Jimmie Johnson is back in the NASCAR Cup Series and this time, it appears he will be staying for the long haul. Johnson, 47, bought an ownership stake in Legacy Motor Club, previously Petty GMS Motorsports, during the 2022 season.
The seven-time Cup Series champion will also drive the No. 84 car in select races, including the Chicago Street Course. Johnson already ran the Daytona 500 and finished in 31st place due to a wreck after running well.
It has not come without some drama from Richard Petty, who has the role of chief ambassador within Legacy Motor Club. However, Petty did say something else that opened the eyes of many during his media availability last week.
Related: Jimmie Johnson releases 4 tracks he wants to run during the 2023 season
Richard Petty says Jimmie Johnson will ‘probably be the majority owner’ in four to five years
Petty sold his ownership shares to Maury Gallagher before the 2022 season and has not been an owner of the organization since that sale. However, he did admit it has been hard to watch Johnson come in and run the show.
The organization used to be Richard Petty Motorsports from 2009 to 2021. Over that period of time, the team won five times in the NASCAR Cup Series but struggled near the end of the process with Bubba Wallace and Erik Jones.
It then became Petty GMS Motorsports for the 2021 season before Johnson entered the ownership group. Speaking of Johnson becoming an owner, Petty had this to say about the former Hendrick Motorsports driver’s future at Legacy Motor Club.
“(Jimmie Johnson)’s basically going to wind up running the show in four or five years completely. He’ll probably be the majority owner or the owner of (Legacy Motor Club). They’re looking at things completely differently…Jimmie’s very observant. He takes on everything. Jimmie controls everything, basically. You’re making postcards and stuff, he has to approve it. He approves everything. He’s a pretty busy man right now…He’s still young enough where’s going to be around a long, long time.”
Richard Petty on Jimmie Johnson’s future at Legacy Motor Club
That is a very bold statement from Petty that might seem surprising on the outside; however, could he know something the public does not about Johnson’s future? It would be interesting to see Johnson rise to the majority owner or the owner role overall.
Either way, it is good for NASCAR that Johnson is back in the fold. He is regarded as one of the best NASCAR drivers in history with seven Cup Series championships alongside Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
As Petty said, Johnson will be around for a long, long time as he eases into his new role with Legacy Motor Club. We will see how far that takes him in the next four to five years.