Jimmie Johnson Set to Return to Hometown For #NASCAR San Diego Weekend
For Johnson, the weekend symbolizes not only a return to competition, but a celebration of his roots.
On November 5, 2025 at BrandWeek in Atlanta, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and Legacy Motor Club owner Jimmie Johnson announced he will return to his California roots next June, as it is his intention to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series event during the inaugural NASCAR San Diego Weekend.
The event, slated for June 19–21, 2026, marks NASCAR’s first-ever race at Naval Base Coronado, bringing the sport’s top stars to one of America’s most iconic coastal settings. For Johnson, born and raised in nearby El Cajon, California, the race represents a deeply personal “bucket-list” moment in a career already filled with milestone achievements.
“Growing up just miles from San Diego, I dreamed about racing here in a NASCAR vehicle someday, but I never thought it would be possible. I just came to the realization that there would be no way NASCAR could race in that city – as there would be nowhere to put a track,” said Johnson. “So, it’s just mind-blowing to me that NASCAR made this a reality. To come back home, compete in front of my community, the military, my family, and friends, and do it with Carvana and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, this is one of those full-circle experiences I will never forget. It’s a lifelong dream.”
For Johnson, the weekend symbolizes not only a return to competition, but a celebration of his roots.
“When I think about everything this sport has given me and where it all started, being able to race in San Diego at this level feels like my career has come full circle,” Johnson added. “Starting out on two wheels racing motorcycles throughout the west coast and now being able to race on four in the same region is something I never thought I would see. Additionally, my grandparents were military and are buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery nearby the base, so it’s an honor to race there – this is going to be very special.”
Carvana, a longtime partner of Johnson’s, will once again be along for the ride in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for this special “SoCal” appearance. The partnership continues a multi-year relationship built on creativity, authenticity, and storytelling—values that perfectly align with Johnson’s own legacy.
NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Joins Forces with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
The partnership with Knighthead is a game-changer for LEGACY MC," said Johnson.
Seven-time NASCAR champion and co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (“LEGACY MC”) Jimmie Johnson announced today that LEGACY MC has joined forces with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, on behalf of certain of its affiliates and accounts ("Knighthead") as a strategic partner. LEGACY MC, founded by entrepreneur Maury Gallagher, has entered its third full-time season with Johnson as a co-owner. Future-facing, with Knighthead’s partnership, LEGACY MC is poised to expand its competitive presence, global brand recognition, partnerships, innovation, and fan engagement.
As part of this strategic partnership, Knighthead will acquire a minority stake in LEGACY MC.
After 12 years of owning and operating the impressively successful GMS Racing team which competed in the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series, Gallagher will take a step back from the day-to-day and assume an ambassador role with LEGACY MC. GMS Racing won five championships across the NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series. The team won 71 races in total and won 26 pole positions with many talented drivers. In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports, and Petty GMS Racing was formed. The team won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway with driver Erik Jones in 2022 before striking a deal with Johnson and expanding to a two-car team for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. The team continues to tout the iconic No. 43 made famous by CLUB Ambassador Richard Petty “The King”, who recently celebrated 75 years in racing.
The partnership with Knighthead positions Johnson as LEGACY MC’s majority owner, solidifying his leadership and significant role in the team’s future.
Johnson stated, “I really have to thank Maury Gallagher for giving me the opportunity within the ownership space. He has been an outstanding partner, mentor and friend and I’m grateful we had the opportunity to work together, I’ve learned so much from him. As his professional career takes a different path, he can worry less about the daily team owner things and focus more on family and enjoying life.”
Chief Executive Officer Cal Wells III credits Johnson with his exceptional ability to network and secure strategic partnerships, a skill that has been pivotal in driving LEGACY MC’s growth and success.
“As one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, Jimmie’s leadership and his partnership-minded business prowess remain central to the success of LEGACY MC,” said Wells, III. “This partnership is an important step for this race team, and we are thrilled to welcome Knighthead to LEGACY MC," said Wells, III. "Each partner we add brings a unique set of strengths and insights that will help us build a long-lasting legacy in NASCAR and sports in general. Together, we can unlock new opportunities, enhance our competitiveness, and offer fans an experience unlike any other.”
Johnson feels the partnership with Knighthead will align LEGACY MC with entities across many platforms.
"The partnership with Knighthead is a game-changer for LEGACY MC," said Johnson. "Their expertise in navigating complex investment opportunities and success in sports will provide LEGACY MC with the resources and guidance needed to push for championships and solidify our place in NASCAR for years to come.”
Johnson continued, "Having Knighthead on board will not only strengthen our racing efforts but also enhance the fan experience and expand our reach in the global motorsports ecosystem, not limited to NASCAR.”
