Jimmie Johnson visits Florida Capitol in Tallahassee on Tuesday

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two-time Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson visited the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee on Tuesday and received a proclamation honoring him for his victory in the 2013 edition of “The Great American Race” in February at Daytona International Speedway.

Johnson visited with Gov. Rick Scott and members of both the House and Senate. He also gave the following remarks on the floor of the House:

“It’s very, very cool and thank you all very much for your time and for this great acknowledgement. A lot has gone on since ’75 when I was born. I grew up racing motorcycles in Southern California and watched a little bit of stock car racing from afar on television. I knew that I’d have to move from the West Coast at some point and wanted to race and certainly wanted to race in the Daytona 500. To have it all come full circle, to accomplish the great things on the racetrack and certainly off the racetrack with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. I’m starting my own family, which I’m very proud of as well. I have a two-year-old daughter and a second little girl on the way. It’s been a lot going on and a very busy period of my life. I’m very proud of all that’s going on. I’m grateful for the opportunity. Moments like today really wake me up and realize that I’m not just driving in circles out there. Thank you all very much.

“If I may expand a minute on Daytona, as a young driver and a fan of the sport, there’s nothing better than the Daytona 500 and that speedway and the history that speedway holds. Not only for stock car racing, but the other forms of motorsports that compete there. Any driver in the world, any race team in the world and any race fan knows that racetrack. To have won there twice is a huge honor. I’ve tried a few times to win the Rolex 24 race and come up short. I hope to attend that one again and stand on top of the podium box one of these days. It’s a very special day, and I’m happy to be in Florida and thankful to receive this great honor.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup racing returns to Daytona International Speedway on July 5-6. Tickets to the races are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.