Johnson, family move to Aspen during off season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The mountains in and around Aspen, Colorado., have been a retreat for NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and his family in recent years.

But the pull of racing always brought the seven-time NASCAR champion back to Charlotte and back to "headquarters" at the Hendrick Motorsports campus.

Until this past season.

Johnson, wife Chandra and daughters Genevieve and Lydia have "relocated" to the resort area, but Johnson says it's not a move entirely away from his Charlotte home.

"We're not there full-time," Johnson said Tuesday during the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour. "We're there for the winter.

"With the West Coast races it works to be out there."

The family also has a home in New York City as well as Charlotte.

Johnson will begin defense of his championship and the quest for a record-breaking eight title when NASCAR kicks off the 2017 Feb. 26 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Team owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Chad Knaus "are both very much in favor of me living life and trying to find that balance of being in a place I really enjoy in the mountains," Johnson said. "It's great for me and my family."

Johnson and his family have spent plenty of time on the ski slopes -- he has twice participated in the Audi Ajax Cup, a fund-raising ski race that provides support to the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club.

Following stops at Daytona and Atlanta, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series begins the West Coast Swing, with races at Las Vegas, Phoenix and Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, California)

"I'll be (in Aspen) for the start of the season," he said, "but be back in Charlotte, back to the normal grind … I guess early spring, late winter."

Returning to Charlotte after the racing season gets underway isn't the only thing that will bring the family back east. Chani is the owner of Southern Comfort (SOCO) Gallery in Charlotte, an art gallery that opened in 2015.

Kenny Bruce/NASCAR.com.