NASCAR Legend Jimmie Johnson Will Un-Retire in 2026: ‘Massive Opportunity’

With 83 wins beneath his belt and a little bit of grey in his whiskers, Jimmie Johnson didn’t shock many followers when he introduced his retirement from inventory automotive racing in 2019. “This sport has been good to me,” Johnson stated on the time. “I’m wanting ahead to subsequent season and celebrating what will likely be my final 12 months as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver.”However the legendary driver — the one one in NASCAR historical past to win 5 consecutive titles — apparently turned off his engine prematurely. NASCAR lately introduced it’ll be holding its first coastal race weekend at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego in June 2026, and in the present day Johnson introduced that he’ll be there, too — behind the wheel.“I’ll be competing in that occasion,” Johnson advised the viewers at Brandweek, ADWEEK’s annual assembly of promoting minds, this 12 months held in Atlanta. “It’s an enormous alternative.”Johnson’s revelation got here throughout an on-stage dialogue on the evolution of the NASCAR model together with the racing group’s government vice chairman and chief model officer Tim Clark.The “alternative” referenced by the wisened racer could be understood a number of methods.Since January, Johnson has been majority proprietor of Legacy Motor Membership, having first taken a stake in 2022, so his return to driving will little question represent a nifty bit of promoting for his racing workforce, which can also be financed partially by hedge fund Knighthead Capital Administration.The chance for Johnson personally seems apparent: the return to the enjoyment of driving his Toyota Camry XSE (No. 84) at as much as 200 mph by a 3.4-mile road course with 16 turns. Legacy Motor Membership will likely be bringing all three of its automobiles to the occasion, and Johnson — who was born in close by El Cajon — was clearly enthused over getting an opportunity to be a part of a homecoming race, and competing alongside rival famous person drivers like Shane van Gisbergen.“The observe actually modifications throughout the course of the weekend,” Johnson stated, “ and [an] understanding of the grip degree, find out how to modify the automotive, find out how to lead his workforce, will give them a leg up.”However the greatest alternative within the offing could also be for the NASCAR model itself, which has been actively bringing races to completely different components of the nation in an effort to broaden its viewers, whose median age is 58, in line with Nielsen knowledge.If NASCAR — which turned 77 this 12 months — is to achieve luring a youthful and extra numerous fan base, Clark stated, “we have now to go to them. We’ve talked about that figuratively for years, if not a long time, and simply previously few years we began doing that extra actually. We held a race within the LA Coliseum. We held a race in downtown Chicago, round Grant Park.”NASCAR San Diego Weekend, Clark continued, is “the following iteration of assembly followers, the place we’re going to them versus all the time having them come to us.”