Let’s travel back to 2001. Jimmie Johnson was not the seven-time champion that we are familiar with today. Rather, he is a rookie driving a #48 Hendrick Motorsports vehicle for the first time. And it would be quite a show. He finishes in sixth place after a fast lap, but he didn’t have the happy ending he had hoped for. “This was such a big night for me,” Johnson once remarked when discussing it. In 2001, I made my maiden Cup race effort. Despite being from Wisconsin, Allen Bestwick was a complete unknown. Although he has been involved in the NASCAR Cup scene since 2001, the California native didn’t make his full-time debut until 2002. He has since continued to to become a force of nature at the top level of NASCAR racing.
The Jimmie Johnson period soon came to an end because, regrettably, all good things must end. The Hendrick Motorsports icon has appeared to be a ghost of his former self in the later years of his career. In 2020, he declared a break from the Cup Series and spent a few years racing in the IndyCar. However, he returned to the Cup Series in 2023, this time with Richard Petty Motorsports, which is now known as Legacy Motor Club. Regretfully, he was not as dominant in the Cup Series as he once was. Johnson, who co-owns the squad, has made sporadic appearances for it in recent years. He struggled a much, to be honest, and didn’t even make it into the Top 25 in all of 2023 and 2024.
However, he finished third in his one and only Daytona 500 participation this season, which was his best-ever performance. He hasn’t touched tarmac since then, but that will all change in the coming weeks. The Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is the next race he has planned. But was there a reason he picked Charlotte? Given that his NASCAR journey has come full circle, it would appear so. It is only fitting that Johnson completes his 700th appearance in the Cup Series at the circuit, where he made his debut. And he has something special planned to celebrate his accomplishment. For the fans, the #84 driver unveiled a unique paint job. The driver on X uploaded a video where he said, “I’m so excited to give you the first look at my Carvana racing scheme for the Coca-Cola 600. Come check it out.
On the weekend of Memorial Day, we race. There are several vehicles on the track that represent it, and Carvana has decided to do the same here. If you look at the side of the automobile, you can see the flag’s stripes shaded in. On the race car, we also have some stars that are shaded into the design. Additionally, I always had the neon number 48 on the roof and on the top of the car when I worked full-time at the Cup. Carvana will be the sponsor of the #84 Toyota Camry, which will be primarily blue with neon yellow accents around the number. Don’t be misled; the blue car isn’t chosen at random. It transports us back in time.
“I’m like, dang, my first was at Charlotte, and now my 700th will be at Charlotte,” Johnson remarked in reference to his impending start at Charlotte. As a result, it has gained a lot more weight. And I discovered that these days, you know, I don’t get many beginnings. I’m now thinking back on and enjoying my career in these moments where I have to get back in the car and experience the things because of my experience into the Hall of Fame. Therefore, I’m incredibly happy for Charlotte and grateful that it’s a significant milestone event. Let’s see how his announcement is received by supporters.
Although NASCAR fans enjoyed the livery, there was a missing element
Naturally, a lot of people were very enthusiastic about seeing the new livery on the Toyota Camry. certain, on the other hand, thought that certain possibilities were lost. “Sad it’s not a throwback to his first race, but this is still a nice scheme,” a Reddit user bemoaned. Johnson’s Impala had a big Lowe’s emblem on the hood and was adorned with sponsors when he made his debut. To this day, admirers still adore the car’s vivid blue-purple appearance. Others relived the iconic Jimmie Johnson colors by taking a journey down memory lane: “The blue car with dayglow numbers brings a tear to my eyes.” Some commend Legacy Motor Club for continuously producing the greatest paint jobs, saying, “I think LMC leads the league in great designs.” This admirer will not be mistaken. Fans have always been impressed by LMC’s with the paint schemes on Erik Jones’ #43 car, in blue, red, green, and black.
Jimmie Johnson posted an homage to the King on X with the comment, “Taking the Petty Blue back to the Lady in Black.” It was the most memorable moment of the season. A few admirers have commented on the color scheme’s resemblance and the uncanny valley. “Seems like a callback to his Indy 500 car,” someone commented. It looks fantastic! Johnson wore the blue paint job with a touch of yellow and the #48 on the back wing when he switched to the open-wheel category. He appears to be bringing together two American racing series. Naturally, it is impossible to please everyone, as some people did not approve of the paint work. According to one NASCAR fan, “They’re calling it a JimJam tribute scheme, yet besides the yellow numbers, nothing about this car says Jimmie Johnson.” All that being said, the 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will likely be eager to get back onto the race track.
