When you have dozens of family members and friends on hand to watch you run your first Winston Cup race in your own backyard, it's natural for a driver to want to make a lasting impression.

That was the case with Jimmie Johnson, who approached last year's event at California Speedway as perhaps the biggest race of his career.

	Jimmie Johnson looks to make a repeat visit to Victory Lane this weekend at Fontana.

Not only was the track located in Fontana, just a quick drive up the freeway from Johnson's hometown of El Cajon, but he came into the race with a quickly-developing reputation as one of the sport's biggest rookie sensations ever.

Rather than buckle to the pressure, Johnson, in typical nonchalant California fashion, qualified fourth and went on to win the race, beating runner-up Kurt Busch by .620 of a second. Not only was it the fourth-fastest first-time win ever for a rookie, but it would be the first of three wins for Johnson in 2002, who had an outstanding season and barely lost the Rookie of the Year title to Ryan Newman.

"Last year we were running well and competing for wins, but we didn't expect to win that soon or that early into the season," Johnson said. "We had hoped that by the end of the year we were going to be a contender for race wins. But, when it all came together -- to win in my home state -- it couldn't have gone any better for me. It was such a cool thing to have my friends and family in the stands."

One year later, a wiser and more experienced Johnson is ready to defend last year's title in Sunday's Auto Club 500 at the fast two-mile oval. But instead of being laid-back like he was last year, Johnson is determined -- adamant, even -- about winning his second straight at Fontana.

"The only experience I have coming back as defending champion was last year at Dover," Johnson said. "We were able to go back to Dover and win a second time. So I sure hope that things go that well for us in California. Our technology has changed so much in the set-ups in the race cars from when we were there last year that nothing will be the same this time. Things change so fast that we're kind of starting over from ground zero again.

"But I like that racetrack and (crew chief Chad Knaus) knows how to set the race car up for there. We're just going to have to find a balance with this new set-up and see what happens. As much as being the defending champion you'd think would help you and give you and the team the confidence to come back, the car isn't the same. So you've got to go back out and rebuild your race car."

Johnson and the No. 48 Chevrolet team are poised to make a big move in the standings with a strong finish Sunday. Johnson is 179 points behind leader Matt Kenseth, but just 40 points behind teammate and car co-owner Jeff Gordon in third.

	“	I've been very lucky throughout my career to be able to be consistent and to compete for championships and to have that consistency in all forms of racing that I've been in. So I think it's been kind of my style. ”
		— Jimmie Johnson

"I'm really looking forward to going back as the defending champion," Johnson said. "I hope we're able to go back to California and (win again). But it's a long year and a lot has changed since then. We're going to come back with our new style race car and set-ups and see what happens."

With five top-10s in the first nine races of the season, including a third-place run in the season-opening Daytona 500, Johnson is primed for a ride into Victory Lane. He's also one of the best drivers on superspeedways: Only Gordon scored more points on them last year.

"It seems like on mile-and-a-half and two-mile race tracks -- from Vegas to Michigan -- we're always competitive," Johnson said. "When you're out there running fast and passing good cars and racing for the lead each week on this style of track, you look forward to those on the schedule. California is one of those tracks and we took the last trophy home from there so we're really pumped about going back. Trophies are what we're after."

Even though he's winless thus far in 2003, Johnson is riding a streak of 42 consecutive weeks being ranked in the top-10, an achievement he's not likely to give up soon -- or easily.

"I didn't realize that stat until a race or two ago when somebody brought it up," Johnson said. "But I've been very lucky throughout my career to be able to be consistent and to compete for championships and to have that consistency in all forms of racing that I've been in. So I think it's been kind of my style. At the same time, the race cars that Hendrick Motorsports gives me and all the work that goes into it make all the ingredients to be in that position. I'm just glad we're stepping up to the plate and doing it."

With new common templates and other teams stepping up the competitiveness of their programs, it's no wonder the series has seen nine different winners in its first nine races of 2003. If Johnson, who was ninth in his last race two weeks ago at Martinsville, or another driver who has yet to win this year turns the trick Sunday, it would tie a series record for the most different winners to start a season (10, set in 2000).

"It's great to see the parity in our sport," Johnson said. "Different makes are winning and different teams are winning. There's all kinds of stuff that's been going on and that's been great. There's just been a lot of action and a lot going on. I think it shows how equal the makes and the teams are.

"There are still plenty of races to go and I didn't win my first one until California last year. This year, out of the box, we've been in contention to win four or five races. We've had two engine failures late and a couple of spins late. We've had some crazy stuff happening to us that has taken us out of race wins. But looking at last year's schedule and where we were at going into Fontana versus this year, we are so much further ahead. I don't know if the points reflect that as much. But where we were as a race team and how competitive we are, I think we'll be able to keep stepping it up."

Jerry Bonkowski covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at motorsportwriter@yahoo.com.