NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson and Shaq team up for Daytona 500 paint scheme

Update: 2/3/2025

The anticipated paint scheme and fire suit pays homage to when Shaq played for the Orlando Magic.

“Jimmie and I had a ton of fun putting this together,โ€ said Oโ€™Neal. โ€œThe car looks amazing, and I canโ€™t wait to see him tear up the track next Sunday. Lucky for him, heโ€™s got a better shot at victory lane than at the free-throw line!โ€

And Johnson?

โ€œI figured our little feud would stay online, but next thing I know, Shaqโ€™s challenging me to a free throw contest and calling the shots on my paint scheme,โ€ said Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. โ€œI have to admitโ€”heโ€™s got style. Itโ€™s bold, itโ€™s iconic, and I canโ€™t wait to take it to the track.โ€


Update: 2/2/2025

Indeed, Shaquille Oโ€™Neal and Jimmie Johnson have been cooking up a social media activation in advance of the Daytona 500.

It resulted in a free throw contest overseen by former NASCAR reporter turned sports media personality Marty Smith. Naturally, Shaq won and the stakes were that an O’Neal victory would result in the NBA legend being allowed to design the car the seven-time champion would drive in the Great American Race. Shaq also earned a NASCAR firesuit out of the deal.

Oโ€™Neal went first but after four shots, the score was Johnson leading 3-2. After seven shots each, the game was decided at 5-4.

The car design will drop on Saturday.


Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson appears to be cooking a social media activation of some kind with basketball great Shaquille Oโ€™Neal.

Maybe itโ€™s an authentic back-and-forth but this has partnership campaign written all over it, especially with Legacy Motor Club getting in on the fun.

What do we have going on here, indeed?

Johnson is now a part-time racer, only set to compete in two races this year, driving the No. 84 that he owns with Maury Gallagher.

Matt Weaver is a Motorsports Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter.

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