A milestone at Daytona
Jimmie Johnson is set to contest his 703rd and final NASCAR Cup Series race at the 2027 Daytona 500, climbing back into the legendary No. 48 Chevrolet for what will become a historic farewell.
The seat will be shared with Alex Bowman, who will run under a different number for the season‑opening event before returning to the No. 48 for the remainder of his swan‑song year.
The sponsor story
Lowe’s, which backed Johnson from 2001 through 2018 and helped fund all seven of his championships, is unlikely to re‑join the effort, a prospect that Johnson himself described as improbable because of logistical hurdles.
Instead, Ally Financial has held the primary sponsorship since 2019, while Carvana will remain on the car for the Daytona weekend regardless of any other sponsor arrangements.
For Johnson, the No. 48 represents more than a number; it embodies people, relationships, memories and a defining chapter of his life, a sentiment he voiced in a heartfelt appeal to Hendrick Motorsports founder Rick Hendrick.
The reunion required coordination among multiple stakeholders — including Bowman, Ally, NASCAR and the teams involved — highlighting the complex dance that precedes a final on‑track farewell.