Dale Earnhardt Jr Builds Intrigue After Leaving a Crypted Message for Jimmie Johnson

The history of Hendrick Motorsports is incomplete without the names of Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jimmie Johnson. Junior had joined the outfit in 2008 after letting go of his infamous #8 Budweiser Chevrolet to sit behind the wheel of the #88 car. Jimmie Johnson, on the other hand, had been with the team since 2001. From 2008 to 2017, the drivers raced together under the banner of Hendrick Motorsports, where Johnson would win the final five of his seven Cup Series championships and Dale Jr. would win multiple Most Popular Driver Awards.

In fact, at one point, at Aaron’s 499 in Talladega (2011), Junior pushed Johnson to victory in a four-wide finish. Johnson took home the trophy but gifted the flag to Junior. Years have passed since the two have experienced on-track wingman privileges. However, a recent message from Junior’s X handle has sparked many possibilities, including a steaming partnership between the veterans.

Dale Earnhardt Jr leaves a cryptic message for Legacy Motor Club co-owner

Jimmie Johnson, the co-owner of Legacy Motor Club in 2023, enacted several changes to his team that previously evaded when owned by Richard Petty. Hit by a mid-season slump owing to the suspension of Noah Gragson, Johnson’s team has since found its feet and put up some good performances in the wake of the Hollywood Casino 400 race at the Kansas Speedway on Sunday.

As the drivers Erik Jones and the young Carson Hocevar ended the 2nd stage of the evening at P6 and P15, respectively, Dale Jr sent a message that echoed several possibilities.

It is not news that Dale Jr. and Jimmie still share a very close friendship. With the former being the owner of a racing outfit himself, the reply that he has given to LMC’s tweet could hint at a lot.

Speaking on his podcast Dale Jr. Download back in March, Dale Jr. revealed that he and Jimmie had been very close to creating a team of their own before the latter joined LMC. And Junior having a keen “eye” on Legacy Motor Sports updates only adds to the possibility that it will be a while before they hit the road again.

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Joking that a joint partnership between Johnson and Junior would be called JR Johnson Racing, he said, “Me and (Jimmie Johnson) were on the Zoom calls nearly close to teaming up before he chose to go to Legacy, I was like, ‘Let’s do it together. We were going to call it JR Johnson Racing. Just kidding!” 

Had a deal gone through between the two old teammates, NASCAR could’ve seen the birth of a formidable team that could have contended for the title a few years down the line. With these revelations and Dale Jr’s indirect message out in the open, the question of whether a partnership could re-emerge between the two cannot be ignored.

One other crucial possibility is a move on the young Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar from Dale Jr. The 20-year-old has currently taken the mantle at LMC as a replacement for the suspended Noah Gragson. But throughout the year, Dale Jr. has been in appreciation for the youngster and his performances, hinting at a possible transfer to the JR Motorsports’ table.

Junior currently fields cars in the Xfinity Series, and his tweet after Carson faced a DNF on his maiden Cup Series race shows his admiration for the driver.

Replying to the applause, Carson had said, “Means the world coming from you Dale, I truly appreciate it!” Considering these exchanges between the two, it is quite possible that a likely shift could happen going into 2024. At the end of the day, time will have the right answer. For now, Jimmie Johnson will go to sleep a peaceful man with the knowledge that it is only going to be upward and onward from here.

Read More: Dale Earnhardt Jr Calls Out “Sly Dog” Jimmie Johnson After Leaving His Pride Out to Dry