NASCAR: 5 possible car numbers for Jimmie Johnson
By Asher Fair
Possible Jimmie Johnson numbers: No. 4 – No. 44
Several numbers have ties to the Petty family legacy, including the two numbers already run by Petty GMS Motorsports. Rookie Noah Gragson is set to replace Ty Dillon behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet, and Erik Jones, who drove for Richard Petty Motorsports before they merged with GMS Racing, is set to return for a third year behind the wheel of the No. 43 Chevrolet.
Other numbers with deep ties to the family, such as No. 41 (Stewart-Haas Racing) and No. 45 (23XI Racing), are already being used by other teams, but there is a significant one that isn’t.
That number is the No. 44
Aside from the No. 43, the number that Richard Petty Motorsports had used most recently (prior to their partnership with GMS Racing) was No. 44. Brian Scott drove the No. 44 Ford during the 2016 season. Before that, the number was used by the team when A.J. Allmendinger competed for them in 2009.
Both Maurice, Richard’s brother, and Kyle, Richard’s son, drove a No. 44 car in the NASCAR Cup Series at some point as well. In 1960 and 1961, Maurice used the number for his Plymouth entry in select races, and from 1997 to 2000, Kyle piloted the No. 44 Pontiac.
The No. 44 was used last season, but by a team that haven’t confirmed any plans for 2023. That team, NY Racing Team, only competed in five races last year, so it’s hard to see Petty GMS Motorsports not being able to use the number if they’d like to do so.