Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmy Johnson has had an impressive career for Hendrik Motorsports. I mean, you can just look at the first sentence and find out, right? After all, you say seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmy Johnson, right?
And since Hendrik was the only team Johnson led during his 20-year Cup Series career, it’s clear that he won all of those seven Series Leader titles in all victories. Johnson, of course, is one of the main reasons Hendrik holds this record, contributing 83 of them to the 48th Chevrolet, second only to Jeff Gordon in team history and well for sixth place in the Cup Series all-time. existing.
Johnson left NASCAR after the 2020 season to pursue a part-time career in the IndyCar series, a career he plans to continue. However, he hopes to meet again with Hendrick Motorsports next year.
But we’re not talking about the pursuit of an eighth title here. No, Johnson is hoping to join Hendrik at the 2023 edition of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France. But he can’t commit yet because he doesn’t know if it will be available.
Jimmy Johnson hopes to reunite with Hendrick Motorsports for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023
For the first time since 1976, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s oldest endurance race, will feature a stock car. Introduced in 2012, the Garage 56 is a special single-entry class dedicated to innovative cars, and that will be Hendrick Motorsports’ owned Chevrolet Camaro LZ1, the organization’s first entry at this historic event.
The LZ1 will be a modified version of the next generation car, and Johnson is eager to get behind the wheel of his former employer. But while there have been discussions between the two sides, no one can commit yet as the IndyCar schedule for 2023 hasn’t been released. But Johnson says he’s working hard to see what happens to that end (h/t NASCAR.com).
“I’m still impatiently waiting for (IndyCar’s) schedule. I’m pushing backstage to (IndyCar chief) Jay Fry and others to try and understand what the schedule might be. I want to go to Le Mans. It would be a great experience to go with Hendrick and Action Express and the way that This entire partnership operates.
“I am grateful that I had some conversations with them (Hendrick and Action Express) and I know there is interest. I definitely have a lot of interest to do that. We are just waiting for the first domino to fall.”
Jimmy Johnson
Thankfully, there is still plenty of time, with the race not happening until about a year from now (the 2022 edition was only 10 days ago). But given the talent Rick Hendrick has at his disposal, it’s possible that Johnson just wants to secure his place on the team.
Who would have thought Jimmy Johnson would have a hard time finding a spot at Hendrick Motorsports?
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