Jimmie Johnson sends NASCAR Twitter into a frenzy by hinting that racing full time in 2023 could be an option
Jimmy Johnson He surprised everyone in November when he joined Richard Petty At a pre-season press conference in Phoenix, it was announced that the pair were now co-owners of the reconfigured Legacy MC. The seven-time champions have written a huge legacy.
Johnson also announced that his legacy on the track was not complete, and he would return to it NASCAR Cup Series competing for a limited schedule in 2023. The 47-year-old made his first tournament in Next generation car While testing in Phoenix this week and now preparing for the Daytona 500 Qualifiers.
On Friday, he sent NASCAR fans into a frenzy on Twitter when he confirmed that he had received his credentials for the upcoming season and hinted that racing full time might be an option.
Jimmie Johnson has come out of retirement for a limited racing schedule
Jimmie Johnson sat down alongside Richard Petty and Maury Gallagher on the eve of the 2022 Cup Championship in Phoenix a few months ago, revealing their new partnership that will allow the newest seven-time champion to become a Cup Series team owner and, most importantly for the fans, get back behind the wheel for a few races. .
The first of these races is the biggest of them all taking place next month in the Daytona 500which he won twice. The owner driver will have to qualify for the Next Generation car, which is entering its second season. To get around the disadvantage of not having time in the seat of a wildly different car, NASCAR allowed him to take part in a test session in Phoenix earlier this week.
“Seat time is everything,” Johnson told reporters after his one-day session. “The drivers, the teams, you try to do what you can in the simulation, but being on the track is where you learn everything.
“To run a limited schedule with (the No. 84 team) running a limited schedule, we need to keep our expectations realistic about the job ahead of us. It’s a very competitive sport. Lots of great teams and drivers. I suppose, as I continue to get more sitting time in the These cars, I will understand where to find speed and will continue to make myself more competitive.”
Johnson hints at racing full time in 2023
Johnson’s comments about managing a limited schedule were only a few days ago. On Friday, he shared on Twitter that he had received his credentials, which included interesting wording highlighted by the driver and seemed to indicate he might have another option besides running a partial schedule.
“My NASCAR credentials come out, and it looks like I have ‘options’ in 2023,” he says, with what appears to be a photo of his approval of the credential that reads: “JIMMIE – 2023 NASCAR Cup Series – Full Season – Driver License and NASCAR Cup Series Annual Accreditation Request | Request Approved.
NASCAR Twitter is exploding
Unsurprisingly, Johnson’s comment sent NASCAR Twitter into a frenzy and his fans responded enthusiastically in support of a full-season return in 2023.
“Do you chase for 8 days?!” one fan asked.
“Win the Daytona 500 and it might be worth it!” another answered.
Perhaps the most convincing response to Johnson making a full-season comeback came from a fan who made a reference to what happened in the driver’s past year.
“Run full time. COVID hurt your final season. Let people have a chance to see you #OneFinalTime,” he wrote.
The fans in the stands at all 36 races will no doubt be a proper and well deserved deposit Johnson didn’t receive the first time around. And who knows, he might add another race win to the total and end up with 84 career victories, matching his new car’s record. It would be a fitting end to the seven-time champion’s racing legacy.