“It’s Going to Take a Little While” – Jimmie Johnson Reveals the “Weird” Part About Not Being a Part of Hendrick Motorsports as He Heads Back Into the NASCAR Cup Series

Motorsport fans went crazy hearing about the return of Jimmie Johnson to NASCAR last November. This saw him make a u-turn to his retirement decision in 2020. The 47-year-old returns after racing in the IndyCar series from 2021 to 2022. His new role sees him as a co-owner and a part-time driver for the Legacy Motor Club in 2023.

The legendary driver was associated with Hendrick Motorsports for a long time prior to his retirement. Jimmie went on to make 686 starts for the North Carolina-based team in his #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. After using the #48 for two decades, we won’t be seeing him using the same number again. Post Jimmie’s departure in 2020, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman has been using the #48. The 29-year-old recently confirmed his decision to stick with the number for the 2023 season.

Jimmie Johnson reacts on not being able to use the #48

With Bowman’s confirmation of using the #48 number, Jimmie Johnson was left with no choice but to use a different number. Speaking on Rubbin is Racing, he said, “Yeah it’s gonna be weird. There’s no way around it and I used to see the number in the car and no one being in the car. And Bowman last two years watching on television but I was always driving the 48 in another series. So I carried the 48 number over to IndyCar and then also to the DPI program in sports car racing.”

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He added, “So it’s going to take a little while although visually I’m used to the Ally 48 Car not being mine anymore but there still is some visual reference to the 48 I’m sure when I look at timing and scoring and all the other little things that is kind of organized by number within the sport do a double take.”

It is disappointing to not see Jimmie Johnson carry the #48 this season. That being said, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will be using the #84 Chevrolet in 2023.

Jimmie’s plans for 2023

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Jimmie Johnson will be participating in select races in the upcoming season. So far, he has only gone on to confirm his participation in the Daytona 500. Having won the Daytona race twice in his career, Jimmie is yet to be locked into the race. Since there are more than four non-chartered cars on the entry list, the California-born driver will have to undergo the prequalification process.

In order to make it, he will have to qualify via speed in the single-car qualifying session on February 15 or get the desired result in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel race on February 16. Jimmie is touted to make it through to stand a chance to register his career’s third Daytona 500 win.

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The former Hendrick Motorsports driver has also confirmed his participation at the new Chicago Street Course on July 2 this year. In addition to that, Jimmie is likely to participate in five to 10 races. It is going to be interesting to see how he goes on about his list of races.