Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion and Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson admits he’s having a difficult time adjusting to the series’ current car.
At Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, Johnson spun during practice for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400. Then he brought out the first yellow flag during the race on Lap 51 when he spun in turn four. He regained his lost lap when he received the free pass on the fifth caution period, and eventually had to settle for a 29th-place finish on the lead lap.
“I spent a lifetime running a car off the right rear,” Johnson says. “This car you just cannot do that. From the aero platform, the tire and I believe the sidewall stiffness of the tire, you can’t slip and slide this car around like I like to do. I kept telling myself coming into this weekend that I need to drive off the right front.”
Johnson completed all 276 laps in the double overtime race, and he noted that was the most laps he has had in the current Cup car.
“I now have an idea of what to do,” Johnson said. “I feel like I learned a lot this weekend to help myself.”
The race was Johnson’s second of 2024. He finished 28th at the season-opening Daytona 500.
A North Carolina native, Deb Williams is an award-winning motorsports journalist who is in her fourth decade covering auto racing. In addition to covering the sport for United Press International, she has written motorsports articles for several newspapers, magazines and websites including espnW.com, USA Today, and The Charlotte Observer. Her awards include the American Motorsports Media Award of Excellence, two-time National Motorsports Press Association writer of the year, and two-time recipient of the Russ Catlin award. She also has won an award in the North Carolina Press Association’s sports feature category. During her career, Deb has been managing editor of GT Motorsports magazine and was with Winston Cup Scene and NASCAR Winston Cup Scene for 18 years, serving as the publication’s editor for 10 years. In 2024 she was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame.
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