Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson made his first Truck start in 17 years at Coronado Street Course on Friday. Johnson came out on Saturday during a press conference and slammed the drivers for the disrespect and chaotic racing.
The Truck race at Coronado Naval Base saw seven cautions take away over a quarter of the 50 racing laps. Out of the 35 trucks, eight retired, including Jimmie Johnson’s No.1 Toyota. Speaking with the media during the press conference, Johnson highlighted the disrespect that the drivers had for the other competitors as they constantly made aggressive moves and caused wrecks.
“Yesterday I just couldn’t believe the disrespect that everybody had from the jump. I mean, just gouging each other nonstop and I was up at the front racing away and we were pointing each other by, and I was like, this is old school Cup, this makes sense,” said Johnson
The No.1 TRICON Garage Toyota got into the lead of the race midway through the second stage, but shuffled back to the midfield in the final stage after the pit stop under caution. Jimmie Johnson was on the receiving end of an aggressive divebomb, getting spun around by the No.76 Chevrolet.
“The way the fuel cycle worked out I entered mid pack and I look around and I saw these trucks all twisted up, and I thought they had hit the wall, and I guess maybe some did, but it was all from bashing into one another on the track. And then I got turned around twice, just last second lunges into areas that nobody should have been.” he added
Johnson highlighted how he’s seeing a similar issue of lack of respect in the future stars, as he said
“So, it is what it is. When I look at my Instagram feed or my twitter feed and see the local short tracks and behavior there, man, it’s just wild. So we’ll see where it goes.”
Jimmie Johnson highlights the possible reasons that have created the ‘lack of respect’ culture while reflecting on his early career years
Carson Hocevar has been on the receiving end of bashing from many drivers for being too aggressive and forcing a move when the space isn’t available. Jimmie Johnson detailed how he was also aggressive in his early years of stock car racing, but realized how it hampered him.
“I feel like it’s more of a generational element. I assume there is a point in time where the generation behaves differently. But when I came in, it was the era of pointing people by, and I got chewed by numerous guys even in the Busch Series (now O’Reilly), that I raced them too hard. And I was like, really? I’m here to race,” said Johnson.
“But as time went on, I realized that when I was going forward and had a chance to pass them, they could make life really tough on me and if you were respectful of one another [you could] just work together. That’s completely out the window now.”
He went on to detail how the new style of NASCAR racing has brewed this “respectful” racing out the window.
“I think stage racing and all of these other elements where the car performance and air disadvantage, you can defend a lot more and it’s kind of created this culture. But I wear two hats with my ownership hat. I want the sport to be vibrant and healthy and chaos brings eyeballs. So I’m kind of torn,” he added
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Jimmie Johnson has announced that the 2027 Daytona 500 will be his last race. He’s been semi-retired since the 2020 season, racing part-time while also managing his NASCAR team, Legacy Motor Club.