Founded in 2008, Knighthead Capital Management, LLC is an investment firm with deep expertise across a variety of sectors, including finance, sports, and entertainment. Knighthead’s diverse portfolio includes investments in HERTZ, JOTA Racing, Singer Vehicle Design, Revology Cars, and Birmingham City Football Club.
Tom Wagner, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Member of Knighthead Capital, shared his excitement for the partnership: "We are thrilled to partner with Jimmie Johnson and LEGACY MC. NASCAR’s rich history and LEGACY MC’s ambition and innovation make it a unique opportunity. We're thrilled to collaborate with Jimmie and Cal to drive the team forward—both on the track and within the wider racing community.”
The partnership with Knighthead is effective immediately as LEGACY MC prepares to kick off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season on Feb. 2, 2025, at Bowman Gray Stadium for The Clash, followed by the season-opener DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 16, 2025.
Knighthead was co-founded in 2008 by Tom Wagner and Ara Cohen and has grown to become a diversified asset management platform with an experienced team of investment professionals, specializing in fundamental analysis, operational and financial turnarounds and risk management. Knighthead’s long-term objective is to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its clients while emphasizing the preservation of capital. Knighthead manages assets across a variety of investment vehicles including insurance asset management, real estate lending, and closed and open-ended vehicles.
About LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-founded by entrepreneur Maury Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Jimmie Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty - "The King" - serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.
The El Cajon, Calif. competitor, winner of 83 NASCAR Cup Series events in 16 consecutive seasons and recent inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will be joined for enshrinement by the late Dick Cobb, Las Vegas, Nev., winner of eight track championships over a 45-year racing career in Nevada and California; Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., winner of three NASCAR West (now ARCA Menards Series West) titles; Jimmy Vasser, Canoga Park, Calif., 10-time Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) winner, Indianapolis 500 co-owner champion and 2023 IMSA GTD championship co-owner; and Calvin (Cal) Wells III, NASCAR Cup Series race winning team owner, Off-Road Hall of Fame inductee and current chief executive officer of Legacy Motor Club.
The Class of 2024 – the hall’s 21st – will be enshrined Thursday, June 6, during the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s induction gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway, at Sonoma Raceway’s Turn 11 Club VIP/Hospitality complex encircling the road course’s iconic Turn 11.
“Our Class of 2024 is second to none in diversity of competition,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. “Jimmie Johnson, Eric Holmes and Dick Cobb mastered three different levels of NASCAR competition. Jimmy Vasser, a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) champion and Cal Wells, an off-road racing Hall of Famer and team executive add two more racing disciplines to this year’s Class.
“We will be announcing our five Heritage inductees in a few weeks – selectees representing additional forms of competition.
“I am most excited about the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Pioneers of Speed initiative, providing us with the opportunity to honor those whose careers began and often ended before World War II. Many 21st Century fans may not recognize the names and achievements of these distinguished and courageous figures. All, however, deserve to be honored and remembered through our organization.
“We will be announcing the first 10 honorees later this spring.”
The organization also will induct its seventh Heritage class, comprised of individuals whose careers largely ended prior to 1971. The 2024 Heritage inductees will be named in March. Also to be named is the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Pioneers of Speed, whose careers preceded or spanned the World War II era.
Also featured will be the 4th Annual Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year Award presented by 51FIFTY. This award recognizes an individual that has displayed a heart for giving back to others, through charitable giving or in-kind services to the industry. Previous honorees are Mike Curb, 2001 and the Sonoma Chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charity in 2022. Last year’s honorees are the foundations of 2023 West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.
Televised highlights of the 2024 induction ceremonies will be broadcast later this summer; network, air dates and times to be announced.
Three-time Cup Champion, Yarborough won four Daytona 500s and became the first NASCAR driver to win three straight titles
NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough has died. He was 84.
Yarborough is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers ever with 83 Cup Series wins and three championships. Yarborough won those championships in three straight seasons from 1976-78 as he amassed 28 wins and 70 top-five finishes over 90 races in that span.
“Cale Yarborough was one of the toughest competitors NASCAR has ever seen,” NASCAR chairman Jim France said in a statement. “His combination of talent, grit and determination separated Cale from his peers, both on the track and in the record book. He was respected and admired by competitors and fans alike and was as comfortable behind the wheel of a tractor as he was behind the wheel of a stock car. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cale Yarborough.”
One of Yarborough’s most famous moments in NASCAR came right after he won his third and final championship. Yarborough was racing for the lead with Donnie Allison in the 1979 Daytona 500 when the two drivers collided on the backstretch and their cars went sliding through the infield. After climbing from their cars in the infield as Richard Petty ended up winning the race, the two started tussling as Allison’s brother Bobby had also arrived on the scene.
