JIMMIE JOHNSON RELISHING ‘AMAZING OPPORTUNITY’ AS NASCAR…
Jimmie Johnson always felt he would drive a Cup car after the 2020 season, his last full-time year in the series.
But even the seven-time Cup champion couldn’t have predicted how he would return.
JIMMIE JOHNSON RELISHING ‘AMAZING OPPORTUNITY’ AS NASCAR…
“I’ve always felt like I’d come back and have a little fun in the Cup car,” Johnson said. “I just never saw myself coming back as a team owner. And that’s really been the amazing opportunity.”
Johnson will embark on a part-time schedule of possibly a half-dozen Cup races this year, but he will roam the track more often in a different role, as a co-owner of a race team. Having invested in Petty GMS, Johnson spearheaded a rebrand into Legacy Motor Club, hoping to take advantage of having two seven-time Cup champion principles in Johnson and Richard Petty.
[Jimmie Johnson, Petty GMS Racing group rebrands to Legacy Motor Club]
Johnson will attempt to make the Daytona 500 this week, and the only other Cup race confirmed on his schedule is the Chicago street course. He will have to qualify his way into the Daytona 500 as his part-time car does not have one of the 36 guaranteed spots.
Some worry that Johnson might tarnish his legacy by attempting races with a new organization not the caliber of Hendrick Motorsports, but Johnson has dismissed opinion of others long ago — he has reached a point in his career where he can do what he wants, and he relishes a challenge.
He even will carry the No. 84 — a flip of his car number (48) at Hendrick — for a car number that includes his two favorite digits and provides maybe a little bit of an incentive. Johnson earned 83 Cup wins during his career from 2001-2020.
“Go back to my childhood racing days, the No. 4 and the No. 8 have always been significant numbers for me,” Johnson said. “Looking at the list at what was available, 84 is on there and they are two numbers I can’t live without.
“So 84 it is. … It was more of a secondary, kind of nod, I have 83 wins and looking for 84 wins in the 84 car added another layer to why we did it.”
Jimmie Johnson explains why he chose the number 84 for his return to NASCAR with Legacy Motor Club.
[Jimmie Johnson readjusts to Cup car in testing at Phoenix]
While his two years in IndyCar didn’t go as well as he had hoped, when Johnson tested at Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, those working beside him could tell why he had won seven titles, including what could be a never-broken record streak of five consecutive championships (2006-2010).
Todd Gordon, who guided Joey Logano to the championship in 2018, will serve as Johnson’s crew chief and worked with a totally engaged Johnson at that test.
“How detailed he is,” Gordon said about what impressed him about his new driver. “I always respected him as a competitor. … How quietly passionate he is, is probably the best part about him.”
The one thing Johnson will do in addition to Cup races is drive the “Garage 56” car, a NASCAR car that will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He will co-drive with sports-car ace Mike Rockenfeller and former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button.
But first things first. Johnson has spent considerable time trying to learn his new NASCAR organization.
READ MORE:Jimmie Johnson Shuts Down the NASCAR Fans Hating on “Absolute …
Johnson has inserted some of his personal staff into key roles at Legacy and understands they’re trying to build a foundation. Maury Gallagher, founder of Allegiant Airlines, owns the majority of the team, with Johnson owning a piece and Richard Petty primarily working as an ambassador.
“It has amazing leadership and people that really understand the build process,” Johnson said about the organization. “Everyone’s headspace in us all looking at each other and knowing that we’re a young team, we have young drivers, some younger crew chiefs and this really is a team that we’re trying to build for the future.
“We’re also a lean operation. That’s something that Mr. Gallagher has a great sense for and does a really good job of putting the right people in the right places.”
JIMMIE JOHNSON RELISHING ‘AMAZING OPPORTUNITY’ AS NASCAR…
Jimmie Johnson always felt he would drive a Cup car after the 2020 season, his last full-time year in the series.
But even the seven-time Cup champion couldn’t have predicted how he would return.
JIMMIE JOHNSON RELISHING ‘AMAZING OPPORTUNITY’ AS NASCAR…
“I’ve always felt like I’d come back and have a little fun in the Cup car,” Johnson said. “I just never saw myself coming back as a team owner. And that’s really been the amazing opportunity.”
Johnson will embark on a part-time schedule of possibly a half-dozen Cup races this year, but he will roam the track more often in a different role, as a co-owner of a race team. Having invested in Petty GMS, Johnson spearheaded a rebrand into Legacy Motor Club, hoping to take advantage of having two seven-time Cup champion principles in Johnson and Richard Petty.
[Jimmie Johnson, Petty GMS Racing group rebrands to Legacy Motor Club]
Johnson will attempt to make the Daytona 500 this week, and the only other Cup race confirmed on his schedule is the Chicago street course. He will have to qualify his way into the Daytona 500 as his part-time car does not have one of the 36 guaranteed spots.
Some worry that Johnson might tarnish his legacy by attempting races with a new organization not the caliber of Hendrick Motorsports, but Johnson has dismissed opinion of others long ago — he has reached a point in his career where he can do what he wants, and he relishes a challenge.
He even will carry the No. 84 — a flip of his car number (48) at Hendrick — for a car number that includes his two favorite digits and provides maybe a little bit of an incentive. Johnson earned 83 Cup wins during his career from 2001-2020.
“Go back to my childhood racing days, the No. 4 and the No. 8 have always been significant numbers for me,” Johnson said. “Looking at the list at what was available, 84 is on there and they are two numbers I can’t live without.
“So 84 it is. … It was more of a secondary, kind of nod, I have 83 wins and looking for 84 wins in the 84 car added another layer to why we did it.”
Jimmie Johnson explains why he chose the number 84 for his return to NASCAR with Legacy Motor Club.
[Jimmie Johnson readjusts to Cup car in testing at Phoenix]
While his two years in IndyCar didn’t go as well as he had hoped, when Johnson tested at Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, those working beside him could tell why he had won seven titles, including what could be a never-broken record streak of five consecutive championships (2006-2010).
Todd Gordon, who guided Joey Logano to the championship in 2018, will serve as Johnson’s crew chief and worked with a totally engaged Johnson at that test.
“How detailed he is,” Gordon said about what impressed him about his new driver. “I always respected him as a competitor. … How quietly passionate he is, is probably the best part about him.”
The one thing Johnson will do in addition to Cup races is drive the “Garage 56” car, a NASCAR car that will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He will co-drive with sports-car ace Mike Rockenfeller and former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button.
But first things first. Johnson has spent considerable time trying to learn his new NASCAR organization.
READ MORE:Jimmie Johnson Shuts Down the NASCAR Fans Hating on “Absolute …
Johnson has inserted some of his personal staff into key roles at Legacy and understands they’re trying to build a foundation. Maury Gallagher, founder of Allegiant Airlines, owns the majority of the team, with Johnson owning a piece and Richard Petty primarily working as an ambassador.
“It has amazing leadership and people that really understand the build process,” Johnson said about the organization. “Everyone’s headspace in us all looking at each other and knowing that we’re a young team, we have young drivers, some younger crew chiefs and this really is a team that we’re trying to build for the future.
“We’re also a lean operation. That’s something that Mr. Gallagher has a great sense for and does a really good job of putting the right people in the right places.”
