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Jimmie Johnson revealed that a young William Byron wished to join him as a teammate after growing up when he went to his home for trick or treating on Halloween. Notably, the two would go on to race in the same team in the future when Byron debuted in the Cup Series.
Johnson had been an apt driver for Hendrick Motorsports since his NASCAR debut in 2001. During his final years in full-time racing with the team, he was joined by Byron in 2018.
"I literally filled his trick or treating bag on Halloween when he was a kid at my house and he told me that someeday he was going to be my teammate," Johnson said, talking about William Byron.
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Jimmie Johnson made his first NASCAR Cup Series appearance with Hendrick Motorsports in 2001 at Charlotte. Beginning his full-time schedule in the following season, the California native stuck with the team for most of his career, winning a record-tying seven Cup Series championships. He retired from the full-time schedule in 2020 and returned to the grid with Legacy Motor Club in 2023 to participate in a part-time schedule. He will continue the same in 2025.
Meanwhile, his former teammate William Byron debuted with HMS in 2018 behind the seat of the #24 Chevrolet. He has remained competitive, finishing the season in third place consecutively in 2023 and 2024. He will also continue with the team next season.
Jimmie Johnson recalls his 'monumental' achievement for HMS in 2012
With 16 driver's championships and 339 victories, Hendrick Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history. Legends like Jimmie Johnson have made instrumental contributions in helping the team achieve their elite status.
The team achieved one such milestone in 2012 when Johnson brought home their 200th race victory. He recalled that the team had been stuck on 199 for a while and the milestone was coming. However, it took them quite some time and it wasn't until the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.
"I know at Hendrick Motorsports, there's something weird in the water over there where these monumental moments just happen, especially on anniversary dates and in big races and things," Johnson said in an interview.
"We had been chasing that 200th for a while. That win took us way longer than it should have. But I'd watched a lot of others win in these kinds of moments for the company and I wanted one of those," he added.
Jimmie Johnson has continued to inspire many drivers on the current grid who grew up watching him race. His monumental list of achievements includes 83 victories and seven Cup Series championships, that he clinched within the span of a decade. He is tied with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for the most championships by a driver.
