NASCAR CUP SERIES
PHOENIX RACEWAY
NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM CHEVY POST-PRACTICE REPORT
NOVEMBER 4, 2022

NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

Post-Practice Notes and Quotes

· The NASCAR Cup Series kicked-off the season finale race weekend at Phoenix Raceway with a 50-minute practice session.

· Ross Chastain topped the overall leaderboard at the conclusion of the practice session. Chastain powered his No. 1 Worldwide Express / AdventHealth Camaro ZL1 to a fastest lap of 27.019 seconds at 133.240 mph.

· Chase Elliott concluded the NASCAR Cup Series practice session 10th overall on the speed charts, driving his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 to a fastest lap of 27.202 seconds at 132.343 mph.

· NASCAR Cup Series qualifying will get underway tomorrow, November 5, at 12:35 p.m. MST to set the starting lineup for the series’ championship race at Phoenix Raceway.

TEAM CHEVY CHAMPIONSHIP 4 – PRACTICE RESULTS
POS. DRIVER
1st Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express / AdventHealth Camaro ZL1
10th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1

TEAM CHEVY NCS CHAMPIONSHIP 4: DRIVER AND CREW CHIEF QUOTES:

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS / ADVENTHEALTH CAMARO ZL1

“It was a good practice for us. We did a couple of runs and a mock qualifying run. We’ll debrief and get ready for qualifying tomorrow.”

PHIL SURGEN, CREW CHIEF, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS / ADVENTHEALTH CAMARO ZL1 – Press Conference Transcript

Q. All four crew chiefs, you’re the only one who has never been here before. What does it feel like going through the experience for the first time? Normal race weekend for you?

PHIL SURGEN: A little bit of both. It’s exciting. Obviously we work our whole lives, careers to be here. That feels good.

Try to treat it as any other race weekend. For us, all the goals are the same: we want to show up, be the fastest, win the race. In that regard it’s very similar to every other week.

I have been in the Final 4 as a race engineer before, so have a little bit of experience.

Q. (No microphone.)

PHIL SURGEN: Generally, no. I feel like I’m pretty good at managing stress and managing what people from the outside are saying. Largely the stress that people talk about is something they create, something they allow to affect themselves.

For me, I take it one step at a time and look at the situation, the information in front of me, do the best we can with what we’ve got.

Q. Talk about qualifying. You guys were really fast in practice, but talk about what qualifying will be like, how important it is.

PHIL SURGEN: Yeah, obviously qualifying is important every week. Fortunately this week the Championship 5 are picking pits first five. That ensures us a good stall selection. I don’t want to downplay the value of qualifying, but that’s part of it.

Largely this Phoenix race for the Championship 4 is a little bit different strategically in that it’s winner take all. We’re going to use the first half, the first two-thirds of the race to put ourselves in position to win. On a normal week we have to worry about stage points, how we are running earlier in the race.

If a championship driver qualifies in the teens, I don’t think it’s a deal breaker by any means.

Q. When you look at practice, can you sense your Final 4 competitors, or it’s hard to tell until you get past qualifying and into the race?

PHIL SURGEN: I think I’ll reserve judgment till Sunday. Obviously the Final 4 are here for a reason. I was just in here a minute ago when Adam was speaking. I have no doubt they’re going to make good headway over the course of the next couple days. I would expect all four, all five championship drivers to be fast on Sunday.

Q. You had your practice session, so what’s the rest of the night like?

PHIL SURGEN: Process directly after practice, we’ll do a debrief with the driver. That’s what I just left. After I get back, I’ll do a debrief with the engineers, and we’ll take a look at how the practice went, the balance, the speed, identify where the shortcomings are, figure out from a setup perspective what we want to change going into tomorrow, going into Sunday for race trim, that’s our first objective.

We did a mock run at the end of practice, so we have a little bit of information about how qualifying trim needs to be for setup-wise.

After we get our race trim setup set up, we’ll apply the qualifying adjustments to that.

Q. How do you feel after practice tonight?

PHIL SURGEN: Obviously being fastest is encouraging. Certainly some opportunity to improve. Our short run speed is good, our mid run speed probably could use a little bit. That’s where we’ll focus our efforts tonight, on just keeping the far better longer.

Q. In your meetings with Ross this week, did you ask him if he needed a spot in the last lap, if he could let you know what his move is so that you’re not as surprised as you were last week?

PHIL SURGEN: The answer is no, we haven’t discussed any type of moves like that again (smiling). Frankly, we hadn’t discussed one before Martinsville either.

I don’t know where he stands on that.

I speculate that Phoenix is probably a place where it’s not going to work near as well as it did at Martinsville.

Q. Why?

PHIL SURGEN: If you look at the shape of the track, the distance the cars are from the wall and how fast the cars are going, I don’t think that you would see that huge change in lap time like you did at Martinsville.

Q. Following up on Martinsville, the way in which Ross did what he did to get you all here, what has it been like for you, the team, the organization this week, that excitement and just having this opportunity?

PHIL SURGEN: Yeah, it’s probably a good example of the whole team. We never give up. There’s always fight in us. Ross, like the rest of us, are always willing to explore things that are a little unorthodox.

