Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson in his own #84 (2023-present)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Why? After a disappointing (and, in retrospect, bizarre) two year sojourn in IndyCar, Jimmie Johnson bought into the former PettyGMS team, which was rechristened as Legacy Motor Club.  Jimmie then returned to the driver’s seat for their third part-time team in 2023 and 2024 (which plans to do so again in 2025).

How successful were they? So far they’ve been, well, terrible.  No top-twenties (that’s right—no finishes better than 26th), no strong qualifying efforts, and no contending races undone by bad luck.

What was the aftermath? While it has yet to be seen, Jimmie’s poor finish to his Hendrick run, followed by his lack of success running part-time, doesn’t exactly dispel the theory that it was mostly Chad Knaus’s doing for the 48 team’s success.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 5 neatly-trimmed beards out of 10—yeah its odd to see Jimmie in a Toyota running at the back of the pack, but ending a career in a mid-level car was far more common in NASCAR’s earlier days.

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Nascar Returns to the Turner Networks—A Look Back

On Saturday, Nascar returns to TNT for the first time since 2014 (…unless it rains), renewing a relationship the sport has had with the Turner networks going back to 1983.  Here’s a look back at some of the highlights:

1983—TBS begins broadcasting Nascar with the spring Richmond race, wedging it into its busy schedule of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Andy Griffith reruns, and more Georgia Championship Wrestling.

1993—TBS takes over broadcasting rights to the second Pocono race, increasing its Cup Series inventory from a meager two races to a mighty three.

2000—In the final race aired on TBS, the network experiments with “side-by-side” commercials at the fall Charlotte race, although given that it was in 2000, it was likely all dot-com startups that have since cratered.

2001—TNT takes over as a broadcast partner with NBC for the second half of the season, pairing radio veteran Allen Bestwick in the booth with seasoned tv commentator Benny Parsons.  Oh, and Wally Dallenbach Jr. is there too, for some reason.

2007—With the departure of NBC (for now), TNT signs on for a six-race “Summer Series” of races, and woahhhh was the coverage not very good.

2008—Larry McReynolds is sawed in half.

2009—Bill Weber is suspended (and later fired) for an incident at a hotel room the weekend of the New Hampshire race.  Jeez, the worst thing I ever did at a hotel room was take a pen.

2014—TNT airs its final race (until this weekend), looking to devote more time to airing endless re-airings of superhero movies.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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A MOXOC Media production

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Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: ATLANTA/LIME ROCK

EDITOR’S NOTE: Uncle Max is still on vacation, he texted me his picks yesterday afternoon.

TRUCK SERIES (3 wins) LiUNA 150 (Saturday 1pm ET on FS1) COREY HEIM—if the trophy isn’t a statue of Paul Newman I’m going to be very disappointed.

XFINITY SERIES (1 win) Focused Health 250 (Friday 7:30pm ET on CW) ANTHONY ALFREDO—fast pasta on a drafting track. 

CUP SERIES Quaker State 400 (Saturday 7pm ET on TNT) Points Leader picks WILLIAM BYRON.  Favorite (2 wins): CHRISTOPHER BELL—wait a minute—why didn’t Quaker State sponsor last week’s race?  Next Favorite (2 wins): ROSS CHASTAIN—I mean come on, last week’s race was at Pocono.  Dark Horse: RICKY STENHOUSE JR.—you know, Pocono Pennsylvania, which is THE QUAKER STATE.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com