Jimmie Johnson admits key detail for final NASCAR – Sports News
Jimmie Johnson will see a final Daytona 500 begin (Image: Getty)
Jimmie Johnson has secured one of essentially the most emotional homecomings in NASCAR historical past, arranging to drive the long-lasting No. 48 for his final Cup Series begin on the 2027 Daytona 500.
But the seven-time champion, who can have a new position after his racing profession ends, admitted this week that reuniting together with his longtime sponsor Lowe’s for the send-off seems unlikely to occur.
“I know Hendrick has tried for a long time and I certainly have,” Johnson instructed SiriusXM NASCAR Radio when requested about a potential Lowe’s return. “You never wanna say never. I wish there was something there but that just seems like too far of a reach.”
Lowe’s sponsored Johnson’s iconic No. 48 Chevrolet from 2001 by way of 2018, backing him by way of all seven of his NASCAR Cup Series championships and the bulk of his 83 profession wins earlier than Ally Financial took over because the car’s main sponsor forward of the 2019 season.
Ally has remained the sponsor ever since, together with for present driver Alex Bowman, who has piloted the No. 48 since Johnson’s departure following the 2020 season.
Johnson’s return to the quantity got here collectively by way of a personal appeal to Hendrick Motorsports founder Rick Hendrick, who introduced the association during the Brickyard 400 pre-race broadcast on TNT Sports.
“It was an idea that I had, and I knew that it was far-fetched and it’d be complicated and many layers to it, but I gave Rick a call and proposed the idea, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I love it, let me get to work,'” Johnson stated.
Securing the quantity required cooperation throughout a number of events, together with Bowman, sponsor Ally, and NASCAR itself. Johnson credited Hendrick’s affect because the key to creating it occur.
“It also speaks to the relationships he has far and wide to be able to pull this off with different manufacturers, obviously title sponsors,” Johnson stated. “We had a conversation with NASCAR and the variety of layers that are there. There’s only one man that could pull that off, and it’s him.”
Bowman, whose own NASCAR Cup profession may also conclude as a full-time driver after the 2027 season, will race underneath a totally different quantity for the Daytona 500 earlier than returning to the No. 48 for the rest of his final full-time 12 months.
Johnson mirrored on the emotional weight of the second in a assertion launched by way of Legacy Motor Club, the group he now co-owns.
“This is far more than a number,” Johnson stated. “The 48 represents people, relationships, memories and a chapter of my life that shaped who I am. To have the opportunity to make one final Cup Series start carrying that number is something I never imagined. I’m incredibly grateful to Rick, Hendrick Motorsports, Ally and everyone who made this possible.”
While Johnson’s main sponsor for the historic farewell has not but been finalized, he confirmed Carvana will stay with him by way of the race regardless of what else comes collectively. The 2027 Daytona 500 will mark Johnson’s 703rd and final Cup Series begin, closing out a Hall of Fame profession on the similar observe the place he received the game’s largest race twice.
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