In that moment, I mean, that was incredible. It never crossed my mind. We hadn’t spoken about it before. He’s always thinking outside the box. In that moment, he knows that he needs a Hail Mary, he threw one, and it was something special.

Q. Justin said earlier this week it was almost like a needed adrenaline boost. There’s not a person on this team that won’t do anything that Ross Chastain asks of them after that. Do you agree?

PHIL SURGEN: Yeah, I would agree in the sense that making the Final 4, everybody gets excited about making the Final 4. The move was incredible. I think we all spent a good couple of days just watching and rewatching it.

Like I said, it’s a testament to him and his willingness to do what it takes. Certainly team looks at that and says, Man, this guy is willing to do what it takes.

I don’t think that’s unlike the rest of our guys. He just thought outside of the box and did something we hadn’t seen before.

Q. How do you balance the emotions of this weekend?

PHIL SURGEN: I think there’s a difference between excitement and not executing like we do every other week. I’ve got a good group of veteran guys. I think they can manage that pretty well.

Q. When Ross got to the garage stall, fans were cheering for him. You hit the racetrack and go P1. What was the vibe in the garage tonight?

PHIL SURGEN: The vibe was great. A lot of excitement. A lot of people around. It felt really good to have a 50-minute practice. We had been a couple years now with pretty limited practice. Most of us remember three, four, five years ago, or longer than that ago, when it was four and a half hours of practice, seven sets of tires, a lot of us get excited for the extra practice now.

There was a good vibe in the garage today.

Q. You were second here in the spring. Same tire. Does that matter?

PHIL SURGEN: It certainly helps being on the same tire. We’ve run this tire at a couple of the other short tracks as well. It helps us establish some trends, on performance and durability side.

Phoenix one was pretty early on in the Next Gen life, and we’ve learned a lot since then. So what we have today is not very similar to what we brought in the spring. We feel like we’ve learned a lot over the course of the summer and we’ve applied all that.

Q. Ross said yesterday that he was disappointed he didn’t make the Playoffs last year. You finished 20th. How do you go from finishing 20th to finish in the top four in a year?

PHIL SURGEN: A lot of it’s attributed to the Next Gen platform. Now, different than in the past, enormous engineering budgets can’t overcome groups of people that work together well, that execute every week, that understand the fundamentals, just establish consistency.

That’s the biggest difference.

Q. I was told of all the Ganassi employees, 80%, 90%, bought into the new ownership, decided to stay. You weeded out the people that didn’t believe. Does having that positive mentality going forward also help?

PHIL SURGEN: Oh, absolutely. We don’t have to get bogged down during the week with naysayers and people within the company that don’t believe.

We get to focus solely on our goals of bringing the best race cars to the track every weekend, winning races. That’s across the board, whether it’s pit crew, shop mechanics, management, road crews. That’s refreshing.

THE MODERATOR: Phil, thanks for coming in. We wish you the best of luck this weekend.

PHIL SURGEN: Thank you.

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1

“I felt like we made some good gains in practice and we have some good long-run speed in our NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy. We’ll keep working on things tonight and try to go lay down a good lap tomorrow in qualifying.”

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 – Press Conference Transcript

Q. Is there anything you do differently this weekend that you wouldn’t do on a normal race weekend?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Hmm… I mean, there’s a little more detail to everything, a bit more communication. Obviously, everyone on the 9 team, everybody at HMS have a bit heightened, I don’t know, intensity, sensitivity. Yeah, you’re just trying to overcommunicate, trying to dot all Is, cross all the Ts.

I don’t know that there’s like, Hey, we do this this week and not the rest. You try to do everything you do normally a little bit better.

Q. Your driver said yesterday that he didn’t think he would have made it to the Final 4 had it not been for winning the regular season. Is that just a testament to how important it is to gain those points, to kind of be consistently good throughout the whole season, not just the final 10 races?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Yeah, I mean, certainly you don’t have to have them. But, yeah, I agree. Just haven’t performed as well as we wanted to. Had to fall back on ’em.

Ideally you want to run good enough to not need any bonus points, make it through. That’s not always how it goes.

For us, we needed ’em. I think, yeah, it is representative of your entire season and the work you’ve done. You get some payoff for that. Certainly, had to use it. We earned it.

It’s good for us that we had it.

Q. This weekend there’s a different kind of resin patch on each side of the track. How did that impact the changes you made? What feedback did Chase give you?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Yeah, I mean, I’m not super surprised. Nobody was really up the track in one and two just because it’s cool and everybody is on good tires, decent track position. That may change on Sunday.

I think as you get into a run, you have lapped cars, guys get up the track, guys’ cars start to drive worse…

For practice as cool as it was, you’re nailed to the bottom. The resin doesn’t really come into play.

I do think it will be a more significant impact on Sunday. For right now I can’t really give you much feedback on it. Our car is decent. It’s not perfect. I do feel like it’s competitive, and we need to make it a little bit better. Some good attributes, some things we want to make better.

