“I smell Jimmie,” said Shaquille O’Neal as the 7x NASCAR Cup Series Champion entered the court. A confident Jimmie Johnson replied, “I smell fear”. This was the start of a free throw competition for the ages between two seasoned veterans. Over the last few weeks, NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and 4x NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal have been involved in some friendly banter on social media, much to the delight of fans from both sports. It all started when the NBA Hall of Famer questioned the veteran driver’s participation in the upcoming 2025 Daytona 500, to which the Legacy Motor Club co-owner/driver retorted with a friendly jibe about his jump shot ability.

In a bid to earn the ultimate bragging rights, Johnson wanted to beat O’Neal at his own game and challenged the 52-year-old to a free throw competition. Unsurprisingly, the 7-foot-1-inch former basketball player prevailed, showing he has still got it where it counts on the court.

Jimmie Johnson’s gamble didn’t pay off

The stakes were high. If Jimmie Johnson lost (which he did), Shaquille O’Neal would be allowed to design Legacy Motor Club’s No. 84 Toyota, which will feature at the upcoming Daytona 500. The California native will be competing in the ‘open’ category at ‘The Great American Race’, and should he qualify, it would be his 22nd attempt at the crown-jewel event. The veteran racer has revealed his limited schedule for 2025, with his only other participation being the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

While Jimmie Johnson’s free-throw challenge against Shaquille O’Neal was a bold gamble, it was also a calculated one. The former NBA star is well known for his challenging relationship with free throws, having faced lighthearted criticism about his success rate in it, which stands at 52.7%. Initially, the former basketball player laid out a deal that would involve taking a lap at Daytona International Speedway should he win the bet, but Johnson retorted by saying, “Only place you’re driving my car is to dinner.”

The 49-year-old upped the ante by putting his car design on the line should O’Neal win, while Jimmie Johnson would be allowed to change the former NBA player’s wardrobe should the result go the other way. The competition was nail-biting, to say the least, with both the sporting icons fumbling with their free throws at similar times. However, the former Los Angeles Lakers player eventually prevailed, securing a 5-4 victory over his ‘rival’. Adding salt to the racer’s wounds, O’Neal said after his victory, “Jimmie I have so many ideas. I can picture the paint scheme. The wheels. And I’ll tell you what Jimmie, I’ll even wear your little one piece.” Being the good sport that he is, Shaq wore the firesuit designed by Jimmie even though the former won the contest.

The duo displayed great chemistry and witty humor throughout their challenge, which was a treat for fans to watch. Johnson had even got sports journalist, Marty Smith, to referee the game. However, that quickly backfired as the referee missed the count of how many free throws were hit, and started celebrating early when Johnson went 4-3 up. This led Shaq to say, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” as he proceeded to knock down the game-tying free throw. O’Neal calmly scored his fifth with the next attempt and Johnson embarrassingly air-balled his last shot.

Both Jimmie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal settled it out with a hug while hopping on the court, bringing an end to the saga that has dominated the headlines in recent weeks. All eyes will be on the No. 84 Toyota at the season-opener, with fans eager to see the livery that will be designed by the former NBA player. Will O’Neal slap his face on the hood, or add a Shaq-sized logo on the roof of Johnson’s car? Time will tell. However, knowing the New Jersey native, the design will be something big and bold, a bet that Johnson may come to regret in the upcoming weeks.

Johnson takes over majority stake at Legacy Motor Club

Jimmie Johnson is a man on a mission. The veteran racer has shocked the NASCAR community by increasing his stake at Legacy Motor Club and is now the majority owner of the racing team. While the decision was a part of his overall five-year roadmap, few expected the legendary driver to speed up his plan to such an extent, as the move signals a new chapter for the 49-year-old.

Sharing his thoughts after becoming majority owner, Johnson candidly said, “I really have to thank Maury Gallagher for giving me the opportunity within the ownership space. He has been an outstanding partner, mentor and friend and I’m grateful we had the opportunity to work together. I’ve learned so much from him. As his professional career takes a different path, he can worry less about the daily team owner things and focus more on family and enjoying life.”

Jimmie Johnson spent a considerable amount of time in England last year, forging connections in the sporting world, including representatives from Knighthead Capital. The investment firm will be partnering with the racing team going forward and helping them grow into a potential title contender. Expressing his views about the collaboration, Johnson candidly said, “I think there’s some short-term opportunities that will stand out quickly, then I believe over the years to come they’ll continue to grow the Legacy Motor Club brand.”

Do you think Jimmie Johnson can turn around the fortunes of Legacy Motor Club after assuming majority ownership?