NASCAR: Johnson celebrates 'mind-blowing' seventh title in Las Vegas

Jimmie Johnson said his dream had been to win a NASCAR Cup race, but on Friday night in Las Vegas he celebrated the 80th Cup wins that netted him a seventh Sprint Cup Series crown last month at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"When I say this, it really is no joke: My goal growing up was to win a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race or a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race – just one," Johnson said after being introduced at the Sprint Cup Series Awards banquet at Wynn Las Vegas by Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps (pictured above). "To be here on the stage tonight with our seventh championship, I'm going to be honest, it's still sinking in. This is mind-blowing."

"I consider it a huge accomplishment that it's been one owner, one sponsor, one manufacturer, one driver, one crew chief and one car chief for 15 years," Johnson said. "This race team is full of the most dedicated and talented guys I've ever been around. The celebration on the frontstretch in Homestead was the ultimate moment for all of us. We were absolutely losing our minds. And that moment in time will forever make me smile. Thank you, guys."

It hardly came as a surprise, but Johnson's Hendrick teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. was named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver again during the awards night. Earnhardt, who missed the latter portion of the season due to concussion-like symptoms, also revealed, that he and girlfriend Amy Reimann will marry on New Year's Eve.