Q. I spoke with Chase earlier. I asked him about the fact that he was actually the first-time winner here at Phoenix for the championship. You have been in this situation before at this track. He seemed to think there’s not a lot he can carry from that. Could you speak to the crew chief perspective there.

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Yeah, any experience is valuable, in my opinion. I think maybe all of it doesn’t correlate. When you get to come race for a championship, yeah, it’s been the same track obviously, but even before, when it was Homestead, I think you can draw some of your experiences.

Certainly, we’ve done it the last couple years. We did some things well and did some things not so well that we need to improve on.

I think all that certainly is good. It’s good to have that experience. Now, is that the differentiator or is that what is going to set you apart? No, but it doesn’t hurt.

Q. It’s the same tire setup as was run at Richmond, New Hampshire and Gateway. Do the past notes on those tires help you at all coming back to Phoenix?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Well, not necessarily about those tracks, it’s just about this track really. We raced in the spring. You know a bit what to expect.

Yeah, I think it’s as similar as you’re going to be able to get it, so that helps for sure.

Q. You alluded earlier to how cool it was tonight in practice. What can translate from tonight that you can apply to Sunday?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: I mean, I don’t think it’s going to be night-and-day different. I do feel like the track is going to have some tendencies as it rubbers in, you get cars on the track. The grip’s going to degrade. I think everybody is in the same boat.

Practice is valuable. It’s a good thing. It’s just not an exact representation. I think we know enough that we should be able to get it pretty close, close enough just to try to adapt.

Q. With the rare opportunity to practice, tonight to think about things, are you more focused about qualifying, or are you more attune to thinking about race?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Yeah, I mean, race, for sure. Qualifying is great, but it doesn’t pay the points, or you don’t win the championship for qualifying first.

To me, yeah, I’d love to qualify first, great. But the top four are going to get the first four pit stalls, so pit pick… You could be 20th and still get a really good stall.

I think qualifying’s value is diminished in this format with the way the top four, and fifth guy, get to pick. Stage points are kind of irrelevant to all of us. It’s about the race for us, long story short.

Q. How much can you adjust with the car, make an impact on this car? Is it pretty much what you have is what you’ve got?

ALAN GUSTAFSON: I mean, are you referring to what we practiced or what we practiced to what we qualify?

Q. (No microphone.)

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Yeah, you could rebuild it. Right now in this format, if you weren’t very good, you wanted to change everything or you had teammates you wanted to get like them, whatever it is. Yeah, I mean, there’s enough to completely change the car.

Typically, on a normal weekend when we have limited adjustment, no. But with the practice schedule, ability to change the whole car, you can get from A to Z.

THE MODERATOR: Alan, thanks for your time.

ALAN GUSTAFSON: Thank you.

 
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PHOENIX RACEWAY
NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 4, 2022

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Press Conference Transcript:

HOW ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS WEEKEND, AND HOW DIFFERENT IT IS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THE OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIP BUT NOT THE DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP?

“I honestly don’t view it any differently. I come here with as much focus as I had last season when racing for both championships. Maybe if I hadn’t won last year and didn’t have a championship under my belt already then I’d come in here with a different mindset. But knowing that I have that on my resumé already, it allows me not to be careless with the weekend. We’re extremely focused and would love to win that Owner’s Championship for Rick (Hendrick) and bring that big paycheck home, too. That’s the most important piece.”

ON FRIDAY’S 50-MINUTE PRACTICE CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF PRACTICE FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.

“It’s a good opportunity to do a lot of little things to get ready for the race and execute that right. Pit-road speeds… I believe we get to select the pit stall fifth in the order, so we already have an idea of what couple of pit stalls those might be… stopping in those and accelerating out of them and trying to get some reps doing stuff for the race. Hopefully our car is close enough where you can do that stuff and not be in and out of the garage working on your car. I think we should be good. We were good here earlier in the year. I feel like our short-track stuff has just gotten better. It’s a good opportunity for everybody to have a 50-minute practice.”

ON ROSS CHASTAIN’S MOVE AT MARTINSVILLE. DO YOU STILL FEEL THE WAY YOU DID THEN AFTER LOOKING BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEEING OTHER PEOPLE’S REACTIONS? DOES NASCAR NEED TO MAKE A RULE ON THAT?

“I’d love to say after listening to all the fans that my opinion has changed because they’re very educated. But no, it hasn’t. I feel the same way I did about it last week. I’ll start with this: it was (awesome). There was no denying that. When I first saw it, I was like ‘That was crazy. That took guts’. I think my opinion was more from looking into the future of it and when that move is going to happen again. Because it will. I don’t even know if NASCAR has to police it. When a car scares the wall with five to go and doesn’t even touch the wall, they throw a caution because they want to set up a good finish. At the end of the race, it should be no different especially with something obvious like that. I think there’s lots of layers to it, safety and whatever. But yeah my view hasn’t changed. And it’s nothing personal against Ross. It could be anyone in the field to pull that move and I would have felt the same way about it. It’s not fair racing. Again, I’ve done it before so I’m being hypocritical. But I’m glad I did not win because I would not have been able to sleep at night and be proud of it. Just like I don’t think I’d be proud to be in the final four with a move like that.”

INAUDIBLE.

