Motorsports
NASCAR legend returns for milestone moment at Coca-Cola 600
CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV) – A NASCAR legend will make his return to the track this weekend for a milestone moment at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will get back behind the wheel for the Coca-Cola 600 in what will mark his 700th career start at NASCAR’s highest level. Johnson — who […]
CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV) – A NASCAR legend will make his return to the track this weekend for a milestone moment at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will get back behind the wheel for the Coca-Cola 600 in what will mark his 700th career start at NASCAR’s highest level.
Johnson — who co-owns Legacy Motor Club with fellow legend Richard Petty — was once dominant at Charlotte. He has eight wins at the historic racetrack, including four victories in the 600-mile crown jewel event.
The Coca-Cola 600 will be just the second race of 2025 for the semi-retired driver. He finished third in the Daytona 500 after he avoided a last-lap crash.
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With exactly 40 cars entered for Sunday’s race, Johnson is guaranteed to qualify for NASCAR’s longest event. Only 20 other drivers have ever made 700 Cup Series starts. That list includes some of the sport’s most iconic names, such as the Busch, Labonte and Waltrip brothers, Bobby Allison, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. Richard Petty has made the most starts with 1,184.
Johnson revealed in a podcast this week that he won’t quite be done when he hits the 700 mark.
“Seven hundred, at Charlotte, it’s really turning out to be something very special for me,” Johnson said. “It’s not going to be my last, you know, it would be nice to end on a round number, but I’ll still be behind the wheel at least next year and as long as it really makes sense for me to run cars here at Legacy Motor Club.”
The current driver of the No. 84 made his first start at the same track in 2001, albeit in the famous No. 48 car.
Johnson will once again sport the Carvana colors on his car, but will run a paint scheme that honors America on Memorial Day weekend, while also paying tribute to his milestone 700 starts. His 84 car will hit the track Saturday afternoon for Cup practice and qualifying before the green flag drops around 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Xfinity and Truck series will also race at Charlotte this weekend, with the trucks racing Friday night and the Xfinity cars on Saturday.
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