Two of sports’ greatest collided Friday evening at the Sprint Cup Awards as Michael Phelps made a surprise appearance to introduce 2016’s Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson in his official coronation.
“Seven-Time,” the man of the hour, received congratulations the entire evening, from Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick to every Chase driver, but it was Phelps that took the driver by surprise.
The most-decorated Olympian of all time took the stage to introduce Johnson — from one champion to the next — to the Las Vegas crowd.
Once Johnson got to the mic for his highly-anticipated champion speech he was indeed shocked.
“It’s still sinking in,” he confessed. “It’s mind blowing.”