“It’s the integrity of it. It doesn’t take any talent to floor it against the wall and go two seconds quicker than the field. I don’t think that’s fair. It’s not fair at all.”

BEING AT PHOENIX AS THE REIGNING CHAMPION AND HOW HAS THE YEAR CULMINATED FOR YOU? WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS LOOKING BACK?

“I don’t feel like I’ve done anything different this year than other years as far as being an ambassador. I’ve done a lot of the same stuff that I’ve always done. I’ve still continued to race a lot outside of NASCAR. I feel like that’s where most of my legacy is… just racing a lot and growing motorsports. So that hasn’t changed. There are definitely things to be proud of this season. I think the fight that we’ve put in throughout the season to get better and become stronger as a team is something I’m proud of. Although we’ve done it a little bit late, we’ve gotten to the point where I feel confident when we go into the races in myself and the team. I look forward to one more weekend of trying to execute well and bringing another championship to Rick Hendrick.”

YOU SAID IT WOULD BE A BIG CHECK. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE WORTH IF YOU WIN IT? AND IS IT SPREAD ACROSS THE TEAM?

“I don’t know exactly. I’d have to look back at my emails to see what last year paid! It’s good. It would be good. Everybody’s deal is different. I could give you an answer, but Joey Logano might have a different deal.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR GOING FOR THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP IS BEING DOWNPLAYED? YOU WEREN’T INVOLVED IN CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA DAY.

“No, it’s been good. I’ve had a lot going on this week so I haven’t had a lot of time for it anyway. It doesn’t matter to me. I like kind of flying under the radar. I’m sure the broadcast will talk about it some and I’m sure we’ll be part of it. But the main storyline is the Driver’s Championship. Even though the Owner’s Championship is what pays the bills, the prestige of the championship revolves around the drivers. It’s never happened in the Cup Series, at least for a very long time, where you have a team like myself racing for the Owner’s Championship. It doesn’t matter to me at all that we haven’t gotten much recognition for it. And I understand why. The Driver’s Championship is what it’s always been focused around.”

ON POTENTIALLY ENDING THE TREND OF A CHAMPION WINNING THIS RACE.

“I guess I wouldn’t view it that way. I would still view it as one of the championship teams won it. I think this year is different than other years with the parity that we’ve seen all season long. I think it could be totally different than the five of us. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if come Sunday it’s a different winner. I think it’s going to happen.”

DOES THIS FEEL LIKE A CHAMPIONSHIP RACE FOR YOU?

“Yeah, it does. I don’t feel different. I don’t view it any different. I feel just as focused and driven as I did last year to win the championship. I answered it earlier and said that if I didn’t have a championship already under my belt, maybe I’d come in here a little more careless just because I’d be mad that I’m not in it. But with having a championship on my resumé already, I’m just happy that I have one. So I’m happy that I have one. It doesn’t matter as much to me to get another. Don’t take that the wrong way because I want to win more. But I think I care a lot more because I already have one.”

IS THE CHAMPIONS JOURNAL STILL A THING, AND ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO PASSING IT ON?

“It’s something that’s so special that you want to read it once when you get it and once again before I give it to the next guy. It’s an extremely special book. That was the thing that I was most excited about from winning the championship was to receive that. I’m sure everyone in the final four right now feels the same way. I’m sure it’s crossed all their minds this week. I look forward to writing my little piece and giving it to them. I hope I can win other championships down the road to see what’s been passed on since me.”

YOU OPENED IT WHEN YOU GOT IT AND YOU’LL READ IT AGAIN BEFORE PASSING IT ON?

“Yep, I read it all and read everybody’s pages. I stuck it in my safe and it’s been sitting in there for close to a year now. I’ll get home, pull it out and probably practice my handwriting to make sure it looks pretty.”

BEING A REIGNING NASCAR CUP CHAMPION AND HOW YOU’VE CARRIED YOURSELF THIS YEAR?

“I think what’s good about me is yes, there are things I should probably do differently. But I’m me and that hasn’t changed from winning a championship or not. I’m still the same person I was a year ago this week before a championship, and I feel like that isn’t a bad person. This year has been great on many levels. I feel like through it all and through the ups and downs of this season, I’m still the same person and plan to be years from now.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT YOU RUNNING THE INDY 500. HAS THERE BEEN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

“When Jimmie ran the Indy 500 this year, I definitely was picking his brain a lot after the race about how it was, what it drove like, and this and that. But I never talked to him about me racing it. I think it’s obvious that I want to race it. Nothing has moved forward with it. If something came to me that was in a competitive car, I’d jump right on it. I think there’s so limited rides when you’re restricted to one manufacturer. It’s tough. I think I read with Kyle (Busch) that it kind of stalled out with him. It’s tough, but I’d love to run it.”

REV RACING IS GOING TRUCK RACING IN 2023. HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO HAVE A PLACE LIKE THAT TO GET YOUR FEET WET IN NASCAR BEFORE MOVING UP?

