Jimmie Johnson Reveals the Thought Before He “Jumped in the Pool” With an Uncooperative NASCAR

Jimmie Johnson’s ownership journey hasn’t been easy. The seven-time Cup Series winner has faced one challenge after another, ever since he purchased a stake at Petty GMS in 2022. For a driver accustomed to winning on the racetrack, struggling at a rebranded Legacy Motor Club was unchartered territory for the Hall of Famer. From lackluster results on the racetrack to changing manufacturers, the 49-year-old has been through it all in his new role at NASCAR’s highest level.

However, the world of motorsports is all Jimmie Johnson knows. While others saw pitfalls, the veteran driver identified opportunities, which motivated him to transition to an ownership role. It may not have been a dream that he had envisioned for himself, but Johnson doesn’t regret his choices, even though the sanctioning body isn’t easy to deal with.

Jimmie Johnson is optimistic about NASCAR’s future

Jimmie Johnson has experienced levels of success that most drivers never will. In 19 full-time seasons, the racing driver has won seven championships, 83 Cup Series wins, and 12 crown jewel triumphs, an indication of his pursuit for excellence and consistency at the pinnacle of motorsports. However, despite his many achievements on the racetrack, nothing could have prepared him for the change in expectations and patience that comes with building a NASCAR team of his own. What motivated him to transition from a driver or an owner, particularly after such an illustrious racing career?

In an interview with Jeff Hammond during the fifth annual Race Industry Week, Jimmie Johnson candidly revealed, “The changes that have been made in the last 11 years with the charter system in NASCAR have really changed my point of view.” The 49-year-old went on to say, “In the last three years, maybe even five if you look back far enough at some of the early signs, the interest in sports, the interest in a franchise, NASCAR is one of the few that’s left and we are watching the value grow.”

As it stands, NASCAR is currently fighting a lawsuit against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports on the their ‘monopolistic practices’. The anti-trust lawsuit is being filed as 23XI and FRM accuse NASCAR of imposing restrictive conditions on the teams as per their latest charter agreement. As sponsor costs go up along with an increase in charter prices, maintaining a profit margin gets tough, as seen with Stewart-Haas Racing. SHR disbanded after the 2024 season and sold their charters as they could not keep up with the financial constraints and attract enough sponsors. So it begs the question, why did Johnson decide to invest in NASCAR at such a time?

The veteran driver concluded by saying, “ But I think where the sport is heading, and the interest in live television and in sports, I think there is a time for motorsports… This is the industry I know and love, there are a lot of people making bets on it. I jumped in the pool with them.”

While results on the track have left much to be desired, NASCAR’s growth as a sport from a financial standpoint is undeniable, especially at the highest level. The organization recently signed a multi-billion dollar media rights deal with NBC, Fox, Amazon, and Warner Bros Discovery until 2031, highlighting the insatiable demand that exists on television. Moreover, the charter prices are at an all-time high, with Spire Motorsports reportedly paying a staggering sum of $40 million to Live Fast Motorsports to expand its Cup Series operations.

Unlike a team such as 23XI, which has signed a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, Legacy Motor Club is opting for a longer route. By forging their path, success might take longer, but could prove to be a lot more financially sustainable. At a time when NASCAR’s stringent rules are making it difficult for teams to reduce their costs, LMC might prove to be an exception after making wholesale changes in its management while reducing dependency on others. However, Jimmie Johnson is under no illusions about the challenges ahead, as he said, “It’s a tough sport, and we have a great vision and have made a massive commitment to that long-term vision, so we’re on the journey.”

Johnson is aiming for growth at Legacy Motor Club

After Jimmie Johnson closed the curtains on his full-time stock car racing career, the veteran fulfilled a lifelong ambition of competing in the Indianapolis 500 in the NTT IndyCar Series with Chip Ganassi Racing. However, the California native always wanted to return to NASCAR, as the sport represents his roots and where he made a name for himself. Partnering with co-owner Maury Gallagher, the 49-year-old isn’t ruling out the chance to expand his team beyond the touring stock car series.

Sharing his thoughts about the future, Johnson said, “Now in the Club we have Matt Kenseth working with us and also Trevor Bayne and the legacies they’ve created. Now we certainly hope our two drivers in John Hunter (Nemechek) and Erik Jones create their own legacies in our cars. So, it gives us some optionality with the name. Even with expansion, if we choose to race in other championships. We can still put a lot under the name itself.”

Believing that there is still room for scalability, not just within NASCAR but in the world of motorsports as well, Jimmie Johnson went on to say, “There is a large fan base out there that is craving more. It can be high-level experiences, mid-tier, more day-in and day-out experiences. But there is such an appetite for motorsport.” While the 49-year-old will look for more avenues for expansion, his immediate priority will be success on the racetrack. Erik Jones finished the year 28th in the driver standings while John Hunter Nemechek was 34th. Getting wins and challenging titles will open doors that no amount of influence will, as Johnson knows all too well thanks to his glittering career.