Tag: Jimmie Johnson

Jeff Gordon tells Dale Earnhardt Jr. why he’s a bit surprised Jimmie Johnson is still racing in NASCAR

When so many of Jimmie Johnson’s contemporaries have left NASCAR racing for good, the 48-year-old driver still going.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson was just inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last month. He’s 48 years old and retired from full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season, then trying out other styles of racing, including the Indianapolis 500.

He obviously has nothing to prove. But Sunday, he’ll start 23rd in the 2024 Daytona 500 — a race Johnson won in 2006 and 2013.

Johnson competed in last year’s Daytona 500, along with two other Cup Series races, and he has a nine-race schedule planned with the team he co-owns, Legacy Motor Club, behind the wheel of the No. 84 Toyota.

But when so many of his contemporaries have left the cockpit for good, Johnson’s still going. And his former Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., are a little surprised Johnson is still racing.

But not entirely.

Recently, Gordon — currently the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports — was a guest on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, and he explained to Earnhardt about Johnson:

“I am surprised he’s driving, I’ll be honest. You know, like, again, I admire what he did in IndyCar. I’m like, ‘Man, phew!’ I went and did one sports-car race and got my butt kicked. And it was the hardest I’ve ever had to work in a race car in a long time. And it made me think a lot about Jimmie and that commitment that he made to go run IndyCar. Whether you could say it was successful or not successful, just taking that step and committing to it is what I admired so much about it.

“It just goes to show you, I think, his mindset, his talent, his ability. So on one hand, I’m surprised he’s gonna run in the Cup Series, especially with the Next Gen car right and how different this car is. But at the same time, I’m not because I’ve seen him take on big challenges throughout his whole life.”

Johnson weighed in on this recently as well. He told Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass that the nine races he has planned for 2024 are because he truly wants to race in them and running this schedule still allows him to balance his family life and business ventures, along with more racing.

More from Johnson, via Fox Sports:

“I know my friends that have all retired are like, “Why in the world would you want to go back to a plate race?” But this is Daytona. I just can’t see not racing in this race. I’ve always been after the marquee events. Sure, this is a plate race. But, man, having a shot to win another Daytona 500 is really something I want to experience.”

For Sunday’s Daytona 500, Johnson had to race his way into the 40-car field on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, and he made it but just barely.

And this is exactly where he wants to be, telling Fox Sports:

“I am in race cars now because it’s truly what I love to do and want to do. … The desire to win, the desire to increase the win total number, to experience the thrill of victory — that’s always there. And that’s a given. So, one, I’m just going to continue to chase that. I love that aspect of it. But what will make me stop? There isn’t some number I’m trying to achieve and say, ‘OK now that’s enough.’ It’s probably going to be when my wife grabs him by the ear and says, ‘Look, you don’t need to be out there anymore. If you’ve been doing this long enough.'”

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Jimmie Johnson talks about making the 2024 Daytona 500

Jimmie Johnson talks about making the 2024 Daytona 500 through the qualifying duels. Find out what Johnson had to say about the subject!

[autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] entered the final lap of Duel No. 1 at Daytona looking down the barrel of elimination. Johnson was behind J.J. Yeley, and if he didn’t find a way by him, it would’ve likely ended his chances of making the Daytona 500. However, a stack-up in the final turn of the qualifying duel made Yeley go to the top while Johnson kept his foot on the pedal. It somehow worked out.

Johnson finished ahead of Yeley and secured a spot in the Great American Race. After the event, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion talked about the race’s closing laps and making the 2024 Daytona 500. It was clear that Johnson’s stress levels were through the roof.

“I just have such a better appreciation for what many have gone through to race in,” Johnson said. “I was so fortunate for so many years to not have to worry about getting in on speed for a variety of different reasons. Last year went well. We got in on speed. To go through that just now, literally have it come down to the last hundred yards of the Duel, that wasn’t in my playbook.”

“I’m glad I prepared as I did. I’m glad the team was ready. We had a very fast car. Unfortunately with the crash that took place that I was caught up in, pitting, just had us in an awkward position at the back of the field, the last car in either lane. Coming through three and four, there was almost a wreck again. [J.J. Yeley] chose one lane, I chose the middle lane. The middle lane prevailed by the time we got to the start/finish. Just as simple as that.”

It looked rough for Johnson at one point, but he won’t be watching the Daytona 500 from a suite. Instead, he will be competing in the Great American Race, looking for his third victory in the event. It is good for NASCAR to have legends like Johnson still involved, and it makes for a great story that he needed to fight for a spot in the sport’s biggest race.

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Last-lap Duel magic puts Johnson in Daytona 500 field

Jimmie Johnson wasn’t going to race in the Daytona 500. At least that’s what the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion told himself as he saw J.J. Yeley’s bumper in front of him on the final lap of Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel race. …

Jimmie Johnson wasn’t going to race in the Daytona 500.

