"There's something weird in the water over there": Jimmie Johnson recalls HMS' 'monumental' 200th win back in 2012

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson had the honor of securing the 200th win for one of the most successful teams in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS). On Friday, the team relived this stellar achievement and shared a picture of that auspicious day, with Johnson recalling what was a 'monumental' achievement for the team.

Johnson secured the 200th win for HMS in the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, the 11th regular season race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The Hall of Famer started the race in P2, sharing the front row with former Cup Series driver Greg Biffle. Piloting the #48 Chevy for HMS, Johnson drove down victory lane at Darlington and broke a personal 21-race winless streak, while also securing a historic feat for his team.

On Friday, December 6, HMS shared a picture on their social media and reminisced about the remarkable achievement brought in by Jimmie Johnson in 2012. Moreover, in a recent interview, the former Cup Series champion expressed his feelings about winning the 2012 Crown Jewel event. (via hendrickmotorsports.com):

"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 a phone interview this week.

"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.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, often referred to as "Superman," is competing part-time in the Cup Series, piloting the #84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Over his extraordinary 22-year career, Johnson has earned 83 Cup Series victories and one Xfinity Series win. This year, the California native was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and honored as one of NASCAR's 75 greatest drivers.

Following his retirement, Johnson competes in a few Cup Series races every year for Legacy Motor Club, a Cup Series team he co-owns with CEO of Allegiant Travel Company Maury Gallagher. The last race Superman competed in was the Cup Series Championship Race, where he finished in P26.

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"It was so tough": Jimmie Johnson's former crew chief reflects on HMS' dry spell before Southern 500 triumph

Jimmie Johnson famously piloted the #48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, cementing the number as iconic within the organization. His remarkable tenure contributed to many milestones, including securing both the 199th and 200th victories for the team. However, it took over six months after the 199th win before Johnson achieved the historic 200th.

Recently, Chad Knaus, the former crew chief of the #48 team, reflected on the challenges Hendrick Motorsports faced during that time. (via hendrickmotorsports.com)

"We were in a deficit as a company," Knaus recalled in an interview this week. "We couldn't seem to break that 199. It was so tough, and we were clamoring to get there. Then we get that and we go for one of our longest losing streaks at the time with the 48. It was really challenging. Those are hard."

While Jimmie Johnson has rooted his presence as a part-time competitor in the 2025 Cup Series campaign, there is no confirmation on whether he will compete at Darlington Raceway.