that I sat and watched growing up. He was everything I expected. Pretty down-to-earth guy, very laid back.”"

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Johnson is set to make his sixth career IndyCar start in this Sunday’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America, which is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. Washington’s first game of the 2021 NFL season is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 12 at FedEx Field against the Los Angeles Chargers.