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Plenty of gas left in the tank for 41-year-old Jimmie Johnson

 
Jimmie Johnson at Daytona 500 media day. (Matt Baker, Times)
Jimmie Johnson at Daytona 500 media day. (Matt Baker, Times)
Published Feb. 22, 2017

DAYTONA BEACH — Jimmie Johnson entered Wednesday's Daytona 500 media day as the reigning series champion, again, with a shot at history coming up.

He won his seventh NASCAR title last season, tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most ever. His quest for an eighth begins with Sunday's Daytona 500, an event he has won twice before.

"I'm excited to have this opportunity," Johnson said at Daytona International Speedway. "At the same time, there's so much racing between now and Homestead …"

Here's what's scary for Johnson's competitors: The 41-year-old believes he still has plenty of room to grow.

"Honestly, I have nothing to be ashamed of in my career," Johnson said. "I feel like I only have upside potential with more races, and hopefully shots at championships. I'm not going to put pressure on myself to worry about eight. If we get it, it'll be one heck of a party. Until then, we're going to have fun still."