Alex Bowman and HMS will not surrender the No:48 to Jimmie Johnson for his return to NASCAR in the 2023 Daytona 500
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Alex Bowman and Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson is all set to make a comeback to the premier stock car racing series in 2023. He has joined the Petty GMS ownership group and will drive part-time in the series for eight races. Johnson’s entry into the next year’s Daytona 500 is already confirmed. He will drive alongside teammates Erik Jones and Noah Gregson.
The NACAR community wanted to see the seven times cup champion making the cup return in his Iconic No:48 ride. But it isn’t as easy as it sounds since Rick Hendrick owns the charter; he has to surrender it to Petty GMS. No such moves as taken place, and Alex Bowman, in the 2022 NASCAR Awards, confirmed that he would drive the No:48.
“I don’t see any number change coming. I will drive whatever Mr. H tells me to drive. I think you guys know that. But at the same time, I’m 100% sure that it will be the “48” car this year. There’s way too much stuff that they would have to change already. … So. it’s not happening,” Alex Bowman said.
Bowman has already started the off-season preparation and commercial shooting with the No:48 car. He said, “Fire suits are already being made, and all this stuff is already happening. We’re filming commercials with “48” on the side of the car. If they were going to change it, they probably had to change it six months ago,”.
Jimmie Johnson might not have a fairy tale comeback in 2023
The legacy and experience of Jimmie Johnson make it hard to predict his chances going into the 2023 season, but the fans will not see the same Jimmie that retired in 2020. He hasn’t won a NASCAR race since the 2017-Dover while defending the championship. He had a 130-race winless streak before announcing retirement.
Johnson finished outside the playoff spots in his last two full-time seasons. His finishes in the previous four years in the cup series were worse than the finishes he scored in his campaigns earlier. Johnson’s form dropped to the No:48 after the 2017 season and showed less chance of returning to championship form throughout those years.
His time in the IndyCar series wasn’t as elite compared to the standards he set for himself. The Petty GMS Racing is in no way the worst team in the cup, but they are not a top contender as, well. As of now, Richard Petty’s team is just a midfield side that can fight for the win on a given day. The team has to do their maximum to assure Johson at least a fighting chance.
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Also read: Kevin Harvick is directionless about his future going into the 2023 cup season
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Justin P Joy
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