Jimmie Johnson Takes a Break From His Tiring NASCAR Season by Getting Into Europe’s Biggest Sport in Birmingham

Jimmie Johnson is taking a well-earned rest. After a disappointing season as owner/driver of Legacy Motor Club, the seven-time Cup Series winner is back with his family in the United Kingdom, taking a break from the NASCAR world before another demanding season begins. With his racing team currently in the middle of a rebuild, the 49-year-old has his hands full with responsibilities, but that isn’t stopping him from catching up with some other sports as well.

In an Instagram story uploaded by Johnson, the California native was seen enjoying an entertaining Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Could we see the 49-year-old potentially invest in European football in the future?

Jimmie Johnson gets a taste of Premier League action

Jimmie Johnson is broadening his horizons. Literally. The seven-time Cup Series winner has moved to England along with his wife, Chani, and two daughters, Evie and Lydia. The decision to live across the pond came after a family tragedy, which involved a double-murder suicide where his in-laws and nephews passed away. Knowing that a change of scenery would be beneficial, the Johnsons now live in London, while the veteran driver travels often to the United States for races, meetings, and partner events.

Living in the United Kingdom has its fair share of benefits. It has allowed the family to travel across Europe, while Jimmie Johnson has used the opportunity to expand his networking base and knowledge about sponsorships. It seems like the racing driver is also using this time to catch up with other sports, having recently been in attendance at Villa Park for a Premier League fixture. After a two-week-long international break, Aston Villa took on Crystal Palace, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

The Premier League is a highly lucrative sporting competition, featuring record attendances in the stadiums and multi-billion dollar television rights deals. Could Jimmie Johnson look to potentially invest in a football team, or was he simply enjoying the game in his downtime? While the possibilities are endless, the famous atmosphere at Villa Park will surely leave a lasting impression on the veteran racing driver.

After retiring from full-time racing in 2020, Jimmie Johnson’s involvement in NASCAR has transitioned to being an owner/part-time driver. The California native will be competing in the No. 84 Chevy during the 2025 season but in a limited capacity. Legacy Motor Club has undergone a significant rebuild, which means the focus will be on John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones to excel on the racetrack, with Johnson saying, “I’m a result-oriented guy.”

The rebuild involves changes in personnel, such as the addition of Chad Johnston to serve as the organization’s Manager of Race Engineering. Johnston has 7 Cup wins to his name and was the crew chief for Ryan Preece and the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing team in 2024. LMC also parted ways with Dave Ellenz, leading to a reshuffle. Ben Beshore took over the #43 team for the season’s end, while Brian Campe assumed the role of interim crew chief for the #42 team.

Meanwhile, the California native is enjoying life in England, even though his motorsports adventures in the country haven’t gone as planned.

Johnson crashes $2.5 million car at the Goodwood Revival

Having been there and done that in NASCAR, Jimmie Johnson has been exploring motorsports events in England now that he’s calling the country his new home. The 49-year-old recently participated in the prestigious Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, England, where he crashed his No. 46 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight during a practice session. However, despite the setback, the veteran driver went on to win the Stirling Moss GT Extravaganza race despite plenty of on-track drama.

Reflecting on his result, the California native said, “This is very special – oh I get a cigar too! This is great. What an honor. This has just been an event that I don’t wanna miss. I have always dreamed of coming here and competing. Big thanks and credit to this team. I kind of scratched the back in the rain…and they’ve been able to fix the car back on track. Of course, Dario had just been a long-time close friend. To be able to share a car with him and to be able to share a win together – it’s gonna be a fun night.”

Jimmie Johnson competed in the event alongside four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti. Despite starting the race in ninth place, the veteran showed just how valuable his experience is by going from fourth to first in a space of two corners, even though he incurred a 10-second penalty. His first appearance at the Goodwood Revival was in 2022, but on-track setbacks forced him to settle for a third-place result while driving a Ford Galaxie 500. Do you think he will participate in more British motorsports events? Let us know in the comments!