“It was great. Rev Racing was cool. I was so busy that year racing; that was the most I’ve ever raced in one season – 2012 when I ran the K&N East Series. So I wasn’t able to really utilize the resources of Rev Racing and the day-to-day things that the kids do there throughout the week in the shop as far as working on the cars, being in the gym or doing the media training because I was off racing all the time. That being said, it’s a great platform for kids of a diverse background. I’m glad I was able to be a part of it and glad that I was able to get experience at a handful of the tracks that I was able to race at the following season in the Nationwide Series at the time. And we won the championship that year, so that’s something I’m definitely proud of, as well. I’m looking forward to them moving up into the Truck Series with the alliance with KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports). That’s really cool.”

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SEASON WITH FIRST SEASON OF THE NEXT-GEN CAR?

“The impact it’s had on NASCAR this year has been really cool. It was a big change in the sport over the last year. It was really cool how through all the supply chain issues and COVID a couple of years ago to see where the sport has come from and where they continue to move forward. Maybe that’s something when you look back 10, 15 or 20 years from now and how it changed the sport, it’s something you can remind and teach younger generations about how far the sport has come to get where it is currently. It’s cool to be a part of this generation of car and this class of drivers.”

 
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PHOENIX RACEWAY
NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 4, 2022

MAURY GALLAGHER, RICHARD PETTY, MIKE BEAM AND JIMMIE JOHNSON, met with the media to announce that Petty GMS and Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Jimmie Johnson, have entered into an ownership agreement. Press Conference Transcript:

THE MODERATOR: When Mike called me earlier this week to see if I was going to Phoenix on Friday, said yes, didn’t tell him if I wasn’t, I would have changed my flight no matter what it would have cost when he told me what it was, because in my opinion today will go down as one of the announcements that helps evolve and celebrate and move forward the foundation of our sport just like some of them we’ve had in the last number of months.

For a very special announcement this morning, we’re joined today by team owner of Petty GMS, Maury Gallagher; team president, Mike Beam; a couple of guys that need no introduction, chairman of Petty GMS and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and inaugural NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Richard Petty; and another seven-time NASCAR champion and a very familiar face who we haven’t seen nearly as frequently as we’d like to over the past year, Jimmie Johnson.

Also in the room with us, we’re joined by Petty GMS’s director of competition and engineering Joey Cohen, and the 2023 driver lineup, Cup Series drivers Erik Jones and Noah Gragson and GMS Racing’s Truck Series driver, Grant Enfinger.

With that, I’ll turn it over to Maury Gallagher who has some news to share.

MAURY GALLAGHER: Thank you, Winston. Yes, I think Winston has set the stage. Just very excited today to announce that seven-time Cup champion, Mr. Jimmie Johnson, is going to be joining Petty GMS as an owner and competitor, and we’ll have more Jimmie can talk about that, but pinching myself sitting up here with this kind of talent and this kind of record, and I can honestly say that while we didn’t anticipate having this kind of talent up here, it was never not a goal.

We want to be at the top. When I chatted with Richard last year as we put our team together and the like, his goal was to be up front, to be a winner. Mike and I joined forces back in 2015, and since that time Mike is overseeing 41 truck wins, two championships and many ARCA wins and championships, as well. That’s the culture of this program, and we want to do it at the highest level in racing motorsports.

On a personal note, if you would have told me when I started in racing in 2010 I’d be sitting here today, that would have been a bridge too far probably, but I couldn’t be more excited personally to be here, to be involved with these two gentlemen. Jimmie is going to be obviously a great name and a help with a lot of our awareness and marketing, but obviously on the competition side, working with our drivers, Erik and Noah, Grant, all those things will be positives. I think you’re going to hear from him. He’s going to be as excited to be back and doing this stuff as he moves on in his career and the like.

But from a Petty GMS, where we’re going, this is a phenomenal step for us. Richard obviously was the first bridge, now this one. Very, very excited about that.

I’m sure you’ll hear good stuff out of these guys, but we look forward to ’23 season. Our driver contingency is as good as anybody in the business, Mike and the competition side have shown good stuff as you saw with the Darlington situation. It’s very exciting times for us.

WINSTON KELLEY: Jimmie, I remember you telling me the night before you announced that you were stepping away from full-time competition and stepping away from Hendrick Motorsports that you weren’t done, you just didn’t know exactly what that path might be. You’ve been true to your word. You’ve kept very active. I’m sure I join a lot of people in the garage that look forward to having you back. How does it feel to be coming back on such a regular basis in NASCAR? How does this day and evolution feel to you?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Honestly, it feels incredible. I must say, I did not see this in my future. This is something, an opportunity that’s developed that makes sense for so many ways, so many reasons and an opportunity I’m honored to be a part of and very excited to be a part of.

With all that being said, this wasn’t what — last time I was really at a NASCAR race was here in 2020, other than the double at the Brickyard INDYCAR race.

When I left here, I really had no idea what was in store for me. I knew I wanted to try INDYCAR, and an amazing experience there, and stepping away from full-time INDYCAR, I wanted to create, get an eight- to ten-race schedule, just really fun races, and certainly coming back to NASCAR.

As this conversation started, it’s one that I really had to pay close attention to, an offer, an opportunity that’s just a life-changing opportunity for me and one that I had to take. So I’m very excited about this.

