CONCORD, N.C. -- The start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has brought some significant milestones for Jimmie Johnson.
First came the driver's 40th birthday on the Thursday of Chase Media Day.
Now, this weekend's race at Dover International Speedway will mark the six-time Sprint Cup champion's 500th start.
"Been trying to ignore the fact that I'm getting older and I've been doing this a while," Johnson smiled, "but I can't hide from 40 and I can't hide from 500 starts."
Click here for a photo gallery of Johnson through the years.
In his 499 starts, Johnson has amassed 74 wins, 33 pole positions, 204 top-five finishes and 310 top-10s in addition to leading 17,618 laps.
His first career start in the No. 48 Chevrolet was on Oct. 7, 2001, at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the age of 27. Johnson’s first win came at Fontana in 2002 in just his 13th career start. Throughout the years and the changes in the sport, Johnson has been lucky enough to have a few constants. Lowe’s has been Johnson’s sponsor since he began his career, Chad Knaus has been his crew chief and Ron Malec has been his car chief the since the beginning
Together they have won six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.
"I think what Jimmie's done in 500 is probably what's so impressive," Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon said. "I'm sure to him, being 40, thinking about race 500 -- that's a lot of races. That's a lot of years to be doing it at this level, and I'm sure he's proud of that. But I think what he should be most proud of and what stands out to me and most people is the wins, the top-fives, the top-10s that he's accomplished in those 500 races."
Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS will sport a special decal this weekend to commemorate the occasion. The decal reads, "Jimmie Johnson 500th start. One Driver. One Team. One Sponsor."
And fittingly, the start will come at Dover, where Johnson has won 10 races -- not only his career high at any track, but the most of any driver all-time at Dover.
He won there earlier this season, and will look to sweep the track and move on to the Contender Round of the Chase in his 500th career Cup start.
“I’m really excited to go to Dover -- it’s my favorite racetrack out there," Johnson said. "I’m glad this track is in the Chase and its really fitting to make my 500th start there. It seems like not too long ago I just got started in this sport. So much has happened since then, so many things I am very proud of – 500 is a big number. It’s crazy. Proud to represent Lowe’s and this team throughout the past 500 races and looking forward to the future and sharing much more success together.”