When Jimmie Johnson announced his comeback to NASCAR as a part-time driver and the part owner of the newly rebranded Legacy Motor Club team, fans were ecstatic. After all, one of the sport’s all-time greats was coming back and the prospect of a seven-timer racing again? It can’t get more exciting, surely.

But after his runs in the Daytona 500 and the road course race at Circuit of The Americas, Jimmie Johnson fans are hit with a big setback. He wouldn’t be taking part in the All-Star race.

And when you factor in the aspect of that whole weekend at the historic North Wilkesboro, a racetrack Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. not only helped restore (with a $22 Million project) but will race on ahead of the All-Star weekend in the CARS Tour series, it just gets worse.

Why is Jimmie Johnson not taking part in the All-Star race?

According to journalist Bob Pockrass, the reason for the Hendrick Motorsports legend not taking part in the All-Star race is the eligibility rules by NASCAR. Pockrass reported that NASCAR “did not alter” the eligibility rules for Jimmie Johnson to take part in that race.

“It’s drivers who won a points event in either 2022 or 2023, drivers who won a NASCAR All-Star Race and compete full time and drivers who won a Cup title and compete full time,” he tweeted.

Fans were clearly not happy with this update and they had their say on Twitter.

“past cup champions were always in.”

“Am I eligible?”

“So hypothetically if a @TeamTrackhouse car hired a driver that has previously won an all star race in let’s say 2000 they could drive in said race?”

“Is Jimmie eligible for a fan vote?”

“When did they add the provision that you had to race full time?”

“Give them a week. They may change the rule yet”

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Johnson is headlining an ‘All-Star’ team for NASCAR on the big stage this year

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Despite him being ineligible to run in the North Wilkesboro All-Star race, Johnson is still going to run a major event this year for NASCAR. He was announced as part of the official lineup for the Garage 56 entry team that will run in Le Mans later this year.

Johnson would be joining former F1 champion Jenson Button, and former Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller.

With that said, are you happy with Johnson’s participation in Le Mans or would you rather swap his trip to France for a seat in North Wilkesboro in June?

Let us know in the comments below.

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