Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, celebrates with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. Johnson wins a record-tying 7th NASCAR title. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
The celebration in Victory Lane at Homestead Miami Speedway continued well after the checkered flag fell in the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Sunday night when Jimmie Johnson won his seventh Sprint Cup title, making history and joining the élite group of NASCAR drivers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt to ever reach that level in their careers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, along with many other drivers met Johnson in Victory Lane to give their congratulations, while Earnhardt also tweeted the following sentiment…
Happy for @JimmieJohnson. I wish dad was here to shake his hand. Woulda been awesome to see that.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) November 21, 2016
Richard Petty also shard his statement from Richard Petty Motorsports to celebrate the moment…
“Records are a mark and they set something for everyone to shoot at. Jimmie and his team have done that tonight. They set a goal to get where they are and circumstances and fate made it a reality. They did what they needed to do and now they are at seven championships. Congratulations to him and his team.
“Jimmie is a great champion and this is really good for our sport.”
So while Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team enjoy their accomplishment, it leaves all to wonder, what’s next? The answer is simple. The next logical step for Jimmie Johnson is to now chase an unprecedented eighth Sprint Cup title.