Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will compete in the 2025 Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, driving the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota. The NASCAR Hall of Famer seeks his third Daytona 500 victory and fifth Coca-Cola 600 win.
Johnson’s Comeback Schedule
Johnson, who retired from full-time competition after the 2020 season, will attempt to qualify for his 22nd Daytona 500 on February 16, 2025. The 49-year-old driver’s last win in “The Great American Race” came in 2013, with his first victory in 2006 during his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports.
The two-time Daytona 500 winner will also compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025, marking his 700th career Cup Series start. Johnson has eight Cup Series wins at the track, including four victories in NASCAR’s longest race.
Excitement and Nostalgia
Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for returning to competition, stating, “I’m thrilled to be returning to competition in 2025. These two races hold a special place in my heart, and I’ve always loved the energy and excitement that surrounds them. The Daytona 500 is a crown jewel of NASCAR – there’s nothing like it. Charlotte Motor Speedway is where I made my first start in the NASCAR Cup Series, and it’s always felt like home to me.”
Sponsorship and Milestones
Legacy Motor Club announced that Carvana would sponsor Johnson for both events, continuing their partnership for the fifth season. Ryan Keeton, Carvana co-founder and chief brand officer, said, “our team is committed to creating a special livery that measures up to his 700th start milestone.”
Johnson’s four Coca-Cola 600 victories put him one win behind Darrell Waltrip’s record of five in the prestigious event. Only 20 drivers in Cup Series history have reached the 700-start milestone, with Kyle Busch being the most recent to achieve the feat in July 2023.
Post-Retirement Career
Since retiring from full-time NASCAR competition, Johnson has pursued other racing ventures. He competed in one partial schedule (2021) and one full season (2022) in IndyCar. In 2023, he returned to the Cup Series for a three-race slate, and he participated in nine Cup events in 2024, including the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600.
Johnson continues to contribute to the sport as both a driver and co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, leaving a lasting impact on NASCAR both on and off the track.
