Johnson gifts 2016 Martinsville clock

Looking back at the 2016 season, there might be one trophy of the five Jimmie Johnson won that is the most important.

No, not his record-tying seventh Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship hardware. It's the trophy from the race win that propelled Johnson to Homestead-Miami Speedway, allowing him to race for that title.

The famous grandfather clock winners receive from Martinsville Speedway is coveted among drivers in both the Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series, the only ones able to claim it. Last fall, Johnson won his ninth race – and clock – at Martinsville, which punched his ticket to the championship race at Homestead.

As the series gets set for its first visit of the year to Martinsville this weekend, Johnson revealed on Friday that he no longer has that clock.

"I was trick-or-treating with Bruton's [Smith] son Scott and his family, my family, and ended up talking to [Bruton] on the phone, wishing him Happy Halloween and just saying friendly hellos," Johnson said. "I could tell in his voice that he really, really liked the Martinsville clock and the fact that we won our ninth, and it just dawned on me, this man, I think he'd really appreciate having this trophy in his house.

"So, I asked him if he ever had a clock or had been given one. He said no, and I said, 'Well, let me be the first, it'd be an honor to give you that trophy.' Not long afterward the trophy was built, put together, and we were able to take it to his house and put it in his foyer in his home, and just have a cool moment."

Johnson explained not only is he very close to the Smith family, but he's neighbors with them as well.

"I'm just very appreciative of what he has done for our sport," Johnson said of the elder Smith, who was a part of the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. "All of us know ([his place in NASCAR], but I think when we look back at the history of our sport, he's mentioned later in the conversation. But he's very much one of the reasons why our sport is where it is today with his vision of motorsports and his love of motorsports."

With a 10th win at Martinsville on Sunday, Johnson would take sole possession of third on the all-time wins list at the track behind Richard Petty (15) and Darrell Waltrip (11). And he would keep that trophy.

"[I'd put it] in the man cave," he said. " I’ve got a great spot for it and would love to have it."