“When will they release the driver?”- Fans react as 7x Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s crew undergoes a big shakeup

Some NASCAR fans have opined on developments as a few members of Jimmie Johnson's #84 team crew, including crew chief Jason Burdett, were let go by his co-owned venture, Legacy Motor Club. The 7x Cup Series champion returned to the Cup Series scene last year, after parting ways with the sport by marking his final race at the 2020 Season Finale 500.

However, the #84 Toyota driver's comeback with LMC didn't go well as all of his three races—the Daytona 500, the COTA run, and the Coca-Cola 600, ended prematurely. As a result, his crew chief Todd Gordon was replaced by Jason Burdett for the current season.

Johnson entered this season with a nine-race schedule and has participated in six so far, with the most recent run being the Brickyard 400. But he has been able to manage best finishes of only 28th place, at the Daytona International Speedway and the Dover Motor Speedway. Moreover, the Californian has succumbed to two DNFs from his last three race weekends—at the Kansas Speedway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

While Johnson was slated to commence his 22nd Cup Series season part-time, Burdett was appointed for a full-time role at the North Carolina-based outfit. However, a lack of promising results so far has led to some personnel changes within the organization.

An enthusiast asked Bob Pockrass whether LMC had let go of all of the #84 team's crew. The motorsports journalist outlined via X (formerly Twitter) that Johnson's co-owned team had released some employees. He also mentioned that the 83x Cup Series winner's remaining three races—at the Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway, will go as planned.

Shortly after the journalist's update, fans gave their takes on the matter.

"When will they release the driver?" one fan questioned.

"He [Jimmie Johnson] isn’t great. I get it at one point he was phenomenal. He’s just using this as a media circus at this point," another fan wrote.

"They should run the 84 in 2025. Just not with Johnson," a fan commented.

"Jimmie needs to just be a team owner. It’s embarrassing. His day is done," another fan added.

"Jimmie just needs to hang it up!!!" one fan wrote.

Even though Burdett's tenure at LMC was short-lived, his relationship with Johnson dates back to 2002 when the latter was in his rookie Cup Series season.

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Jimmie Johnson and Jason Burdett share a "very long history" together in the Cup Series

After running three races in 2001—at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Homestead Miami Speedway, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson registered his rookie year in 2002 for Hendrick Motorsports. At the time, Burdett worked in HMS' stable and geared up the high-octane rides for legendary drivers, such as Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Gordon.

However, Burdett moved to JR Motorsports in 2015 and served as crew chief for nine years. After collecting 18 wins, 113 top-5s, and 193, top-10s from 293 races for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team, Legacy Motor Club reunited him with Johnson for the 2024 season.

"I have a very long history of working with Jason at Hendrick Motorsports — we spent a lot of time together throughout the years," Johnson said via NBC Sports.

“Jason is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the sport, he’s solid and he’s created an amazing Legacy for himself. I’ve always had a great working relationship with him, and I’m just genuinely excited he has joined the Club,” the 7x Cup Series champ added.

Johnson's former crew chief also worked as a car chief for seven years at HMS, from 2008 to 2010 for Jeff Gordon, and from 2011 to 2014 for Dale Jr.