NASCAR: 5 possible car numbers for Jimmie Johnson

Possible Jimmie Johnson numbers: No. 5 – No. 49

This option is by far the one that makes the most sense for the most reasons, as it has ties to each of the team’s co-owners.

First of all, both Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty are seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champions. Neither the No. 7 nor the No. 77 are available, as both are used by Spire Motorsports, but seven times seven equals 49.

The No. 49 is also the closest available number to No. 48. The No. 47 is just as close, but it is already being used by JTG Daugherty Racing for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Chevrolet.

Secondly, several numbers in the 40s have deep ties to the Petty family, as mentioned in the slide about No. 44. The No. 49 isn’t one of them, but using it on Johnson’s entry could give Johnson the chance to add to that legacy in a way that nobody else can.

And finally, the No. 49 is what you get when you switch the numbers in No. 94, which is the number that GMS Racing were initially going to use in 2022 before forming their partnership with Petty GMS Motorsports and running the No. 42 instead.

It simply makes too much sense to overlook the possibility of the No. 49 being used, and Petty GMS Motorsports Mike Beam even discussed the option a few weeks ago.

The only thing you might have to question is whether or not Beam would really “give it away”, per se, considering the fact that this has really been such a well-kept secret.

Will Johnson run one of these five numbers during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, or will he and Petty GMS Motorsports surprise us with something else?