Last week, it was announced that Lowe’s would no longer be on the hood of the #48 car after the 2018 NASCAR season. Why isn’t this a big deal?
It was announced last week that Lowe’s, the primary sponsor of the #48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, would be leaving the sport after the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, its 18th season as Jimmie Johnson’s sponsor. For most drivers, this news could potentially be a huge threat, but not for Johnson.
The operation of a NASCAR Cup Series team is like a watch. There are several different pieces to the watch that need to work in order for the watch to work. One piece to the puzzle is sponsorship. Quite frankly, without sponsorship, a team will fail. Fortunately for Jimmie Johnson, the ability to attract sponsors shouldn’t be a tough task.
Johnson has driven with Lowe’s on the hood of his car for 18 years. Through this tenure, he has won seven Cup Series championships, the most of any active driver by far. There is no doubt that the news had to come as a bit of a shock considering how long Lowe’s has been around. Even more strange will be seeing Jimmie Johnson in 2019 with a different name on his firesuit at Daytona.
Ultimately, Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports are in a pretty good position. They will begin trying to find a sponsor for one of the best drivers to ever drive in NASCAR. Some drivers, when put in this position, have their careers ended well before they feel their time is up. However, for Johnson and Hendrick, this is just a small bump in the road.
Pairing up Jimmie Johnson with sponsors
There are a few businesses or companies that come to mind when trying to figure out who should sponsor Jimmie Johnson going forward. We’re talking about one of the best the sport has ever seen looking for a sponsor for his final years in racing.
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One company that comes to mind right away is Home Depot. Sure, it would be a major marketing move by Home Depot to take a guy who has been sponsored by a rival company for nearly two decades and make him the face of your company. I understand that there is loyalty to Joe Gibbs Racing on Home Depot’s part. However, I see this as a great opportunity for both Home Depot and Jimmie Johnson.
Another far-fetched company to consider is Apple. For years, Apple has been one of the leaders of its kind and I am pretty sure they have the funding available to sponsor a NASCAR team. Pair up Apple with NASCAR, a sport where technology is everywhere. Lastly, you have a driver who is at the top of his game. You would be pairing the best with the best.
By and large, I am sure Hendrick Motorsports aren’t sweating the news at all. Jimmie Johnson has been one of the best drivers in the series and a great fit for any company. Therefore, if you’re a business owner with a large sum of money, this is your shot!
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Who do you think should sponsor Jimmie Johnson in 2019? Do you think Home Depot or Apple would be perfect for him? Is there a different company you would put him together with?