WINSTON KELLEY: Richard, you and I have talked a lot, as we have with everybody in this room. You were there at NASCAR’s first Cup Series race. The family business, Petty Enterprises and the evolution, it became Richard Petty Motorsports and now Petty GMS Racing. Talk about the addition. What do you feel about the addition of Jimmie Johnson and what that adds to this race team, how things continue to build and evolve?

RICHARD PETTY: Me and Maury talk about all the time about what can we do to improve our situation, make our business bigger, win more races, and he called me one day and said, I’ve been talking to Jimmie Johnson. I said, you’ve got to be kidding. Jimmie Johnson wants to be involved with this or we’re going to be involved with him?

From that standpoint, I just sort of went off the edge and said, this has got to be one of the biggest things that has happened to the Petty crowd and GMS from that standpoint. We joined cahoots last year, got a pretty good start this year, but with Jimmie adding on, with his popularity and the people he knows that we don’t know, it had to be a heck of a deal.

From my standpoint, it’s a big, big step, not just for one year, but I’m looking farther down the road. If Jimmie comes in, does his deal, I’m 85 years old, so I’m not going to be here for another 15 or 20 years, and then Jimmie can kind of take over.

That had to be a plus-plus.

WINSTON KELLEY: Mike, when you look back over your 40-plus, maybe 50-plus year career, you’ve been with a lot of great drivers, a lot of incredible owners, be it Richard, Bill Elliott, Junior Johnson, all of them. What does this mean? You’ve helped build GMS from the ground up. What does this mean for the future when you look at Petty GMS racing?

MIKE BEAM: Well, definitely the future looks bright for us. When this all started, and Maury, we’ve talked about this for a couple years, one, okay, what’s our future, so once we went with the Cup program, and he acquired the charters, and especially it’s pretty special for me, of course, for Richard and Kyle and the Petty family because that’s where I really started Cup racing. Like I said to Richard last week, it’s our future, and Jimmie is our future.

It’s exciting for us because felt like he’s going to bring a totally different mindset to us on certain things, so I’m excited about that. We couldn’t do this with the partners we have, without Erik and the GM folks, so we’re very blessed. It’s just a special day for us.

Petty GMS has been in business for 11 months, so it’s pretty crazy what’s happened in 11 months.

I was telling Maury last night, we were leaving the restaurant talking, I said, I’m about talked out, I’m about negotiated out, I’m about done here for a while. Hopefully — I know it ain’t the last one, but still, excited for our future, and it’s going to be — like I said this when we announced Noah, we’re trying to fast-track this, and that’s what we’re doing.

WINSTON KELLEY: Jimmie, the first part of the announcement obviously is you becoming co-owner. There might be another little bit to it that you want to share with the group.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yes, definitely excited to share more. With that being said, we still have a lot to work through and decisions to make, but I do want to run a limited schedule next year in the NASCAR Cup Series, and we can confirm today that we will kick that off at the Daytona 500.

More to come. We do know that race, but again, there’s still a lot to be sorted out, and we hope to have more exciting announcements down the road.

WINSTON KELLEY: I know the fans will appreciate that, as well.

Maury, you’re going to have a big off-season. What are your thoughts leading in to 2023?

MAURY GALLAGHER: Well, this is always a hill to climb in professional sports. The guy at the top only has one way to go is down, but we’ve got a way to go up, and from where I sit, I’m in the cheap seats watching when you turn these guys loose and the product they put out there.

I was very excited when Mike and we were able to acquire and work with Richard and the team and the charters, as he said, but ’23 with Noah and Erik, Grant is going to be back, we’ve got championship-capable people both in the garage and in the cars.

I’m not going to sit here and predict championships next year, but they’re in our future as far as I’m concerned.

WINSTON KELLEY: Jimmie, you didn’t use the word retirement a couple of years ago, but you did retire from full-time racing about a month ago. Here we are a month later announcing that you’re a team owner. How did you get here? What was that process?

I saw you about a month ago, and you wouldn’t have told me if I would have asked. How did you get here?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Needless to say, things escalated quickly. I really did feel like I would run some Cup races and was pursuing a few different options. I still have a great relationship with Chip Ganassi and the team, and I am interested in some INDYCAR races, interested in sports car racing.

When this opportunity came along and it really came through the offices of Alan Miller, he’s been my longtime kind of agent, if you will — I know he hates that term, but not only does his office look after my interests but also Erik Jones, and Michael Bill has kind of been the point person in recent years. As Michael learned about my desires to continue to drive and to try to find a different way to be involved in the sport, he said, man, you really need to talk to Maury. I feel like there’s an opportunity here that really makes sense on both sides. That was the catalyst and start of it.

Literally here in the last month, a lot has happened.

WINSTON KELLEY: I think a lot of people in any business evolve from the student to literally in your case the master and the mentor as you did at Hendrick Motorsports. When you think about the mentorship opportunity that you have with guys like Noah and Erik, what comes to mind there?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Just an opportunity that I have to give back. I felt like through my career, I had many that believed in me and gave me that chance and did offer advice, and I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have someone like Jeff Gordon mentoring me, and many before Jeff.

