Boo! Jimmie Johnson Motivated By Fear, Scary Thoughts

How does Jimmie Johnson get ready for the season?

He scares the crap out of himself.

From instilling fear of mistakes or failures to even forcing himself to question whether he remembers how to drive, Johnson said fear has always been one of his greatest motivators.

“I’m entering this year saying ‘We’re going to get beat’ in my mind,’” he said. “That way I work as hard as I can, the team works as hard as they can and we don’t leave a stone unturned.”

Johnson has won four consecutive Sprint Cup championships – the only driver ever to do so. And yet he tells himself he may have literally forgotten how to drive.

“I know that sounds crazy, but I typically start the season with nerves, like ‘Am I going to remember how to do this?’ I really, really do,” he said. “I’m not nervous for [Daytona], but I know when I go to California, I’m not going to sleep well. I haven’t for the last eight years – especially the first year, because I really didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

Does it work? Obviously. All the guy does is win. Johnson said he’s learned to not only live with the fear, but “enjoy that and know that they are good things to keep me on my game.”

But the day will someday arrive when the fears come true – he won’t always be Sprint Cup champion.

“I know at some point, we are going to get beat. It is going to happen,” he said. “I am more aware of that than anyone else. I don’t want it to be this year. I don’t want it to be anytime soon.”