AVONDALE, Ariz. — Jimmie Johnson is officially returning to NASCAR — as a team co-owner and part-time driver.
The 47-year-old seven-time NASCAR champion retired from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of the 2020 season and spent the last two years racing for Chip Ganassi in the IndyCar Series.
But now, he’s coming back to NASCAR after obtaining an ownership stake with Petty GMS Motorsports, Johnson announced Friday. The news was first reported by The Athletic‘s Jordan Bianchi on Wednesday.
In addition to the ownership stake, Johnson will also run a limited schedule for the team — including the 2023 Daytona 500.
Johnson announced his move on Twitter right before a press conference at Phoenix Raceway, which will host the NASCAR Cup Series championship race Sunday.
“Honestly, it feels incredible,” Johnson said Friday. “I must say, I did not see this in my future. This is something that — an opportunity that’s developed that makes sense for so many ways, so many reasons. …
“It’s just a life-changing opportunity for me and one that I had to take, so I’m very excited about this.”
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 4, 2022
Petty GMS currently fields two cars: Erik Jones in the No. 43 Chevrolet and Ty Dillon in the No. 42 Chevrolet, but Xfinity Series driver Noah Gragson will take over the No. 42 car full-time in 2023.
In December 2021, now-majority owner Maury Gallagher bought Richard Petty Motorsports, and the organization became Petty GMS Motorsports. With the ownership stake, Johnson joins fellow seven-time champion and Richard Petty, also the chairman, in the organization, and the two drivers have a combined 14 NASCAR titles and 283 victories.
“You’ve got to be kidding. Jimmie Johnson wants to be involved with us?” Petty said of his initial reaction before the deal came together.
“From my standpoint, it’s a big, big step, not just for one year, but I’m looking further down the road,” he continued. “I’m 85 years old, so I’m not going to be here for another 15, 20 years. Then Jimmie can kind of take over, so that had to be plus-plus.”
In September after his first full-time IndyCar season (he ran part-time in 2021), Johnson announced his plans to take a step back from full-time racing to pursue other competition opportunities and spend more time with his family. He specifically said it wasn’t a retirement and not the end of racing, explaining: “I feel like it’s a chance to pivot and again to run marquee events and look for these amazing experiences that you know any driver would want to have.”
Friday, Johnson said he hasn’t finalized what NASCAR races he’ll run in 2023 beyond the Daytona 500. Without a charter for his to-be-determined car number, he said he expects to have to race his way into the season opener.
“We’re all crazy,” Johnson said when asked about his ultimate longterm goals. “Everybody in racing’s crazy. If you sign up to join the circus, I think you’re a bit crazy. I don’t know if I have a well thought-out answer other than this has been home, this is family, this is the industry that I know.”
Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher speak about Jimmie Johnson likely having to qualify for the Daytona 500 in one of the four open spots since they don’t expect to have a charter for his car. pic.twitter.com/O8QiRhUVOe
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 4, 2022
When he decided to move away from full-time racing recently, he said he envisioned laying out an eight- to 10-race schedule of really fun races, though they might not all be in NASCAR. Johnson said he’s still interested in IndyCar races and sports car events, adding that former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman offered the seven-time champ a Chili Bowl ride too.
However, he said he hasn’t had a chance to dive deep into additional opportunities yet and has instead been focusing on his return to NASCAR.
Through Johnson’s 19 full-time season at NASCAR’s highest level, he racked up 83 wins in 686 starts, including two Daytona 500 wins (2006, 2013), in addition to his record-tying seven championships. He’s sixth on the all-time wins list behind leader Petty with 200.
He raced for Hendrick Motorsports behind the No. 48 Chevrolet the whole time, so when he begins running races for Petty GMS, it’ll be his first ever Cup start with another team.
As far as his racing schedule in 2023, Johnson said he has a list of races he’s “super interested in and would love to do” but also recognized he’ll do what’s best for Petty GMS.
“He’s gonna look at where the biggest purse is,” Petty said with a laugh.