Through the years, especially once I kind of hit my peak in Cup, many young drivers would talk to me, as I mentioned, the connection with Erik through Alan Miller’s office, we’ve had a relationship. I’ve known Noah. I’ve always been a resource. I’ve always felt like people helped me get to this point by giving and that I should give back.

Now in the ultimate scheme of things, I will have that opportunity, be a challenge to do so, and really excited to share when I can and how I can.

I don’t think I have all the answers, and I still have so much to learn, especially with this new role. I know one aspect of the sport, but there are many more for me to learn, and I plan to sit back, listen, take notes from these two pros and offer help where I can.

WINSTON KELLEY: I think I would be remiss, Richard, you are the king, so you get the final words before we open it up. Any other comments and thoughts you have?

RICHARD PETTY: No, I just look at the deal with — we’ve got Erik and Noah coming along, they’re getting their experience in the Cup deal. We’ve got Jimmie to come and give them some history, help them out from some of the different racetracks and all of this. To me it’s a good combination. You’ve got a couple younger guys and an older guy — not old, an older guy that can kind of mentor.

From that standpoint they can help each other. So now we’ve got a real pro that can say you’re doing this wrong or you’re doing that, and then on the other hand the young guys can say when you’re not being in this car you’ve got to do this.

The combination of all three of them working together, from my standpoint, couldn’t be better for our team.

WINSTON KELLEY: If you look at the results this year, certainly the trajectory is on the right. We’ll take some questions.

Q. Just curious, we talked to Justin Marks earlier this week and he says he talks to you quite a bit. I’m wondering if you picked his brain because he’s like that next generation of ownership coming in that is setting new trends in the sport. I’m just kind of wondering if you see kind of help taking GMS in that direction?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I would say that Justin and I have been friends for a long time, and our conversations have always been ongoing. I think he and I both bounce ideas off of each other, and I just love his perspective on the sport and change and the vision he has for his company. It’s been inspiring.

Now that this is official and as I try to learn how I can help and where I can help, I look forward to more specific conversations with him and others on that front.

I’ve always really enjoyed my conversations with Justin, and certainly what he’s done in the sport.

Q. First off, as you said, you haven’t been to a NASCAR race since 2020. Did you have to pick up a Hot Pass today?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I was planning to, and we had a pre-meeting at 8:00 in that time zone, so somebody grabbed it for me. I planned to go. I wanted to have that experience to get some pictures of it, but I missed that opportunity.

Q. Being away from NASCAR you said one of your things when you went to INDYCAR, doing even IMSA races, was you had to forget NASCAR habits. But I’m sure you didn’t forget NASCAR. Was there always kind of like an underlying inkling that if I can go back one day, I’d want to go back and run races again?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, that’s always been in the back of my mind. As I got into INDYCAR, I feared doing so just because the worlds were so different and wanted to stay focused on the INDYCAR program.

If I did continue in INDYCAR in ’23, I had planned to try to come back at some level in NASCAR and run some races. I’ve been open and honest with Mr. Hendrick and Jeff Gordon about trying to come back.

Justin Marks and I have spoken about his Project 91 car. Prior to this opportunity really developing, there were some very casual conversations out there, maybe a pathway to come back and run, and then once the INDYCAR season concluded, this really kicked into gear, and now I have a pathway to do so.

Q. Did you miss us, Jimmie?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Absolutely. I’ve been watching from afar. Although I haven’t been here and been too involved, I have been watching. Been plenty going on.

Q. NASCAR has grown a lot in the time since you left. There’s a lot going on. What’s the mojo you’re feeling about it? And then long-term, do you see yourself full-time in NASCAR, running the team, being like a Mr. Hendrick, et cetera, et cetera, young owner coming in? What’s your vision, and what’s really important to you with all of this?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: You mean full-time as an owner or driver?

Q. Yeah.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Wanted to make sure it’s not a driver. That’s not the plan. Channie is probably watching so please don’t start that rumor.

Gosh, now I forgot what your first part of the question was.

Q. What your vision is for you down the road as you look at your future. And then also, have you seen NASCAR, what has happened to NASCAR over the time since you left?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, it’s a big question. Obviously NASCAR is experiencing a lot of growth which is kind of hard to say because it’s always been such a big sport. But I think it’s certainly changing and growing. The ownership opportunity has changed quite a bit and is very interesting to myself and others that are trying to get in the game. So it certainly has a part of my interest and why I’m so thrilled to be involved.

Long time, I just don’t know what that looks like. We’re literally weeks into this taking place, and I know that I have so much to learn on the ownership side.

I do feel that what I’ve done the last two years in racing in INDYCAR and fundraising for INDYCAR, that I have more experience in the space, and I do think that I have something I can offer there to the company.

Then directly to competition side, being able to work with Noah and Erik, to be in the car, to be in the shop. There are other aspects there that is kind of low-hanging fruit that makes sense.

I did spend a little bit of time with GM throughout my career, so there’s a chance that might be helpful, too. So there are a lot of layers to it that I don’t understand quite now, but I am taking this very seriously, and this is a chance of a lifetime that I’m very excited about.

