After winning seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships (including a record-setting five in a row), four NASCAR All-Star Races, and racking up countless other accolades throughout his prolific driving career, there’s not much Jimmie Johnson has left to accomplish at this point.
However, Memorial Day weekend will see the legendary racer break yet another barrier. On May 26, Johnson will become the first person ever to announce the Indianapolis 500 and then head to Charlotte to race in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 later that day.
Legacy Motor Club, the racing team Johnson co-owns, announced the news in a press release Tuesday, and Johnson commented on the news on his X account.
https://twitter.com/jimmiejohnson/status/1790398064567419221?s=46&t=mIDCY5TegjEnzPYkqGZctw
“Not the history I dreamed of making as a kid, but life always brings new adventures. I’m extremely excited to be taking on the double with NBC Sports,” Johnson wrote.
The release also notes that Johnson “will serve as an analyst on NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona Superspeedway on Aug. 24 and the YellaWood 500 from Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6. In addition, Johnson will contribute to NBC Sports’ coverage for select NASCAR races in which he is competing this year, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship from Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10.”
Johnson previously contributed to NBC’s Indianapolis 500 coverage in 2021. NBC’s lead motorsports producer Sam Flood is excited to have Johnson back, saying, “We are thrilled to be working with Jimmie and adding his unique perspective on every race he covers, as well as having him become the first person ever to do the ‘double’ – history awaits.”
With Dale Earnhardt Jr. now on his way to TNT and Amazon, a spot could open up on NBC’s NASCAR broadcast team if Johnson ever wanted to make the switch to television full-time.
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