Skip to main content
Join
NASCAR Logo

Jimmie Johnson doubles down on free throw competition with Shaquille O'Neal, raises stakes

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/31/25•

NickSchultz_7

Jimmie Johnson
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The back-and-forth between Jimmie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal took another turn Friday. The NASCAR icon fired back at the NBA legend and made a new proposal in their free throw competition.

This all started when O’Neal called out Johnson for trying for the Daytona 500 once again. He will look to make his 22nd appearance in the race, and O’Neal joked about whether 22 years was enough. Johnson said he still has more in the tank, but asked how Shaq’s jump shot is.

The social media spat continued and developed into a free throw competition. O’Neal suggested he’d get to drive Johnson’s Daytona car if he wins. But Johnson took things a step further.

“Oh, classic @SHAQ sliding in my DMs,” Johnson wrote Friday. “Only place you’re driving my car is to dinner. If you win, you can design my Daytona car—how good are you with crayons? If I win, I’ve got some sweet gear for you to rock.”

More on Jimmie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal’s back-and-forth

O’Neal, of course, wasn’t known much for that jump shot or his efficiency at the charity stripe. He retired as a career 52% free throw shooter but was as dominant a center as anyone has ever seen in the NBA. Without knowing much of his prowess on the hardwood, Johnson has to like his chances against O’Neal — in a free throw competition, that is.

O’Neal, of course, retired from the NBA in 2011 and is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He’s also a staple of TNT’s Inside The NBA, which will move to ESPN next season as part of a sublicensing agreement.

Johnson, meanwhile, made his Daytona 500 debut in 2002 and has two victories to his name. But at 49 years old, he’s racing a more limited schedule.

As part of his announcement, he also released his 2025 schedule. It only includes a second race in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. If he qualifies in both races, Charlotte will be his 700th Cup Series start. Carvana will serve as the sponsor for Johnson, and he will be back in the No. 84 for his team, Legacy Motor Club.

Johnson, who co-owns Legacy alongside Maury Gallagher, has competed in 12 races over the last two seasons, making nine starts in 2024. His best finish was a P26 result in the last season’s finale at Phoenix. Johnson has an average finish of 31.8.

Nick Geddes contributed.