Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and now owner of Legacy Motor Club and he will return to the track in his home state next season in San Diego
Jimmie Johnson intends to compete at the Naval Base Coronado’s first race(Image: Getty)
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson, is gearing up for a shot at his 84th career win in a location that holds special significance for the 50 year old.
Legacy Motor Club, Johnson’s own team, announced on Wednesday that the El Cajon, California native plans to compete in the inaugural race at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado in June 2026. The event will commemorate the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary and will feature a newly unveiled 3.4-mile, 16-turn street course around the base.
“Growing up just miles from San Diego, I dreamed about racing here in a NASCAR vehicle someday, but I never thought it would be possible,” Johnson shared in a statement.
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“I just came to the realization that there would be no way NASCAR could race in that city – as there would be nowhere to put a track. So, it’s just mind-blowing to me that NASCAR made this a reality.
“To come back home, compete in front of my community, the military, my family, and friends, and do it with Carvana and Legacy Motor Club, this is one of those full-circle experiences I will never forget. It’s a lifelong dream.”
Johnson will be behind the wheel of the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, once again sponsored by Carvana – the paint scheme for which has yet to be revealed.
“When I think about everything this sport has given me and where it all started, being able to race in San Diego at this level feels like my career has come full circle,” Johnson went on to say.
“Starting out on two wheels racing motorcycles throughout the west coast and now being able to race on four in the same region is something I never thought I would see. Additionally, my grandparents were military and are buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery nearby the base, so it’s an honor to race there – this is going to be very special.”
Johnson managed an excellent third-place finish at the 2025 Daytona 500(Image: Getty)
Since making his Cup Series debut in 2001, Johnson has competed in 700 races altogether, running full-time from 2002 through 2020 with Hendrick Motorsports. He ultimately staged a return in 2023 with Legacy, with whom he has since made 14 occasional appearances, including the Daytona 500 each season.
While Johnson has mostly found himself struggling toward the back of the pack since his comeback, he finally broke into the top 20 for the first time with his team at the 2025 Daytona 500, securing an impressive third behind 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick in second and now consecutive champion, William Byron of Hendrick.
Precisely how many races Johnson plans to compete in during 2026 remains uncertain, having recently acknowledged that he is discovering himself increasingly more valuable from a team standpoint off the track than on it. Indeed, as he hinted in an interview with NBC Sports in July, San Diego could still turn out to be his final race.