At least that’s what the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion told himself as he saw J.J. Yeley’s bumper in front of him on the final lap of Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel race. Yeley held the final transfer spot into the Daytona 500, keeping Johnson at bay over the final laps through blocks and keeping with the draft.

Johnson had no help from behind to challenge Yeley. It left him thinking about how he’d spend his Sunday afternoon instead of competing for a third Daytona 500 win in his No. 84 Carvana Toyota.

“I’m literally going down the back straightaway knowing it’s the white flag, I can see the 44 car [Yeley] in front of me,” Johnson said. “The 19 [Martin Truex Jr.] has pulled out to help me, but he’s so far back, he’s not going to get to me in time. I’m like, ‘I’m not going to make it. I’m not going to make the Daytona 500. I’m going to have to call all our partners. I’m going to have to stand in the suite and shake hands during the 500 and not drive a car.’

“This is running through my mind as I’m catching him. I’m like, ‘I got to figure out a way.’ And then an almost wreck happens and leave it (the pedal) on the floor and hope for the best. Just went the other direction than JJ’s car and it worked out.”

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Johnson went to the middle through Turn 4 when the field stacked up and Yeley chose the outside. It cost Yeley his momentum, and Johnson took the draft behind Chastain to go around Yeley and finish 12th. Yeley crossed the finish 16th.

It was a survive-and-transfer moment for Johnson, who had never experienced having to race his way into the Daytona 500. Thursday, leading into the race, Johnson kept his emotions in check by focusing on his Legacy Motor Club team’s strategy, knowing that he had Toyota teammates in the race and every other detail he needed.

“As I put my suit on in my bus before I walked out, the weight of the situation hit me, and the butterflies started to kick up,” Johnson said. “Once we settled in at the start of the race, I felt really good with my car. We had a really fast car and I was able to drive from the back to the front.

“(But) something just ran through my mind. I’m like, ‘It’s not over. We have a pit stop, we have the end of the race, who knows what’s going to happen?’ I just keep my guard up and sure enough, I had two or three different moments that were quite challenging that maybe put a year or two on me.”

The most significant incident came with 11 laps to go. Johnson was collected in an accordion-effect crash started three cars in front of him as Daniel Hemric got sideways from contact by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The incident collected Hemric, Stenhouse, Austin Dillon and Johnson. Johnson spun and needed four fresh tires.

Johnson restarted 18th with six laps to go. Yeley restarted 14th.

“I needed a pusher,” Johnson said. “Anybody does in that back lane. When it comes to the end of the race, it’s tough to get people to pull out or try to find a way to you. I could have used a little help there — didn’t get it, which is fine. We figured out how to do it on our own.

“All the best plans that you set into place before the race starts, they always seem to go out the window when the race is taking place.”

Sunday will be the 21st time Johnson has competed in the Daytona 500, which he’s won twice. Johnson will make his second consecutive start in the event as owner/driver for Legacy Motor Club, doing so in the organization’s third entry.

Toyota will have nine entries in the field with Johnson qualifying for the Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson’s last-lap pass secures a spot in the 2024 Daytona 500

Jimmie Johnson’s stunning last lap pass on J.J. Yeley has secured him a spot in the 2024 Daytona 500.

[autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] has locked himself into the 2024 Daytona 500 in stunning fashion. Johnson was behind J.J. Yeley on the final lap after a late-race caution put him in a rough spot. Chase Elliott stacked up the top lane, which created chaos behind him. Johnson ended up spinning and had minor damage. It affected the race car, but a little luck went his way.

As the white flag flew, Johnson trailed Yeley down the backstretch. However, a stack-up in the final turn allowed Johnson to pass Yeley after he made the wrong move. The No. 84 car beat the No. 44 car to the line in a stunning turn of events. Johnson will now race on Sunday afternoon and look for his third Daytona 500 victory.

Yeley will not make the Daytona 500 after his valiant efforts. As for Johnson, he will need to fix his car but will get more track time throughout the weekend. The Legacy Motor Club team moved to Toyota, and it paid off big time. Johnson said it was very stressful and a challenge would be thrown his way. Per usual, Johnson beat the challenge in front of him.

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Jimmie Johnson must qualify for the 2024 Daytona 500 through the duels

Jimmie Johnson must qualify for the 2024 Daytona 500 through the duels on Thursday night. Take a look at how Johnson can make the event.

[autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] was the last driver in an open entry to put a time on the board for Daytona 500 qualifying. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as Johnson failed to be among the top 2 open drivers. Now, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion must qualify for the 2024 Daytona 500 through the qualifying duels on Thursday night. What are the scenarios for Johnson?

