Jimmie Johnson is not only one of the most successful NASCAR drivers in history, but he’s also the third richest driver today. Johnson has won a record-equalling seven Cup Series titles with 83 race wins. And he’s not done yet as a race car driver. He currently drives for CGR in the IndyCar series.
All of this success has naturally rewarded him financially too. The former Hendrick driver has a net worth of around $160 million. And when you’re that rich and that busy, commercial flights simply don’t cut it. So what do you do if you have that kind of bank balance and a job that requires frequent traveling?
Simple, you get a private jet. That’s what Jimmie Johnson did.
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Johnson owns one of the fastest private jets in existence – a Gulfstream G150. This plane can fly at speeds of over 600 miles per hour. Johnson’s plane is equipped with Honeywell TFE 731-40AR-200G Turbofan engines that produce a thrust of over 4,000 lbs.
The plane has a spacious, oval-shaped cabin with all the luxuries and amenities. It has a range of over 2,500 miles, which should come in handy for someone like Jimmie Johnson, who has to travel for business a lot.
A Gulfstream G150 reportedly costs around $16 million new (Jimmie’s net worth is in the range of $160 million).
Johnson’s plane suffered a minor crash in 2011 as a brake failure resulted in the plane running off tarmac upon touchdown. Luckily, no one was hurt.
Who are the other NASCAR drivers other than Jimmie Johnson to own a private jet/plane?
As it turns out, the current richest NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr, also prefers private air travel over commercial. He owns a Learjet 60.
Earnhardt’s plane can reach a speed of an astonishing 522 miles per hour and a range of over 2,000 miles. However, the Learjet isn’t the only private plane in the Earnhardt household, as his mother also owns a Learjet 31.
Jeff Gordon, the second richest NASCAR driver today, also owns a Hawker 800. And unlike his net worth, and like his NASCAR records, his private plane is ahead of Earnhardt’s in speed, with a reported speed of 524 miles per hour.
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The other NASCAR drivers who own a private plane are Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Richard Petty and Carl Edwards, who is also a licensed pilot himself.
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It comes as no surprise that NASCAR drivers not only prefer fast cars but also fast planes. With a job that requires them to travel across the country multiple times a year, a private jet makes sense.