Filed Under » Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR officials hope the sport of stock car racing will gain huge visibility among men following Jimmie Johnson's victory Sunday in the Daytona 500.

"I don't want to make this out to be just any other race," said NASCAR president Mike Helton. "This could be really big for us. I think Jimmie could bring in the male demo and grow the sport among men, making NASCAR bigger and better than ever."

Johnson said after his victory that he is more than happy to take on the pressure.

"I won't claim to speak for all men and I won't claim to represent all men," he said. "But I think I showed today that men can compete in auto racing and I hope I inspired a lot of boys out there to get into this sport. Maybe in the future we'll see men in the victory circle all the time."

Perhaps overshadowed by Johnson's victory was the fact that men finished in the first seven spots in the Daytona 500, with no women placing until Danica Patrick in eighth.

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson won his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup title on Sunday, but the most memorable moment of the day may have come after the race when he gave a very personal testimony about his relationship with Jesus Christ.

"First of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," said Johnson, standing in victory lane and holding up a Bible. "I couldn't have done it without Him. I have appreciated His support since Day 1. He's a great partner."

Johnson then held up a bottle of Vitamin Water and gave a similar testimony about their impact on his successful season.

"And to the folks at Vitamin Water, you're the best," Johnson exclaimed. "You quench my thirst, you nurture my body and my soul."