Jimmie Johnson explains why he has nine races on Cup Series schedule

Newly minted NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson is scheduled to run nine races during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series.

Why nine, exactly? The seven-time Cup Series addressed his schedule this week while speaking with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.

Jimmie Johnson explains why he has nine Cup races on his schedule. And why Chicago and all-star — two races that would seem like naturals — are not on his current list. pic.twitter.com/NqpIjnyCy7

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 23, 2024

“I, in my mind, have had kinda this 10-race window that I am open to, and I think that’s well within my business ventures, my family ventures and the fulfillment I still chase of driving race cars,” Johnson said. “I was very excited to expand to the nine races. There still is room for another or some other stuff that I want to do. I’d like to do some classic car racing, some sportscar racing if the opportunity came about, but it just really came together in a nice way, and I’m really excited about my schedule.”

Johnson, 48, retired from full-time competition after the 2020 season. Since then, he’s competed in multiple races in the IndyCar Series, as well as in the IMSA Sportscar Championship. He took part in three Cup Series races this past season behind the wheel of the No. 84 Chevrolet for Legacy Motor Club, of which he is co-owner of. He finished 31st in the Daytona 500, before recording finishes of 38th and 37th at COTA and in the Coca-Cola 600 respectively.

Jimmie Johnson takes place in NASCAR Hall of Fame

Johnson, one of all-time greats, took his place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame this past Friday alongside his longtime crew chief, Chad Knaus. Over the course of their 17-year partnership, Johnson won 83 races and set a record by winning five consecutive championships from 2006-10.

“We spent a lot of time together and became great friends,” Johnson said during his induction speech. “We could read each other’s minds. He somehow vividly would understand what I was going through behind a laptop. His work ethic and ability to bring the best out of me was most impressive.”

Knaus credited Johnson for helping him “find out who I was by honestly believing in me.”

“Jimmie helped me find out who I was by honestly believing in me,” Knaus said. “Being in each other’s weddings, being some of the first to meet each other’s children, Jimmie, you have taught me there is much more to life than racing, even if it has taken me many, many years to understand that.

“I wasn’t always the best of Jimmie, but I can always promise I wanted the best for you.”