Jimmie Johnson to drive iconic No. 48 in final Daytona 500 start

Seven-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson will reunite with his famed No. 48 in the 2027 Daytona 500 as he caps his NASCAR Cup Series career, Rick Hendrick announced Sunday alongside Johnson on the “NASCAR Nation Pre-Race” show on TNT Sports. Johnson, owner of Legacy Motor Club, will pilot the No. 48 Toyota in an agreement with Hendrick Motorsports to allow Johnson the fitting sendoff. RELATED: Buy tickets to 2027 Daytona 500 The entirety of Johnson’s illustrious full-time NASCAR career came while driving the No. 48 car at Hendrick Motorsports, collecting each of his 83 race wins and seven championships with that number donning the side of his vehicle. A two-time Daytona 500 champion and four-time Brickyard 400 winner, Johnson made his Cup Series debut in the No. 48 car in 2001 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and carried the number in 686 of his 702 career starts, making his most recent appearance in the No. 48 in the 2020 season finale at Phoenix Raceway. MORE: Jimmie Johnson through the years Since returning to NASCAR in 2023, Johnson has 16 part-time starts for Legacy, all while driving the No. 84 car. Johnson has led 18,941 laps in his career but none since piloting the No. 84. His return to the No. 48 for one final race creates the opportunity to add to his already enshrined legacy with a number near and dear to his heart. Alex Bowman is the current driver of the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports. In conjunction with Johnson’s reunion with the number he made famous, Bowman will instead drive a different numbered car to be determined later for the 2027 Daytona 500. Bowman announced Thursday the 2027 season will be his last before retiring from full-time NASCAR competition. This story will be updated.