Jimmie Johnson is running a partial schedule for his new team, Legacy Motor Club, and finished 31st in this year’s Daytona 500. The only other race Johnson was scheduled for was the Chicago street race in July, but Johnson will actually race sooner than expected.
First spotted by Frontstretch, it’s listed in NASCAR’s roster portal that Johnson will race in the March 26 Cup Series race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas. Just like at Daytona, Todd Gordon will be Johnson’s crew chief for the #84 Chevy.
This will be Johnson’s first Cup race at COTA, and it will add to a star-studded roster for the race. Formula 1 World Champions Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button will race, along with 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Jordan Taylor. This will also give Johnson, as well as Button, a chance to race a version of the Garage 56 Next Gen car at Le Mans.
It’s unknown how many total Cup races Johnson will be in this season. Richard Petty said before the season that Johnson would do five races, but that can increase based on a variety of factors. On the Rubbin Is Racing podcast last month, Johnson listed COTA, Charlotte, Dover, and North Wilkesboro on his “wish list.”
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp