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Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 saw huge accomplishments by two of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, and a sweet Victory Lane exchange between the pair.
While Hendrick Motorsports‘ Jimmie Johnson earned his seventh Sprint Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver and team co-owner Tony Stewart completed his decorated career in his final race as a full-time driver.
After the newly crowned “Seven-Time” locked in career win No. 80, “Smoke” joined him in Victory Lane when Johnson handed over his championship helmet to the three-time champion.
Johnson’s move cements a nice bookmark to Stewart’s growing collection as he has been collecting some of his peers’ helmets.
“I promised Tony he could have this helmet,” Johnson said.
Prior to the start of the race, the Miami track honored the three-time champion as he prepared for his final Sprint Cup Series start. Stewart wheeled his No. 14 Chevrolet around the track 1.5-mile track in a solo before the green flag with the entire NASCAR community erupting in cheers, thanking him for his 18-year career.