Jimmie Johnson Signs Up for Historic Stock Car Racing Debut at Le Mans
Jimmie Johnson, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will make his historic stock car racing debut at the Le Mans Classic Legend this weekend. The event marks the first overseas race for Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) and will feature over 30 HSR Historic NASCAR stock cars on the Circuit de la Sarthe.
What happened?
The HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear will join the Le Mans Classic Legend at Circuit de la Sarthe from July 3-5. Two of the historic weekend's three races will be livestreamed with English-speaking commentary and available on the HSR and IMSA YouTube channels.
Why it matters for Jimmie Johnson
The event is a significant milestone for Jimmie Johnson, who will be racing alongside other NASCAR legends. The diverse field ranges from a Richard Petty-inspired 1966 No. 43 Plymouth Belvedere to more modern machinery retired from competition across NASCAR's umbrella of major series.
What comes next?
Jimmie Johnson will be racing in a 2020 No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet Camaro, a former Chip Ganassi Racing machine he raced in its prime. The car has been prepared by NEMCO, and Johnson is excited to get back behind the wheel. "For me, it's getting those juices flowing, grabbing gears, feeling the speed and the energy of the car again," Johnson said.
The event will also honor the legacy and impact of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Greg Biffle. Victor Corda and Chris Stillwell will campaign 2009 Ford Mustangs with lineage to Biffle, while Michael Parsons will drive the iconic black No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet Lumina, a chassis driven by Dale Earnhardt Sr. from 1992 to 1994 with Richard Childress Racing.
The significance of the event
The Le Mans Classic Legend is a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, and Jimmie Johnson is honored to be a part of it. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime," Corda said. "I don't think that I'll ever have the opportunity again. We decided it would be the thing to do. I'm very lucky my wife Erica is going to come out and crew for me, and my son Kyle and his fiancée Hannah are coming out to help."
The event will also feature a former Pro Football lineman Scott Dolfi piloting a former Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado NASCAR Truck from 2016, originally driven by John Hunter Nemechek.
The HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear will be a historic moment for Jimmie Johnson and the NASCAR community. The event will be livestreamed on the HSR and IMSA YouTube channels, and fans can catch the action from July 3-5.
And, as the event gets underway, Jimmie Johnson is ready to take on the challenge. "I'm really looking forward to it," he said.