The fight was a signature moment for NASCAR, which was primarily a regional motorsports series at the time. The 1979 Daytona 500 was the first race televised live from start to finish on broadcast television, and a snowstorm in the Northeast and Midwest led to many tuning into the race because they were stuck at home.
Yarborough is one of just seven drivers with more than 80 Cup Series wins and is tied with Jimmie Johnson for the sixth-most wins at NASCAR’s top level behind Petty, David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. Allison and Waltrip finished their careers with one more win than Yarborough.
Yarborough was also the first driver in Cup Series history to win three consecutive titles. While Petty, Johnson and Dale Earnhardt each have seven championships, only Johnson won more than two consecutive titles. Johnson tied Yarborough with his third consecutive title in 2008 and went on to win two more to get five straight from 2006-10.
Petty is also the only driver to win more Daytona 500s than Yarborough. Petty won seven 500s in his career to Yarborough's four.
A South Carolina native, Yarborough attended races at Darlington Raceway as a kid and competed in the 1957 Southern 500 as a 17-year-old even though NASCAR realized how old he was right before it began. Yarborough had lied about his age to enter the race — the minimum age was 21 — and started the race before switching places with a different driver much to NASCAR’s chagrin.
Yarborough’s legendary status also comes from his daredevil personality. It’s no stretch to say he’s one of the toughest and boldest NASCAR drivers to ever compete in the series. Just read this story he told Sports Illustrated in 1968 about flying a plane for the first time.
"Wib Weatherly and I had bought a plane," Cale said, "a Piper J-4. When it got here, Wib and I started to talking, each of us telling the other about how good we could fly. So finally we went out and got in the plane, and I said, 'I'll turn it over and you take the controls,' and he said, 'Naaw, you take the controls and I'll turn it over.' So I did, and never let on about anything and just taxied and took off as pretty as you please. Every time I'd offer to give the controls over, Wib'd say, 'Naaw, Cale, you're doing just fine.' Well, pretty soon we were running low on fuel and it was time to land and I said, 'Wib, I took off; you land it,' and Wib said, 'Naaw, you're doing fine, Cale. You land it.' Then I confessed that that was the first time I'd been at the controls of an airplane. Wib confessed, too. He said that was the second time he'd ever even been up in an airplane. Well, I brought it in, bouncing all over the place and with Wib's eyes as big as saucers, and the next day I was out there and took off again and practiced landings in this field until I could do it pretty good. Never had a lesson in my life."
Yarborough had his most success racing for Junior Johnson’s team. He left Johnson’s team after the 1980 season. He won two of his four Daytona 500s in the 1980s as he won 14 races from 1981-1985 even though he was competing on a part-time basis.
He became a car owner ahead of the 1987 season and drove part-time through 1988 before retiring from driving. Yarborough’s team wasn’t very successful; John Andretti won the team’s only race in the 1997 Pepsi 400 before Yarborough shut the team down and sold it in 2000.
Yarborough was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 on the hall’s third ballot. He was a finalist to make the hall in each of the first two election cycles but wasn’t among the first 10 inducted.
Statement from Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles on the passing of four-time Indianapolis 500 starter and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Cale Yarborough. pic.twitter.com/s3Xb87ilii
This is Cale Yarborough Windshield was broken from debris. He pitted to remove it, returned to the track without a windshield to run 5 more laps while his crew went to the garage to get a replacement. They replaced the windshield and he finished 5th. RIP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/3dXtloeGDW
We are saddened by the loss of Cale Yarborough, a true racer whose competitive spirit was felt by all through his relentless drive and unwavering commitment to excellence. He set the standard for generations of racers and inspired fans at every turn. His impact on the sport will… pic.twitter.com/ohrhJPa1Aq
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ today announced 2023 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and 2003 Winston Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth as a Competition Advisor. In this role, Kenseth will provide guidance and strategy on the competition side, serving as a mentor to drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, as well as assisting the Club throughout its transition to Toyota for the 2024 season.
“Jimmie and I have so much respect for each other as both competitors and friends – we are alike in many ways and at similar points in our careers,” said Kenseth. “This is a great opportunity for me to be a resource for two extremely talented drivers and help on the racing operations side with this transition to Toyota. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”
Club co-owners Johnson and Maury Gallagher are optimistic about the alliance with Kenseth. As history goes, Johnson and Kenseth’s 2013 NASCAR Cup Series chase to the championship featured a spirited battle between the two drivers. Kenseth won seven races during that season – as opposed to Johnson’s six wins – but after chasing each other for several weeks - including a tie for the points lead leaving Martinsville Speedway - Kenseth finished second to Johnson in the standings and Johnson won his sixth career title.
