Throughout Jimmie Johnson’s retirement tour, NASCAR Cup Series tracks are finding different ways to celebrate the seven-time champion, who’s retiring from full-time racing at the end of the 2020 season.
As Johnson visits most (or maybe all) of NASCAR’s tracks for the last time, the tributes and gifts are going to be rolling in all season. But at Atlanta Motor Speedway in a couple weekends, Johnson will actually be involved in the pre-race theatrics.
Johnson will serve as the grand marshal for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 on March 15 and will give the command, commonly described as the most famous words in motor sports, “Drivers, start your engines.”
But he’s obviously still competing in the race, so, according to the track, he’ll give the command from inside his No. 48 Chevrolet.
This isn’t the first time a NASCAR driver has been the grand marshal for a race he was also competing in, but it’s a cool way for the 1.54-mile track to honor one of NASCAR’s GOATs.
His five wins at Atlanta are the most among active drivers and put him in a four-way tie for fifth all time with Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott and Bobby Allison.
At his home track, Auto Club Speedway, in southern California on Sunday, the 44-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver’s family was similarly involved in the pre-race activities as the honorary starters. His wife, Chandra, waved the green flag to start the race while his daughters, Genevieve and Lydia, stood up on the stand with her.
NASCAR’s next race is Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, and then the sport will head to Atlanta.