If Johnson beats J.J. Yeley in his duel, he will be guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500. Even if Anthony Alfredo beats both drivers, Johnson will be locked in after posting the third-fastest open entry time. If Yeley beats Alfredo and Johnson, it will come down to the second duel. David Ragan would have to beat Kaz Grala and B.J. McLeod, or Johnson would go home.

Thankfully for him, the driver of the No. 84 car is in the best spot of any driver not locked into the Daytona 500. Johnson has to make sure he keeps the car clean and beats Yeley. Alfredo and Ragan could play a role in Johnson’s outcome, but he currently controls his destiny. If Johnson wants a shot at another Daytona 500, it will come down to the duels on Thursday night.

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Jimmie Johnson’s multiple paths to qualifying for the 2024 Daytona 500

Check out Jimmie Johnson’s paths to qualifying for the 2024 Daytona 500. In which scenarios could Johnson make the Great American Race?

The 2024 Daytona 500 is officially this weekend, and [autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] is looking to make it for a second straight year. In 2023, Johnson made the event on qualifying speed and ran most of the event before a late-race accident. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion returns with Legacy Motor Club in a similar situation.

Johnson is one of the six open cars entered into the Daytona 500. Therefore, two of the following drivers will miss the event: Johnson, David Ragan, Kaz Grala, Anthony Alfredo, B.J. McLeod, and NY Racing Team’s driver that hasn’t been announced. So, what is the easiest path for Johnson to make the 2024 Daytona?

The Cup Series will have single-car qualifying on Wednesday night, and the top 2 open car entries will lock into the race on speed alone. Johnson did this last season, as the qualifying duels didn’t matter for him. If he doesn’t accomplish this goal, it will come down to the nerve-wracking qualifying duels on Thursday night.

Johnson can lock himself in if he finishes as the highest open car in his duel. If this doesn’t happen, the driver of the No. 84 car can still make the event. If one of the open entries that is already locked in on speed wins a duel, the next fastest driver in single-car qualifying will make the event. If both drivers already locked into the event win their duels, the following two fastest entries make it.

Quite frankly, Johnson doesn’t want to rely on the qualifying duels because they are so unpredictable. If he is top-4 for open cars during single-lap qualifying, he doesn’t need to win a duel; however, it makes life much easier if he secures a spot on Wednesday night. It will take a good car off the hauler, and Johnson’s talent should help play a role in the outcome this week.

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Legacy Motor Club joins Extreme E, Jimmie Johnson to run majority of races

Legacy Motor Club announced on Monday morning that it will join Extreme E with Jimmie Johnson running a majority of the races in 2024.

[autotag]Legacy Motor Club[/autotag] has made significant moves since Maury Gallagher’s arrival. The NASCAR team rebranded from Petty GMS Motorsports to Legacy Motor Club after adding [autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] as a co-owner. Matt Kenseth and Trevor Bayne then joined the race team in leadership roles. Now, Legacy Motor Club is joining another racing series.

On Monday morning, Legacy Motor Club announced that it will join Extreme E ahead of the 2024 season. Extreme E is an off-road racing series that uses electric SUVs. Johnson will run most of the schedule but can’t make the first two races due to the Daytona 500. In his place, Travis Pastrana and Gray Leadbetter will drive the team’s entry at the Desert X Prix.

Johnson is returning to his roots after starting his career with off-road racing. In 2024, the new NASCAR Hall-of-Fame member will lead Legacy Motor Club’s effort in Extreme E’s final season. It will transition to Extreme H as it becomes the world’s first off-road hydrogen-powered racing series next year. For Legacy Motor Club, this is a unique opportunity for its racing future.

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Johnson to lead Legacy MC in Extreme E

NASCAR Cup series team Legacy Motor Club will expand into Extreme E this season, with Jimmie Johnson and Gray Leadbetter driving in the all-electric international off-road series. It marks something of a return to his roots for Johnson, who raced …

NASCAR Cup series team Legacy Motor Club will expand into Extreme E this season, with Jimmie Johnson and Gray Leadbetter driving in the all-electric international off-road series.

It marks something of a return to his roots for Johnson, who raced off-road trucks before his stock car career. He was a rookie of the year in Mickey Thompson’s series, the Short-course Off-road Drivers Association series, and SCORE International in the 1990s, and won more than 20 races across all three series, racking up 100 podiums, too.

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“The opportunity for Legacy Motor Club to field an off-road vehicle in the Extreme E championship is exciting in many ways,” said seven-time Cup series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Johnson. “We are essentially representing America in this unique and very competitive series and we are committed to the challenge.

“Our goal is to learn as much as we can and see what the future might bring. The fact this series competes globally, focuses on sustainably, inclusion, and gender equality really perks our interest.

“From a technical standpoint the changeover to hydrogen in 2025 is really intriguing and the entire motorsports community is watching closely. Personally for me as a driver, going back to my off-road roots and to the type of racing I started my career with is going to be a blast.”