“Not only is Matt an excellent driver and a fierce competitor, he’s also a great friend,” Johnson said. “This alliance makes so much sense. Matt is extremely smart, has worked with Toyota while racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, and is still as competitive as ever. He’s a natural-born athlete and as fit as I have ever seen him. I’m so glad he is willing to share his knowledge and experience with us, and we look forward to all Matt has to offer.”
Kenseth, who stepped away from full-time competition in 2020 has stayed busy with family, competing in the 2022 Boston Marathon where he finished with a time of 3:01:40, and celebrating his 2023 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction. Over the course of his 20-year Cup Series career, Kenseth had 39 victories at 19 different tracks and won the 2003 Winston Cup Series Championship. Kenseth is a two-time DAYTONA 500 champion, the 2000 Rookie of the Year, a Southern 500 winner, a Coca-Cola 600 winner, and the 2004 International Race of Champions (IROC) champion. He qualified for the “NASCAR Playoffs” in 13 of 14 seasons attempted. In addition to his 39 wins, Kenseth recorded 182 top-five and 331 top-10 finishes in 697 starts, as well as 20 pole position awards.
Kenseth and Joey Cohen, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s vice president of racing operations, worked together at Roush Racing when Cohen was an engineer for the team.
“Matt is going to help make this transition to Toyota smooth,” said Cohen. “He is one of the best drivers out there, and even though he is no longer behind the wheel, his perspective and advice will be crucial heading into next season for both our drivers and crews.”
Kenseth will assume the role within LEGACY MOTOR CLUB immediately.
Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus, who as a driver and crew chief duo won a NASCAR record-tying seven Cup Series titles, lead the newest class of inductees into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.
Two drivers – one from the Pioneer Ballot and one from the Modern Era Ballot – and one crew chief were elected Wednesday to become the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s class of inductees in 2024.
Joining the Hall of Fame from the Modern Era Ballot:
Jimmie Johnson: Johnson, 47, won seven Cup championships, equal with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most all-time. Five of those titles came in succession between 2006 and 2010, a NASCAR record. That stretch of success surpassed the previous mark held by Cale Yarborough, who won three straight titles from 1976-78.
Johnson also won 83 races in a career dating back to 2001 and spanning 689 races. He is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500 (2006 and 2013). He also won four times each in the Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400, adding two Southern 500 crowns along the way.
Johnson’s racing career began with motorcycles and off-road trucks. He eventually moved to asphalt – first in the American Speed Association circuit and then a brief stint in what is now the Xfinity Series. Once there, he caught the attention of current Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who advocated for his addition to Hendrick Motorsports.
It is an incredible honor to be voted into the @NASCARHall with the Class of 2024.
What makes this moment even more special is being inducted with @chadknaus. We re-wrote the record books together, so it’s only fitting we are inducted together. Congratulations also to Donnie… pic.twitter.com/HQSeBTmISo
Chad Knaus: Leading his father to multiple track championships as a teenager, Knaus was destined to be a successful crew chief at stock car racing’s highest level. His NASCAR start came at Hendrick Motorsports as an assistant in the body shop, learning under Hall of Famer Ray Evernham as part of the “Rainbow Warriors.” His breakthrough came in 2002 when he was paired with Johnson on a fourth Hendrick team – the start of one of the most productive partnerships in sports history.
The pair combined for seven Cup championships, including a NASCAR-record five in a row. They won 81 races over 19 seasons. Knaus won his 82nd – and final – race with Hendrick driver William Byron in 2020. He trails only Dale Inman and Leonard Wood for all-time wins by a crew chief. Knaus, 51, currently serves as Vice President of Competition for Hendrick Motorsports.
Joining the Hall of Fame from the Pioneer Ballot:
Donnie Allison: After winning the 1967 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, Allison partnered with famed mechanic Banjo Matthews where he experienced his most success. In 1970, Allison won three races for Matthews, including the Coca-Cola 600. The following weekend he finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500, setting a record for best-combined finish in the two-race crossover that still stands today.
Allison, 83, who ended his career with 10 wins and 17 poles in 242 starts, might be best-known for his role in NASCAR’s most famous moment – his 1979 Daytona 500 fight with Cale Yarborough.
Janet Guthrie:The first woman to compete in the Daytona 500, will be honored with the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted in January 2024.
This was the third class determined under the redesigned format for Hall inductions.
There were 10 nominees on the Modern Era ballot and five on the Pioneer ballot – designed to honor those whose careers began more than 60 years ago. Two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate now compose each Hall class.
