NASCAR: When will Jimmie Johnson make his next Cup start?

Jimmie Johnson hasn’t competed in a NASCAR Cup Series race since the season-opening Daytona 500. When will he make his return?

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson spent the last two seasons competing in IndyCar for Chip Ganassi Racing, first as just a road and street course driver in 2021 and then as a full-time driver in 2022.

But he never totally ruled out returning to the Cup Series, where he competed full-time for Hendrick Motorsports from 2002 to 2020, despite “retiring” at the end of the 2020 season.

In 2023, he officially made his return, joining Petty GMS Motorsports, which have since been renamed to Legacy Motor Club, as a part owner and a part-time driver.

In 686 career Cup Series entering the 2023 season, Johnson had never driven a car other than the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. But that changed when he returned to the sport this year in the season-opening Daytona 500, as he piloted the No. 84 Chevrolet for Legacy Motor Club.

Jimmie Johnson has said that he would like to compete in between five and 10 races during the NASCAR Cup Series season.

The 47-year-old El Cajon, California native currently has a list of between 12 and 14 races that he is trying to narrow down. He revealed just before the start of the season that he also plans to compete in the inaugural race at the Chicago Street Course.

With that race not scheduled to take place until Sunday, July 2, there were questions as to whether or not this would actually be his next start.

It has since been revealed that Johnson’s name is listed on the NASCAR roster portal for the upcoming race at Circuit of the Americas. While not yet confirmed by the team, it appears as though he is set to make his second start behind the wheel of the No. 84 Chevrolet in this event on Sunday, March 26.

Johnson competing in this race makes a ton of sense, given the fact that the 20-turn, 3.426-mile (5.514-kilometer) Austin, Texas road course was never on the schedule during his full-time Cup Series career. It was only added in 2021, so this marks his first ever opportunity to compete at the track.

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix is the sixth race on the 36-race 2023 schedule. It is set to be broadcast live on Fox from Circuit of the Americas beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 26, so begin a free trial of FuboTV and don’t miss it!