News

Race fans flock to courthouse to meet NASCAR legend

By Bill Moss, Published: May 25, 2024

Racin' fans flocked to the Historic Courthouse Friday to meet and get their picture made with NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, who is embarking this weekend on a new partnership and first spin around the track in the No. 84 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE.

On Friday, Johnson was on the eve of a grueling two-day motor racing sprint and marathon. After qualifying for the World 600 Saturday night at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, he flies to Indianapolis to join the NBC broadcast team as color commentator for the Indy 500. Then he jets back to Charlotte to drive in the World 600.

After winning seven championships in a Chevrolet, Johnson will be competing in a Toyota for the first time.

“I know how it looks but we haven't been on track yet,” he said.

Thanks to the miracle of the smart phone, organizers executed an assembly line process for making photos. As they reached the Advent race car, fans turned their phones over to Advent team staffers, who made the picture with Johnson and his Legacy Motor Club team driver Erik Jones. 

"It was a great crowd today — a lot of race fans, a lot of Toyota fans,” Johnson said.

Besides his Cup championships — tied for first with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt — Johnson, 48, won four Brickyard 400s on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. He competed in the Indy 500 in 2022, finishing 28th. His seven NASCAR Cups include a record five straight from 2006 to 2010.