![\"Jimmie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2261109740-e1777510639554.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Jimmie Johnson speaks to media during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jimmie Johnson isn\u2019t just preparing for one final run at the Daytona 500<\/a> \u2014 he\u2019s continuing to reveal new pieces of what could become one of the biggest storylines in NASCAR\u2019s near future.<\/p>\n Speaking recently about the team\u2019s direction, the seven-time Cup Series champion shared a key update on Legacy Motor Club\u2019s plans<\/a> to expand to a third full-time entry beginning in 2027.<\/p>\n And in doing so, Johnson confirmed a detail fans have been waiting on.<\/p>\n Johnson said he plans to drive the No. 13 in the 2027 Daytona 500, a notable shift from the No. 84 he has been associated with in recent starts.<\/p>\n A Third Car \u2014 and a New Twist on the Numbers<\/p>\n Johnson did not lock in a number for the organization\u2019s third full-time car, but he did introduce a key twist by identifying a different number for his own planned return.<\/p>\n The choice stands out immediately. Legacy Motor Club<\/a> currently fields the No. 42 and the iconic No. 43, the latter deeply tied to the team\u2019s roots through Petty Enterprises.<\/p>\n The No. 84 has been widely discussed as a potential option for the team\u2019s third entry \u2014 one that carries meaning within the team as it builds toward its next phase.<\/p>\n Johnson<\/a> also noted the number connects to his partner, Corey LaJoie, who has previously run No. 84 in part-time NASCAR Cup Series appearances.<\/p>\n While the number itself had circulated in rumors for months, this marks the clearest confirmation yet from Johnson as plans for the third entry continue to take shape.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s Final Cup Start Is Taking Shape<\/p>\n Johnson has already announced that his final NASCAR Cup Series start will come in the 2027 Daytona 500, bringing his career full circle at the sport\u2019s biggest event.<\/p>\n With Johnson now pointing to the No. 13 for his final start, that moment is starting to come into sharper focus.<\/p>\n The number also carries a layer of history for Johnson, who earned his first NASCAR Cup Series win in his 13th career start<\/a> at Auto Club Speedway in 2002.<\/p>\n Rather than simply returning for a standalone appearance, Johnson is expected to make that start in a separate, part-time entry tied to his ownership role \u2014 adding another layer of significance to what is already set to be an emotional final start.<\/p>\n The move also highlights Johnson\u2019s growing role within the organization, not just as a driver, but as a co-owner helping shape the team\u2019s long-term direction.<\/p>\n Expansion Plans Still Come With Questions<\/p>\n Even with the number now confirmed, several major pieces of the puzzle remain unresolved.<\/p>\n Legacy Motor Club would likely need to secure a charter to field the third entry full-time \u2014 no small task as the Cup Series grid remains tight and highly competitive.<\/p>\n There is also the question of who will drive the third entry beyond Johnson\u2019s expected appearance at Daytona. The team has not announced a full-time driver for the entry, leaving that decision open heading into the 2027 season.<\/p>\n From staffing to sponsorship, expanding to a third car brings additional complexity \u2014 especially for a team still establishing itself after its transition to Toyota.<\/p>\n A Quiet Reveal \u2014 With Big Implications<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s confirmation didn\u2019t come through a formal press release or major announcement. Instead, it surfaced more subtly \u2014 the kind of detail that can easily be overlooked but carries real weight.<\/p>\n And for Legacy Motor Club, it signals that the foundation for 2027 is already being built.<\/p>\n With Johnson\u2019s No. 13 plan now clarified, the team\u2019s expansion plans are no longer just speculation \u2014 they\u2019re beginning to take real shape.<\/p>\n And for Johnson, it ensures his final Cup Series<\/a> start won\u2019t simply mark the end of an era, but the start of something new.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMaggie MacKenzie<\/a> Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Jimmie Johnson speaks to media during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 11,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":637655,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,634,82],"class_list":["post-637654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nascar","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=637654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/637654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/637655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=637654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=637654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=637654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}