Jimmie Johnson’s Emerging Star Drops Three Words to Assert His Successful Stint In the Cup Series

Jimmie Johnson is a man of many talents. The legendary racer diversified his portfolio this season to include ownership of Legacy Motor Club. The seven-time champion promoted skilled Xfinity and Truck racers to the Cup Series through his team. And his efforts paid off in the playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Although Jimmie Johnson himself did not compete, he gave an incredible opportunity to a Truck Series racer. Carson Hocevar, drove his #42 Chevrolet in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race this weekend. And the Truck driver confirmed his preferred vehicle at the end of the race.

Legacy Motor Club’s No. 42 racer energized after 4th ever Cup race

Carson Hocevar soared high on the back of an outstanding racing year this season. After three Truck race wins, he tried his hand at the top-tier series of NASCAR. Hocevar subbed for Chase Elliott earlier in the season but his true merit emerged once the playoffs began.

He signed on with Legacy Motor Club as a part-time Cup driver for the season. Even though his team did not set high expectations for an inexperienced racer, Hocevar pushed himself. He registered Top 20 finishes in both Darlington and Kansas. But the young racer was confident about his skills. And he finally showcased them in his 4th ever Cup race start at Bristol.

The #42 finished 11th while racing with seasoned Cup racers. In fact, he nearly got a Top 10 finish. Also, he won stage points for Jimmie Johnson after finishing 5th at the end of the 2nd Stage. That was an unbelievable accomplishment for a driver with a handful of races in his pocket. He was even heard on the radio saying, ‘Give me upfront, I’d set sail’.

Watch this story: Jimmie Johnson Breaks the Hearts of NASCAR Fans With His Sad News Amid His Feud With Joe Gibbs

In the post-race interview, a reporter asked Hocevar about the source of that confidence. The rookie racer laughed it off and admitted his disappointment after the first two playoff races. He thoroughly enjoyed driving on this track, for it was more at par with what he hoped for this race.

Hocevar responded, “I don’t know, maybe delusion. I always thought I could do runs like that, you know. I was frustrated after Darlington and Kansas just coz like I thought, this is how I should perform…So it’s a lot of fun!”

Meanwhile, Hocevar was also genuinely grateful for Johnson’s team.

Jimmie Johnson’s driver spelled out his preference between No. 42 car and the Genie Truck

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Jimmie Johnson might be in the first year of running Legacy Motor Club, but the Hall of Famer was not one to do things in half measures. Years dedicated to the sport gave him an in-depth understanding of the needs of his drivers. His crew ensured their distinct skill set and preferences would reflect in the cars driven by them.

Carson Hocevar couldn’t thank the team enough for all the effort they put in to ensure his success in the race. He realized that his Chevy overcame the drawback of his Truck. It was evident he was looking forward to more Cup Series races with this team. The #42 driver wished to reciprocate their hard work through his performance, despite his early days.

Hocevar continued, “Everybody reminds me it’s super hard but you wanna be here, you better perform…These guys work really well and they believe me. They took the springs that I asked for and they put it on, it’s different than the 43. So just being confident in this car, honestly, the genie car is a really big question mark for me. I’m not really good with lifting super early. My truck spotter reminded me of that. This is my kinda car! Just drive it as hard as you can and use it all day.”

Read More: NASCAR Insider Reveals Jimmie Johnson’s Driver’s Calculated Risk at Kansas That Almost Took Them to Victory Lane

It was impossible to not get captivated by his enthusiasm and drive. The playoff race might have gotten over but for Carson Hocevar and Legacy Motor Club, the race has just begun.