"Rick Hendrick said I'm not sure you're going to enjoy" - When Jimmie Johnson reflected on declining ownership with HMS

Modified Nov 23, 2024 19:13 GMT

NASCAR: NASCAR Cup Series Championship - Source: Imagn — Jimmie Johnson at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024 (Image via Imagn)

Last year, NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson revealed his decision to decline an ownership opportunity with Hendrick Motorsports (HMS).

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion raced for HMS from 2001 to 2020, making 686 starts in the process. He won five consecutive championships in the series while driving the No. 48 Chevy.

In a 2023 interview with NASCAR.com, Johnson recalled his earlier discussions with the HMS team owner Rick Hendrick, who advised him against taking on ownership early in his career.

"I had opportunities to become an owner with Mr. Hendrick back in the day. Through contract negotiations, but a lot of this framework I just spoke of wasn’t around. Rick even very kindly said, “I’m not sure this is a good idea to take ownership. I don’t know if you’re ever going to be able to enjoy what it accumulates to someday.” So, I declined at that point," Johnson said.

Johnson, now a minority owner of Legacy Motor Club, further pointed out that he again asked for Hendrick's advice about owning a team.

"He was the first person I went to when I thought about ownership, just to get his opinion. But the sport’s trending in a very good direction for a lot of reasons, and I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to be a part of where NASCAR is going to go. And here I am," he added.

Johnson retired from full-time racing three years ago and returned to the Cup Series part-time last year after a two-year break. He competed in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2021 and 2022.

"It’s more challenging to consistently compete at that level" - Jimmie Johnson on ownership struggles

Jimmie Johnson co-owns Legacy Motor Club (LMC) with Maury Gallagher. The team fields three cars in the Cup Series and switched to Toyota cars from Chevrolet last year. LMC's two full-time drivers, John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42) and Erik Jones (No. 43), finished the 2024 season in 34th and 28th place, respectively, in the final standings.

Johnson's team has also made many changes in the past few months. It hired Chad Johnston as its new race engineering manager earlier this month and added Brian Campe as the technical director in October.

"The sport has evolved a bunch in the last two years. When you look at the first year and the competitiveness of our organization and how the sport continues to push forward and where the big teams are finding speed, how they are stacking 10 to 20 things to define a tenth of a second advantage. As time goes on, it’s more challenging to consistently compete at that level," Johnson said (via NASCAR.com).

Johnson will drive the No. 84 Toyota part time for the team in 2025.

About the author

Palak Gupta is a dynamic motorsports writer with a unique blend of experience in economics and a passion for storytelling. Her enthusiasm for writing and a keen interest in racing steered her toward this field. With two years of professional writing experience, Palak has previously worked with Bhoomi, a non-profit organization, and as a content executive at MoreTasks Business Solution.

To maintain accuracy and uphold journalistic integrity, Palak relies on reputable sources such as official websites, trusted news outlets, and credible channels, while also keeping an eye on trends across social media platforms and forums like Reddit. She actively follows developments in motorsports, constantly seeking unique angles for her stories to deliver fresh and engaging content to her readers.

Inspired by Ross Chastain’s unconventional yet spectacular wall ride during the 2022 NASCAR season, Palak appreciates daring moves that defy norms and capture the spirit of motorsports. Although she doesn't have a favorite driver, she admires such moments that make history.

While she recognizes that NASCAR may never reach the global prominence of Formula 1, Palak suggests expanding internationally and investing in technology to grow its audience. Palak is also an avid movie and documentary enthusiast, enjoys gardening, and loves to sketch and paint in her spare time.

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Edited by Pratham K Sharma