Jimmie Johnson Opens The Door For 2026 Nascar Return

Seven-time Nascar Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson still has the need for speed.

The co-owner of Legacy Motor Club cannot get racing out of his system, and he will likely be returning to the wheel of a Nascar Cup Series car in 2026.

When Nascar announced it will be racing in San Diego – near Johnson’s hometown — next year, he told NBC Sports that it peaked his interest.

“I want to keep going,” Johnson said. “I want to stay in a car. I think it’s good for us.

“There’s a chance that I run more races next year if we have a third charter on the docket and have a sponsor to bring along, team members to groom, a crew chief to get reps, a driver to get reps. There’s a lot of scenarios that are in play. I’m hopeful I can keep going.”

Johnson scheduled only two races for the No. 84 team with backing from longtime sponsor Carvana this year. He finished third in the Daytona 500, his best finish since returning to Nascar racing in 2023 after a brief IndyCar Series stint.

Johnson, an 83-time Cup Series winner, owns a majority stake in the two-car team, which he originally partnered with Allegiant Airlines CEO Maury Gallagher.

Legacy Motor Club is currently in the midst of a complicated lawsuit against Rick Ware Racing over the acquisition of one of RWR’s charters. Legacy believes the team agreed to purchase one of Ware’s charters ahead of the 2026 season, attempting to expand to three cars.

Ware is arguing it is for 2027. However, Ware has an agreement to lease one of its charters to its strategic ally, RFK Racing, in 2026. Ware also reportedly inked a deal to sell his team to former Spire Motorsports co-owner TJ Puchyr, according to the Associated Press. However, Ware was not sourced in the report, leaving questions about the team’s future.