Jimmie Johnson, 7-time champion, Hall of Famer, and Co-Owner of Legacy Motorclub, is set to return to the track today at the final NASCAR Cup Series race of 2024. Johnson, who has a limited schedule, only participated in 5 Cup series races this year, including appearances at Indianapolis Motorspeedway and today at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. He’s experienced hiccups over the handful of races he’s run this season, but nothing compared to the previous winless season.
During Friday’s practice, the now part-time Legacy driver got loose and spun out about mid-way through the session but ultimately pulled himself together and finished in 35th. The race will kick off with Johnson starting in 23rd on the twelfth row in the lineup. It will be an exciting day on the track, and apparent improvements have been made on Johnson’s behalf since the October 20 race in Las Vegas, starting on the 29th, a six-point improvement. He’s had some great runs at the oval track, starting race in 2008 and earning a pole, but can he win today’s title?
Can the 7-Time Champion Do it Again?
In 2020, Jimmie Johnson announced a full-time retirement from NASCAR to spend more time with his family and travel. Then in 2023, his fans were shocked by his quick return to the sport.. Johnson took on a new role as part owner of Petty GMS Oufit (Legacy Motorclub). It houses drivers, including No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek and 43 Erik Jones, who both compete full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, many are optimistic about whether or not Johnson could reach the top after several accidents between 2023 and 2024.
Jimmie Johnson’s highest start this year was 18th, and his most decisive finish was 12th at the Daytona 500. He averaged around 29 and 31.13 % for starts and finishes compared to before his retirement in 2020, running 17.3 to 17.29% on average. Therefore, he’d have to increase his starts and finishes by 14% to return to where he was before retirement. He ended his last race in the 2020 Cup series at Phoenix Raceway, finishing 5th, so he’s no stranger to success on the 1-mile short-track oval.
What to Expect Out of Phoenix
Fans can expect to see a determined Jimmie Johnson on the track this weekend. Not just because he’s a former champion or Hall of Famer, but because he knows how to race ovals well. The 49-year-old legend has had more experience than most on oval tracks, having raced with Chip Ganassi Racing in the Indianapolis 500 and running oval races in NASCAR like Talladega, the largest oval track run in the series to date.
This is a track the driver dominated in 2011 to bring home a pretty spectacular win, considering Talledega is one of the most challenging tracks on the map and home to some of the fastest speeds. If there’s one thing Jimmie Johnson knows how to do, it’s how to be fast on ovals, and that will undoubtedly be seen today in Phoenix, so fans are urged to pay close attention to the No.84 Legacy Motorclub Toyota and the man behind the machine.
Final Thoughts
Despite Johnson’s previous Phoenix success, it’s still speculated that the iconic driver will not push success on the track even though he’ll start in 23rd, easily one of his best since coming out of retirement in 2023. He has a lot of ground cover if he wants to dominate the track today, but given his past success and, of course, the fact that he’s a 7-time champ, optimism regarding a strong finish still resonates, so stay tuned to see if Jimmie Johnson turns up the heat today at Phoenix Raceway. He may not be in the top 4, but he’s still at the top in the eyes of many fans. We’re all rooting for you, Jimmie!