We’re proud to announce that Janet Guthrie will receive the NASCAR Hall of Fame 2024 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to #NASCAR. #NASCARHallpic.twitter.com/RPZslmPHVM
NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson is speaking up about a recent tragedy befalling his family.
The seven-time Cup Series champion lost three of his in-laws last month in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide. Jack and Terry Lynn Janway — the parents of Johnson’s wife — as well as their young grandson Dalton were found dead June 26 in an Oklahoma home.
“Our family is devastated by the profound loss of Lynn, Jack and Dalton Janway,” Johnson wrote Friday in an Instagram post. “We have been humbled by the outpouring of love and support during this unthinkably sad time and remain grateful for all of your compassion.”
The bodies were discovered at the Muskogee home after a woman called 911 to report a gun-related disturbance. Police entered the house to find Jack Janway, 69, dead in a hallway. They then heard a gunshot before coming upon the bodies of Terry Lynn Janway, 68, and Dalton, 11.
Muskogee police spokesperson Lynn Hamlin said at the time that investigators believed Terry Lynn Janway fatally shot her husband and grandson before taking her own life. Police bodycam footage captured the moment when officers entered the home and discovered Jack Janway dead under a blanket.
NASCAR issued a statement of sympathy when the news first broke.
“We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family,” it said, referring to Jimmie Johnson’s wife. “The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie and the entire Johnson & Janway families.”
Jimmie Johnson pulled out of a race in Chicago after the tragedy but refrained from publicly commenting on the incident until Friday. Though no motive for the shooting has been put forward, Terry Lynn Janway reportedly struggled with depression after losing her son in a skydiving accident in 2014.
Johnson retired from NASCAR in 2020 to join IndyCar’s Chip Ganassi Racing. He recently took part in a NASCAR Cup Series race in May in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jimmie Johnson admits he’s bringing a different mentality to the track now than earlier in his career.
Now 47, and a rookie team owner with Legacy Motor Club, his focus has shifted to what’s best for his organization, and not necessarily what will benefit him the most behind the wheel.
Still, it was easy for Johnson to identify Charlotte Motor Speedway as one of his targets when making his limited driving schedule in the winter.
“For me it’s about the marquee races around the world,” Johnson said. “Daytona 500, Coke 600 – those are the marquee events.”
Charlotte’s all-time leader in NASCAR Cup Series wins with eight, Johnson can add another piece to his legendary resume with a victory Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m., Fox, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Only Darrell Waltrip with five has more Coca-Cola 600 triumphs than Johnson’s four. Johnson won three consecutive Coca-Cola 600s from 2003-05, then added another in 2014.
In two starts this season with Legacy Motor Club (formerly Petty GMS Motorsports) in the No. 84 Chevrolet, he finished 31st at Daytona in February and 38th at COTA in March.
“I feel about as ill prepared for [Sunday’s] race as I’ve ever have,” Johnson said. “A couple hours [testing] in Phoenix is the only comparable oval experience I’ve had. We had 30 to 40 laps in a simulator and that’s been it. I want to survive the first stage [Sunday] and go from there.
“We are hopeful to have a good running. A top-10 or top-15 would be an awesome finish for us.”
Johnson’s primary concerns are improving the results of Legacy’s two full-time drivers, Erik Jones and Noah Gragson. The best performance this year from that duo is Jones’ sixth-place finish at Talladega in April. Jones is 25th in the Cup Series point standings while Gragson is 32nd.
“Erik continues to show just how good he is,” Johnson said. “He’s had challenging circumstances this year and he just stays focused and gets the job done. Noah, from afar, I wasn’t sure how seriously he took things. His desire and commitment to his craft is what has impressed me the most.
“We have a massive effort on our hands to figure out many ways to improve. I’m proud of everything going on. I can’t ask for more effort from everyone involved. We just need more consistency.”
Coca-Cola 600 practice and qualifying was scheduled to begin yesterday at 7 p.m. However, NASCAR canceled both NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying. The starting lineup for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will be set per the rule book. William Byron will start from the pole. Jimmie starts the race from the last position (37th).
After his Charlotte visit, Johnson doesn’t have much time to rest as he is scheduled to depart next week for France to participate in next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, another of his coveted global marquee events.
“It’s feeling very real,” Johnson said. “I’m very excited for the opportunity. I honestly don’t know what to expect. Right now, it’s great excitement and curiosity.”
Still, after his overseas adventure, it’s back to building Legacy’s foundation – with maybe some top finishes behind the wheel still in the future.
“It’s been an exciting adventure that I’ve embarked on here,” Johnson said. “It’s exciting to be in this new element. I truly feel like that I’m part of something that’s going to be a force in the future of NASCAR.”
