Jimmie Johnson, the owner driver of Legacy Motor Club, has been experiencing a significant decline in performance since his return to NASCAR. Despite being a seven-time Cup champion, his best finish with his own team has only been 28th place, which he has achieved twice. Unfortunately, his latest Cup outing ended early due to a race spin, forcing him to retire.
During a clash with Spire Motorsports, Johnson’s No:84 Toyota Camry suddenly slowed down, resulting in contact with the No:7 Chevy Camaro ZL1 of Spire. This incident caused Johnson to lose control of his car and spin onto the infield grass, ultimately leading to too much damage for the No:84 team to continue racing. Meanwhile, Johnson’s teammates managed to finish inside the top-25, with one securing 13th place, making it a missed opportunity for Johnson.
The Next-Gen car has proven to be more challenging for Johnson to handle, as it differs greatly from any other car he has driven throughout his career. These consecutive incidents have not only disappointed his fans but have also made it difficult for Johnson to adapt to the new car. Despite securing 19th place in qualifying this week, the race ended in disappointment for him.
Johnson clarified that he was slowing down to correct his line in the corner, but he was unexpectedly hit from behind, ending his race prematurely. He acknowledged that his rival, Corey LaJoie, likely did not hit him intentionally, but he expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of awareness in the situation.
Although Johnson believes that with enough practice, he can regain his position at the top, he acknowledges that it will require making sacrifices and enduring more challenging races.