Jimmie Johnson Gets Early Jump On Daytona 500 Competition

The early slots at NASCAR’s Daytona 500 media day are dreaded for most drivers, and they typically end up being assigned to some of the lesser-known names who don’t get the first pick.

After all, who would want to show up at 8 a.m. to talk to a bunch of reporters?

So when Jimmie Johnson was the first driver to speak with the media on Thursday, the five-time Cup champ was asked what he did to deserve his early slot.

“I guess I got to blame myself, because I picked the time slot,” Johnson said.

As it turns out, Johnson actually doesn’t mind getting up early. Clearly, this is the conclusive proof that Johnson is not human but is actually some sort of robot/driving machine.

“It doesn’t hurt being a morning person,” he said. “I think it’s helpful. I thought I was a morning person until I became a father – and now I find I’m officially a morning person.”

Johnson said he used to be able to sleep in until 9 a.m. before daughter Genevieve was born last summer.

“Now, 9 is not an option any longer,” he said.

Actually, Johnson added, he’s always been that way. His father, Gary, worked in construction – a job that required him to get up early every day.

“I’d get up early and have breakfast with him and hang out before I went to school,” Johnson said. “So it’s always been in my wiring since I was a kid.”

A couple interview booths over, 19-year-old Trevor Bayne was enthusiastic about being at Media Day but didn’t share in Johnson’s love of the early-morning hours.

“If I could sleep in until 12 every day, that would be the way I would have it,” Bayne said with a laugh.