Daytona International Speedway Announces Complete Sellout For 65th Running of DAYTONA 500
Options remain for fans to catch the NASCAR Cup Series in action and attend remaining events during Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth
Daytona International Speedway today announced a complete sellout of the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500, as NASCAR prepares to open its 75th Anniversary season in style.
Following on the heels of a January announcement of a reserved grandstand and camping sellout, Daytona International Speedway has now sold out of all ticket inventory for The Great American Race, including UNOH Fanzone admissions and all hospitality options. The DAYTONA 500 opens the NASCAR Cup Series season this Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The sellout is the eighth consecutive for The Great American Race.
DIS also announced the 66th running of The Great American Race will take place on Sunday, February 18, 2024. Fans can begin renewing their tickets immediately, and exclusive pre-sale options are available, to ensure their place in history for next year’s race.
“From the roar of the USAF Thunderbirds overhead to the sight of the sellout crowd on their feet as the field takes the green flag for the DAYTONA 500, there will be no place more electric than Daytona International Speedway this Sunday afternoon,” said DIS President Frank Kelleher. “Now there will be an even bigger spotlight on Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacation Duel races, where fans will get to see the likes of seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and X Games gold medalist Travis Pastrana attempt to race their way into The Great American Race.”
Grandstand tickets are also available for the remaining Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, which give fans a chance to see all three NASCAR national series and the ARCA Menards Series:
• Wednesday, Feb. 15 – DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light determines the front row for Sunday’s race
• Thursday, Feb. 16 – Bluegreen Vacations Duel races set the field for the DAYTONA 500
• Friday, Feb. 17 – NextEra Energy 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race
• Saturday, Feb. 18 – Doubleheader featuring the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300 and ARCA Menards Series 200
Fans are encouraged to reserve their place in history during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth by logging onto DAYTONA500.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Additionally, fans can buy or sell reserved seats for the DAYTONA 500 by visiting SeatGeek, the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR.
Jimmie Johnson’s New Book Spotlights his Life in Photos
One More Lap - Passion in the Pages
William Waters was not going to miss a chance to meet his racing hero, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Last weekend, Waters, a 64-year-old California transplant, showed up at the Books-A-Million store — blocks from Charlotte Motor Speedway — taking his place in line more than an hour early and slowly rolling a race-used Goodyear tire toward the book store for Johnson’s autograph. The grin was unremovable as Waters anticipated meeting his all-time favorite racer and having Johnson personally sign his new book: “One More Lap: Jimmie Johnson and the #48.”
“He always just seemed to be a nice guy, always friendly, always took the time to sign autographs or high-five people,” Waters said of Johnson. “Other drivers are more standoff-ish, but Jimmie’s personable.”
Like Johnson, Water’s sister-in-law, Carol Flick, hails from El Cajon, California.
“One of the biggest streets in town is now Jimmie Johnson Boulevard,” Flick said. “He’s absolutely a big sense of pride for us. I have a few things with his signature, but this book’s going to be great.”
With the crowd growing exponentially outside, Johnson started his afternoon in the store’s back office, carefully placing his famous signature on books as he waited for his time to go out and meet his fans. And sign tires.
The expressions on Johnson’s face as he thumbed through each edition were a testament to the sentimental and highly personal story the photos tell — the story of a middle-class kid from blue-collar El Cajon whose talent and drive ultimately made him one of auto racing’s most celebrated champions.
Watching Johnson examine the pages of the book, it was clear each photograph evoked a powerful memory. So much so, he concedes, that more than once during the editing process, he insisted on adding a couple more photos and pages.
“Passion project, labor of love,” Johnson said, leaning back in his chair. “That’s definitely what this is.”
The completed book — produced by Condé Nast Corporate Photography Director Ivan Shaw — is 272 pages and features 175 photographs from nine celebrated photographers. NASCAR team owner and NBA Legend Michael Jordan wrote the heartfelt forward.
“I’ve always just archived what was going on and, at some point, realized it might be worthwhile,” Johnson said of the impetus for the collection. “But at the same point in time, I just wanted it for myself.
“We have tons of art books at home, and I look through these art books, and I just love documentation. I love docuseries, from a videography standpoint to a still picture standpoint. I’m just truly a fan of it, and that’s what I consume. I have all of this stuff, and now I’m at a point in my career, in my life, that we can share it.”
One More Lap is officially in stores.
