DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson made his first NASCAR Cup Series start in three seasons in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 – driving for the Legacy Motor Club which he now holds major ownership stake in.
After joining fellow NASCAR stars that have both won a NASCAR Cup Series championship and previous DAYTONA 500 in giving Sunday’s starting command for this 75th Anniversary season, Johnson rolled off the grid 39th in the No. 84 Chevrolet.
A two-time DAYTONA 500 winner, Johnson knows how to run this race and sure enough had worked his way all the way into the top 10 in the closing laps before a pair of overtime restarts. He was ultimately collected in a 13-car accident after the first OT green flag, however, and ended up 31st in the final standings.
Johnson will also compete in a handful of other NASCAR Cup Series races in 2023, although he’s only confirmed this summer’s inaugural Chicago Street Race so far. And certainly, Sunday’s effort at Daytona excited fans and invigorated the champ.
“All in all, just a great day,” Johnson said. “I hate that we didn’t get to the finish line, but we got a lot closer than I thought. If I would have taken a bet before the race started, I would have thought some issues [would happen] earlier than that, but we had a great day.
“The Carvana car was awesome. Very, very proud of this race team. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the finish line.”
Source: Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service