Travis Pastrana (left) will fill in for Johnson for the opening two rounds in Saudi Arabia. Nigel Kinrade/Motorsport Images

The 2024 season begins this weekend in Saudi Arabia, the same weekend as the Daytona 500, meaning Johnson will be absent as he makes his 21st start in the Cup series opener. His place in the No. 84 Odyssey 21 will be taken by six-time U.S. rally champion and 2021 Nitrocross champion Travis Pastrana.

“This all came together pretty quick, but I’m really excited,” said Pastrana. “I have quite a bit of experience in electric vehicles, although I’ve never been in an Extreme E Odyssey 21 before. I compete in a lot of off-road events and some desert stuff – mostly on two wheels – but this should be really fun for us.

“I believe in Jimmie Johnson and in Legacy Motor Club and all he is doing with the Club, so when he asked me it was a no-brainer.”

Both drivers will be partnered by Leadbetter, who will be making her Extreme E debut, having previously spent time in the paddock as an observer with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2022. Leadbetter races in the Nitrocross Side-by-Side championship, where she currently sits third in the standings, one spot ahead of Pastrana (who competes part-time), with eight top-four finishes from eight starts, including podium finishes in Phoenix and Southern California.

Off-road prodigy Leadbetter has been a frontrunner in Nitrocross’ Side-by-Side category. Qnigan/Nitrocross

“I’m super excited and thankful for this opportunity,” said Leadbetter who, at 19 years old, will be the second-youngest driver to compete in Extreme E after fellow Nitrocross racer Lia Block, who made her debut last year aged 16. “I’ve always been interested in Extreme E, but just never found the right opportunity to step foot in it.

“When Travis texted me last week that there might be a chance to race with Jimmie Johnson and Legacy Motor Club, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I’ve never driven these cars so it’s sure to be an adventure, but I will be in great company. This is a dream come true.”

Patrana added: “I’ve worked with Gray before and she is a huge talent, so overall it is just a great opportunity for both of us to compete in this championship series together. She’s the top female young up-and-coming talent in Nitrocross and has the speed, so hopefully as Americans, we will do our country proud and return home with a win and some smiles on our faces.”

Jimmie Johnson reveals shocking detail about title winning car in 2016

Jimmie Johnson reveals a shocking detail about his championship winning car in 2016. Find out what Johnson had to say about the subject!

[autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] is one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, and he was honored as such when he officially joined the Hall of Fame ahead of the 2024 season. It was a great scene as Johnson officially gave his speech and accepted a new place in NASCAR history. However, it didn’t come without a very interesting and unknown detail about his full-time racing days.

While walking around the NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibit, Johnson took his wife and daughters to his championship-winning car from 2016. It was a great moment for Johnson and his family; however, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion shared a fascinating story about why the No. 48 team had to start at the rear that day.

“There’s a story about us getting in trouble and starting at the back of the field,” Johnson said. “This blue, we intentionally left it long. And then these window decals, that’s how you would clean the windshield on a pit stop. And so this was intentionally left long by like, a quarter of an inch. And when you pulled this off, the first one off, it let the vinyl peel and flip back. And it looked like the sticker was going to come off.”

“But that sticker created a trip lip that would make the air attach and come back down on the car and put more downforce on the spoiler. It was against the rules, and they saw it and sent us to the back of the field.”

It is fascinating to see how race teams tried to skirt the rule book and fight for every advantage possible. Johnson and the No. 48 team were caught, but it didn’t matter. Johnson would go on to lead one lap and win the 2016 Cup Series championship, despite starting last. Now, the seven-time champion is a part of the Hall of Fame, which can never be taken away.

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Jimmie Johnson’s paint scheme for the 2024 Daytona 500 revealed

Jimmie Johnson’s first paint scheme as a Toyota driver has been revealed for the 2024 Daytona 500. Check out Johnson’s new and special look!

[autotag]Jimmie Johnson[/autotag] will compete in the 2024 Daytona 500 for the second straight season as a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club. In fact, Johnson has officially set his nine-race schedule for the 2024 NASCAR season after competing in three races last year. Now, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has a paint scheme for the sport’s biggest event.

On Thursday morning, Carvana Racing revealed Johnson’s paint scheme for the 2024 Daytona 500, celebrating the Petty family’s 75th anniversary in NASCAR. Johnson will run a paint scheme that resembles Richard Petty’s famous 1964 Plymouth. It has a blue base with a white number and lettering for Carvana.

Johnson will be competing in an open entry, so if he wants to make the 2024 Daytona 500, he will either need to qualify on speed or during the qualifying duels on Thursday night. Either way, the new NASCAR Hall-of-Fame member will pay tribute to the Petty family as “The King” shares the mantle of seven championships with him and Dale Earnhardt Sr.

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