So many memories captured by the most talented photographers… this book is a behind-the-scenes look into my career and it's really exciting to finally see it on the shelves! pic.twitter.com/vix6zsx603
Johnson shares photos from his childhood, from his early racing days on dirt bikes and off-road trucks to his humble ascension to what will certainly be a place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
And, of course, amid the career highlights are heart-warming family photos — images of Johnson and his wife Chandra and their young daughters, Genevieve and Lydia — the real fundamental, he says, of maintaining his pace.
The photographs of Johnson’s motorsports beginning provide an intriguing perspective and include some very personal, previously unseen “snapshots.” An elementary-aged Johnson leaning against his bike with the “not another picture, mom” look on his face. There’s Johnson and one of his younger brothers — both barely waist-high — dressed in identical striped shirts and cowboy hats and a touching shot of a young Johnson stretching out atop his dirt bike, head resting between the handlebars and a huge grin on his face.
Beyond the pages of these early-day snapshots is a two-page photograph of the yellow van caravan that the Johnson family — his parents and two younger brothers — took into the California desert most weekends in the late 1970s and early ’80s. The van is pulling not just a travel trailer but also a trailer carrying the family’s dirt bikes and four-wheelers.
Johnson is convinced a triple haul would not be allowed down most California freeways these days.
“I have no clue how this is legal,” Johnson said, smiling and pointing toward the image. “That’s our van that we rode in. We rode in this down the road, and then this is the trailer with all our toys in it. I mean, that was our setup. Even in California now, there’s no way you can tow two trailers.
“But that’s San Diego in the ’70s. That’s it.”
Another of his favorite photos also spans two pages. It shows the yellow and orange No. 81 Chevy driven by Blaise Alexander with Johnson’s No. 92 red, white and blue Chevy alongside as they battled for position in NASCAR’s former Busch Series — now Xfinity Series — race at Richmond Raceway in 2000.
Alexander was one of Johnson’s closest friends. The two shared the joys, challenges and week-to-week survival as they made their way upward in the sport. Alexander, however, was tragically killed in an accident racing in the ARCA Menards Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 4, 2001. Johnson has ever since carried a decal on his No. 48 car honoring his friend Alexander.
“As they edited the book, they pointed to the photograph and were like, ‘We just felt like it was a good photo, it’s you in the old car, and the colors popped, and we loved the symmetry of it,’” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘Well, here’s why this photo is important to me.’ Obviously, with it being Blaise [Alexander] and Blaise is nowhere else in the book, the photo ended up staying as a result.”
Questions inevitably arise about where Johnson sees his immediate future in the sport. A month ago, he announced that he would not continue racing in the IndyCar Series full-time in 2023 and instead focus on a “bucket list” of races.
Johnson said returning to the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time since he left following the 2020 season is a priority if he can find the right situation. He smiled, acknowledging that would probably mean his first NASCAR Cup Series race — ever — not driving a car with the No. 48 on the side. Alex Bowman now drives the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports.
“I would like to do a couple [of] races [ideally] to get a feel for it and have a good showing, but then it just depends,” Johnson said. “Running a couple [races] changes the dynamic of teams that would potentially be interested in running me, and then it gets complicated really quick.”
In the meantime, Johnson said he is enjoying the opportunity to meet fans and share the book — the stories and the photos. As with most of everything Johnson is involved in, the project is already a top in its class. The book is currently a “#1 Best Seller” in Celebrity Photography on Amazon.com.
Most of all, however, Johnson smiles and talks about the chance to spend more time with his family. He calls himself a “barn dad,” helping his daughters as they compete in horseback riding. And he looks forward to supporting his wife Chani’s endeavors as an art gallery owner in Charlotte.
“That’s the balance I’m trying to strike, filling that bucket of being a competitor and having those experiences in race cars and also balancing life, supporting my wife and kids and what’s important to them,” Johnson said. “Being around and having deeper relationships with my parents and my siblings and my friends. I’ve been on this hamster wheel since I was 19, chasing the dream, and I have no regrets. But I do realize life could be deeper in some other ways. Life could be richer in other ways. And that’s the balance I’m trying to find.”
From hard work, determination and ultimately, the success of talent and drive, Johnson fully concedes it’s been a fortunate life lived
“It’s all part of the journey,” Johnson said. “I don’t think anyone would feel sympathetic for me if I said, ‘I wish I had done something a little different.’ I’ve had this incredible career. I’ve been able to experience so much and work with so many great people. And each mistake made, which would be the point you’d want to go back and change, they have only made me better.”
Jimmie Johnson and Other Racing Legends Gather to Honor Herzog Motorsports
Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed October 15-16
Cars, Trucks and Memorabilia Showcasing Team’s Success in Off-Road, NASCAR, ASA and NHRA will be on Permanent Display; TV Documentary to air
in Fall on Fox Network
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who credits the Herzog family for playing a major role in helping launch his racing career, will be part of the festivities honoring Herzog Motorsports at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, on October 15-16, 2021.
