NASCAR: Is Jimmie Johnson driving at Richmond?

After a disappointing result at Circuit of the Americas, is Jimmie Johnson coming back for this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway?

Jimmie Johnson’s first NASCAR Cup Series start since the 2023 season-opening Daytona 500 and Daytona International Speedway — and just his second since returning to the sport as a part-time driver and co-owner of the newly rebranded Legacy Motor Club — lasted all of a few seconds at Circuit of the Americas this past Sunday afternoon.

The seven-time champion was involved in an opening lap melee, resulting in him bringing his No. 84 Chevrolet to the garage after just one of 75 laps around the 20-turn, 3.426-mile (5.514-kilometer) Austin, Texas road course.

Unfortunately for Johnson, he is still seeking his first non-DNF in the Cup Series since 2020, his 19th and final season as a full-time driver for Hendrick Motorsports. After his initial Cup Series retirement, he spent the last two seasons competing in IndyCar for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Jimmie Johnson’s schedule for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season currently includes just four races, including the two in which he has already competed.

He is not set to compete in this coming Sunday’s race at Richmond Raceway. In fact, he is not scheduled to compete for another two months.

The other two races on Johnson’s schedule are the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28 and the inaugural race at the Chicago Street Course on Sunday, July 2.

That being said, don’t be surprised to see Johnson make an appearance before the end of May, since he hasn’t necessarily been confirming his 2023 starts in schedule order.

The All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 21, has recently emerged as a possibility for Johnson.

He has never competed at the track before, which is one of the primary reasons why he selected Circuit of the Americas and the Chicago Street Course, and it is rare that NASCAR visits an oval track where a veteran such as Johnson has never made a start.

This Sunday’s race at Richmond Raceway, the Toyota Owners 400, is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. If you haven’t already begun a free trial of FuboTV, do so today!