By just about every metric, Jimmie Johnson is one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers — his seven Cup Series championships tie him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. for the most ever.
But after he retired from stock-car racing in 2020, Johnson seemed to get as far away from NASCAR as possible: He represented the United States at the Race of Champions last year in Sweden; he competed in vintage car races at the 2022 Goodwood Revival in England; he dabbled in endurance racing; and last season, he participated full time in the open-wheel series IndyCar, which included his first start at the Indianapolis 500.