Jimmie Johnson Puts on a Spectacle in Truck Return

SAN DIEGO — It’s almost been 18 years since the last time Jimmie Johnson suited up and sat behind the wheel of a truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In his grand return to the series, Johnson was the most exciting truck to watch in the field during Friday’s (June 19) Navy 250 at San Diego Naval Base Coronado.

Just like his lone series start in 2008, the veteran driver found himself in the mix up front early. In fact, this was the first time he has led any laps in NASCAR since his final full-time NASCAR Cup Series season in 2020.

When asked about this he said, “Nothing like it, that clean air is so nice to have.”

After getting some crucial track time this weekend, he was asked if he had any advice that he could give on the Cup side after enduring a wild set of restarts in the closing laps.

“Yes, maybe the Cup Series has changed, but there’s so much carnage and so little respect,” said Johnson. “I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

Johnson looked to be in contention for the win before getting caught up in the shipwreck that was the middle of the field. After a caution right outside the pit window came out roughly around 18 laps to go for debris on the track, Johnson came down pit road while running in the top five.

Johnson then found himself trying to claw his way back to the front from outside the top 10 on the following restart. What followed was a multitude of close calls and bent fenders as the No. 1 pushed through the field.

“Racing up front is always a bit more give and take,” Johnson said “Trying to come through the field from 10th to 12th, wherever we were. I mean every truck was wasted, and I just got wasted in the process.”

The first incident was a near miss with Brenden Queen that saw Johnson door the No. 2 of Jackson Lee out of the racing grove. Later on, Johnson would get spun in the same section of racetrack by Nathan Nicholson while running in the top 10, which dropped the juggernaut back around 14th.

After that, Johnson was unable to climb back up the rankings, and even worse, he didn’t even get to finish the event. His truck wouldn’t refire after the red flag for wall repairs with three laps to go after Tyler Ankrum’s hard impact with the wall in the final turn.

Johnson ended the day in 30th, bringing his truck series average finish up to 32, as his only other start ended in an early crash and a 34th-place finish.

All in all, Ole Jimmie Jam was able to put on a fantastic show for his home race and found himself in contention to even win the whole thing. Hopefully the seven-time Cup Series champion this can translate into success on Sunday and keep up the momentum Legacy Motor Club has had the last two weeks.