Jimmie Johnson is back at the Daytona 500, and this time, he’s bringing more than just his legendary status. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is set to compete in the Great American Race, driving the No. 84 Carvana Toyota. But his return isn’t just about racing—it’s about proving he still belongs. At 48, Johnson isn’t a full-time competitor anymore, but his presence in the sport remains as strong as ever.
However, his journey to Daytona isn’t without obstacles. Since he’s driving a non-chartered car, he must earn his spot in time trials or the Duel qualifying race. If he secures a spot, Johnson will inch closer to his 700th career start, adding another milestone to his already historic career. But while his on-track ambitions are a big story, another headline is dominating, i.e. his growing influence as a team owner of Legacy Motor Club.
Jimmie Johnson reveals the hardest part of ownership
The two-time Daytona 500 winner’s role in NASCAR has expanded far beyond the driver’s seat. Since taking over majority ownership of Legacy Motor Club (LMC), Jimmie Johnson has been at the center of a significant transformation. The team, once co-owned by Richard Petty and Maury Gallagher, has undergone major restructuring under Johnson’s leadership. But with these changes have come accusations of “cleaning house.”
Some critics believe Johnson has forced out key figures and made drastic decisions that altered the team’s identity. With Richard Petty now in an ambassador role and Gallagher stepping back, many wonder if Johnson is reshaping LMC entirely in his vision. Amidst all this, Johnson has spoken out, addressing the claims head-on.
Speaking with Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, Johnson said, “I guess maybe I’m reacting to cleaning the house. I didn’t clean Maury out in the sense there’s been a lot of just stuff going on. One of the worst parts I’ve experienced as an owner is termination and trying to, you know, move on from an individual or a department or people and then bring in new.” He admitted that making tough personnel decisions is one of the hardest parts of his new role. But he insisted that Gallagher’s departure was more about timing than anything else. “I was really surprised when I spoke to Maury towards the end of last year that he was just in a different place in life. He didn’t want so much of the day-to-day and wanted to give me that opportunity,” Johnson added.
I told Jimmie Johnson that from the outside, it looks like he cleaned house at Legacy Motor Club, in some ways from owner on down. He said he didn’t push Maury Gallagher out. He said making changes with employees was difficult for him. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/GNFxQk1pY5
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 12, 2025
Notably, Since Jimmie Johnson joined LMC, the team has struggled to find success on the track. The 2024 season was nothing short of disappointing. John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones have both failed to break into the top tier of competition. Nemechek, driving the No. 42 car, managed only four top-10 finishes and ended the season 34th in the standings. While Jones performed slightly better, only had one top-five finish at Talladega.
Their struggles have raised another critical question—was the move to Toyota the right decision? Many believe LMC isn’t getting the resources it needs to be competitive. Toyota’s priority remains with powerhouse teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, leaving LMC to fight for scraps as they denied a technical alliance. Even Johnson acknowledged the uphill battle. “We couldn’t have tried any harder this year. It’s just part of the journey. This year has been very transformational for us. We won’t have a great sense of the change until we get into probably March of next year,” he said.
With results lagging and fans questioning the direction of the team, Johnson has a lot to prove. However, amid all the drama, there’s one unexpected twist. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has stepped into the picture. The Lakers legend has joined Jimmie Johnson for the special partnership at the Daytona 500.
Shaquille O’Neal designs Johnson’s car for Daytona 500
Shaquille O’Neal has done a lot in his post-NBA career, but designing a NASCAR paint scheme? That’s a new one. The basketball icon won the chance to create Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota after a unique marketing stunt that ended with a free-throw competition between the two legends. It all started on social media, where Shaq jokingly called out Johnson for attempting another Daytona 500 at 48 years old.
The banter escalated until the two agreed on a challenge—if Shaq won, he would design Johnson’s car for the race. Four-time NBA champion came out on top, and with that victory, he got to leave his mark on Johnson’s ride. The result? A car wrapped in nostalgia. The No. 84 Toyota features a design inspired by Shaq’s early NBA days with the Orlando Magic. The scheme includes the Magic’s signature colors and even features O’Neal’s famous “Dunkman” logo. It’s a crossover between two sports icons that few saw coming, but it’s already creating buzz ahead of the Daytona 500.
Beyond the fun, O’Neal’s involvement is part of a larger trend of NBA figures stepping into the NASCAR world. Cleveland Cavaliers legend Brad Daugherty co-owns JTG Daugherty Racing, which won the Daytona 500 two years ago with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Meanwhile, Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing is growing into a powerhouse team, showing that the basketball-to-NASCAR pipeline is stronger than ever.
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