A Legendary Career Takes a New Direction
Jimmie Johnson, a NASCAR legend celebrated for seven championships and a Hall of Fame induction, announced that he will end his full‑time driving career to devote himself to building Legacy, the Cup Series team he now majority‑owns. The move marks the end of an era for the driver who has been a fixture on American ovals for more than two decades.
While stepping back from the cockpit, Johnson will remain deeply involved in the sport’s business side. He is actively seeking additional investors to strengthen Legacy’s competitiveness, a strategy that already includes a partnership with longtime sponsor Lowe’s for the iconic No. 48 car.
Building a Competitive Legacy
The ownership group of Legacy already boasts an impressive roster of celebrities. In addition to Johnson’s majority stake, the team counts IndyCar champions Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, Grammy Award‑winning artist Darius Rucker, and MLB All‑Star Chase Utley among its investors. Their involvement underscores a broader ambition to transform the team into a winning operation despite its current lack of Cup‑series success.
On the driver front, Legacy will retain Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek for the upcoming season, while Riley Herbst is slated to join the lineup in 2027. The organization is expected to announce a third driver in the near future, a move that could further bolster its on‑track prospects.
The Final Lap at Daytona
Johnson’s last scheduled Cup start will take place at the 2027 Daytona 500, where he hopes to close his racing chapter with a performance that reflects the legacy he has built both as a driver and as a team owner. The race will be staged in Daytona Beach, Florida, a venue that has long been synonymous with American motorsport.
Beyond NASCAR, Johnson’s transition includes forays into other racing disciplines. He previously tested the waters in IndyCar, where he did not achieve a podium, but the experience has informed his broader vision of creating a diversified racing enterprise that can compete across multiple platforms.