Jimmie Johnson has had a pretty phenomenal career thus far with 33 career wins and just this past year was the 2007 NEXTEL Cup Champion. He hasn’t always been on top though. In his rookie year, 2001, what was his rank?

StepTech

According to Wikimedia it's 5th. Johnson began racing in the Cup series in 2002. He won the pole at the 2002 Daytona 500 and ended up with a 15th place finish. He would only improve from there, winning three times, averaging a 13.5 place finish, and becoming the first rookie ever to both lead the series in points (he eventually finished fifth overall) and to sweep races at a track (Dover). Johnson's first Cup win was in his home region at California Speedway, in the NAPA Auto Parts 500. He then won the MBNA Platinum 400 and MBNA All-American Heroes 400, both at Dover. Despite finishing the highest of any modern era rookie in points (James Hylton has the highest points finish for a rookie: 2nd), he was runner-up to Ryan Newman for NASCAR Rookie of the Year because the Rookie of the Year award is based on a driver's 15 best finishes and not points. Johnson's total 2002 Cup season statistics include 21 top-10 finishes, with an average finishing position of 13.5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Johnson Jan 02 08, 7:15 AM

McGruff

This site ranks him 52nd in 2001. He was 5th in 2002. http://www.onebadwheel.com/driver/driver-detail.php?did=5&sid=2001 So does this one. http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=johnsji01 Jan 02 08, 9:47 AM

zekkie

This site lists him as 50th http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/standings?seriesId=2&year=2001 Jan 02 08, 12:30 PM