Johnson will join other racing legends, including Larry Ragland, Todd Bodine, Danny Ashcraft and Dave Mason, for a two-day celebration to commemorate the Herzog family’s legacy in the sport, and will help kick off a long-term display at the Museum of the iconic cars and trucks that raced under the Herzog Motorsports banner in the 1980s through the 2000s.
Festivities will include a public welcome party, autograph signings, a Cars & Coffee event, and a private gala.
The upcoming display will feature Herzog memorabilia, and the race vehicles will include Baja and Pikes Peak-winning trucks, as well as Johnson’s NASCAR Busch Series and ASA Chevy Monte Carlos. The display will be opened to the public following the Friday night gala.
A one-hour TV special on the history of the team and founders Stanley and Randy Herzog, with support from father Bill, is scheduled to air on Fox Network in September, produced by renowned motorsports reporter Rick Benjamin. Excerpts from the special will be shown during the private gala.
“I knew of the Herzogs and really respected their program and the success that they had in the SCORE Desert Off Road Series,” said Johnson in his interview with Benjamin for the TV special. “They were racing in the Midwest and if it wasn’t for Chevrolet trying to keep me busy and trying to keep me on television and offered me a pit reporting job I wouldn’t have met them.”
Johnson, who joined Herzog Motorsports in 1996 and raced for them in off-road, ASA and NASCAR competition through 2001, added, “I can go on and on how wonderful they are. They became fathers to me, Stan and Randy both. I’ve spent so much time with them, at a critical age in my growth as a man, professionally and personally. I was away from home on the road with them a lot, so their wisdom, their advice, their mentoring, their care for me, and bringing me into their family as they did, meant the world to me.
“I look back on it now and smile with pride and joy for the time we had together, at the start of my professional career, which they had so much to do with.”
Johnson raced for the Herzogs in SODA from 1996 to 1997. He won several races and was the 1996 SODA Winter Series Champion. He then went to ASA, was the 1998 Rookie of the year, and won two races in 1999. He ran eight races for Herzog in the 1999 Busch Series, and spent two full seasons with the team in 2000 and 2001, winning one race in 2001 before moving to Hendrick Motorsports that year.
As for Johnson joining the team, "It evolved around the development of a young off-road driver by the name of Johnson, which was Jimmie," said Randy Herzog in a similar interview with Benjamin. "GM wanted to develop him and through a certain set of circumstances Herzog Motorsports was selected as the vehicle to develop him, and the programs that we elected to do that through involved off-road racing and then the intermediate level of pavement racing, and that evolved into the Busch Grand National Series at the time, and eventually we were programmed to move him on into the Winston Cup Series, which didn't actually end up under us."
When asked if Johnson was his favorite, he responded, "I'd have to say he's the most prominent. He's the closest to my heart, I'll say that. I loved all the drivers who drove for us."
Jimmie Johnson’s Herzog
Motorsports Busch Series Chicago 2001 race-winning Chevy Monte Carlo will be
displayed at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed. (Photo from
Herzog Motorsports Collection)
The Herzogs owned or sponsored race teams that won championships in SCORE, CORR, SODA, NHRA Funny Car class, and have scored victories in such prestigious events as the Baja 1000 and Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
About Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed:
Named Best Attraction for Car Lovers in the 2021 USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest, the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed is a federally recognized 501 (c) (3) private foundation located in Lincoln, Neb. Founded in 1992 by “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith, the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed was formed to present a continuous chronology of automotive Racing Engine and Speed Equipment development and to preserve, interpret and display items significant in racing and automotive history.
About Herzog Contracting Corp.:
Herzog Contracting Corp., based in St. Joseph, Missouri, is a leading rail and heavy/highway contractor in North America, which efficiently solves complex transportation problems in challenging operating environments. The company has 50 years of experience and a highly-qualified team of professionals. Herzog provides state-of-the-art equipment, technology, construction, and maintenance services to owners and operators of Class 1 railroads, transit agencies, state transportation authorities, and prime contractors.
Born in 1957 in Belgium, it was after a trip at the age of seven that my love for NASCAR caught hold of me! It was the 1964 World 600 in Charlotte. Since NASCAR it's my life! A large collection of objects and papers make up my personal little NASCAR museum.
Passionate about the history and statistics of NASCAR, I have contributed to numerous magazines and websites mainly in French language (Europe and Canada). One of my greatest pride is my full-time collaboration at racing-reference.info from 2003 to 2021.
Today I continue to write for fun and it's with joy that I join nascarracemom.com as contributor. .