Q. Between you all you have 14 championships. You hear Maury talking about you’re looking for another one at some point in the future. What is the long-term goal for Jimmie Johnson? When you left here and went to INDYCAR, we didn’t think we’d obviously see you back at some point doing — especially not this. So these conversations that you’ve had with Justin, with Jeff Gordon and Mr. Hendrick, did anybody say, Don’t do this at any point? Are you crazy? What’s your end game?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: We’re all crazy. Everybody in racing is crazy. If you sign up to join this circus, I think you’re a bit crazy.

I don’t know if I have a well-thought-out answer other than this has been home. This is family. This is the industry that I know. Being able to get to know Maury over — granted it hasn’t been a very long courting or dating relationship, whatever you want to call it, the history that he has with Michael Bill and his character, the way he conducts himself, carries himself, takes cares of business, I think we have a lot of similarities that we’ve discovered in who and what we’re about.

I just feel like you combine that with Richard, his legacy, his history, we just have something really special here that still needs to be developed.

So I don’t have a great answer for you long-term, and I think it’s going to be evolving and ever-changing, but the sky’s the limit.

Q. Question for Mike and Jimmie. Mike, you did mention how you’ve been a Cup team for 11 months. I remember I told Maury this this week, that I remember when I first met him, he just was Richard Childress’ guest at a luncheon in Las Vegas for the son who raced who was interested in sponsorship. Now you’ve got this team that he is fast tracking. He wants to win. He’s gone after Noah. He’s brought in Jimmie Johnson. What is that like? He’s admitted that Trackhouse is the standard and you guys have to get to that. What is that like to work for an organization that is just shooting for the moon and so quickly?

MIKE BEAM: I think overwhelming. I think that’s a perfect word for the way we do it. Like it never stays the same. We’re always striving to get better.

It’s a great challenge. Some days I question it. It’s great. But it is great. I think, like I said, we’re very blessed. Maury —

Q. What do you question? How rapid it’s growing?

MIKE BEAM: No, we have to get on this path here. I’m going to be honest with you. If we don’t win and do well, I don’t know why we’re going to do it. Me and him have that conversation all the time. It’s all about winning.

I know people say that, but you know, what is that saying — everybody is going to say, All I want to do is win, but are you going to work hard enough or make the financial commitment to do it.

Maury has done that. And so because I want to bring up, like, 14 championships between Richard and Jimmie, then we’ve got Dale that goes with us, so now he adds eight.

You always have to bring that culture. When we started Petty GMS, we talk about the culture, and Erik and Dave has done really well, right, and thank Ty and even Jeremy and the 42 group for really getting us going.

It’s exciting, but like I said, I hope less negotiating is going to be done here in a week or so because it’s been a lot.

But the thing about him, it’s always changing, so it’s fun because, Lord, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. We are going to have three trucks and three Cup cars. I mean, yeah. We need to have an ARCA car again and a dirt car. We’ve got a late model, yeah. (Laughter.)

Q. Jimmie, how much time do you got to spend cheering this guy up?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: There’s a path forward and an aggressive path forward to success, and that’s what I’m so excited about.

Q. Four weeks ago, four NASCAR team owners or representatives came to the media and they said the model is broken and something has got to change. Your buddy Jeff Gordon was one of those that said, This has got to change. I’m curious why you would hear those things and then say, Sure, take my money, I want in.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I think it’s a great question.

When I look at opportunities I had when I was driving for Rick, he has a structure with Jeff Gordon, and there were some conversations years ago that I entertained, and it didn’t make sense.

Now, I still think there is work to be done, and both sides have their case, but I do think that it’s improving yearly, and it does make more and more sense to be an owner.

I believe in the product. I believe in the sport. I believe in NASCAR. This is where I want to be. It’s worth that risk.

WINSTON KELLEY: Talking about the winning culture before we go to Nate, when I mentioned there are 283 wins between the two of them, I was quickly reminded 284 because there is a Petty GMS win there, as well.

Q. Jimmie, you said that you were looking at a schedule of eight to ten races in INDYCAR at one point for next year. I know it’s not solid yet, but can you tell us what you think you’ll be racing beyond NASCAR, if anything? Are you still interested in doing INDYCAR, still interested in doing the Indy 500? Does having a team ownership with a Chevy team preclude running for Ganassi or Honda teams at Indy?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, still interested in the sports car, INDYCAR. I’ve got an awesome opportunity to race an off-road truck if I want. Alex Bowman has offered me a Chili Bowl ride. The invites keep coming in.

I have been solely focused on this and don’t know the impact of this commitment and relationship and how that plays out. But once the dust settles from here, I’ll get deeper into those other conversations and try to build out the best race schedule I can have that does fit with the new commitment and obligation that I have here. That’s something that will certainly play into all that.

Q. So manufacturer conflicts you’re not sure on yet?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Haven’t crossed that bridge yet.

Q. You said at Laguna Seca you were interested in Wilkesboro. Wilkesboro would be conflicting with Indy 500 qualifying.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I noticed that on the schedule. Just again, haven’t arrived at that conversation yet.

Q. Jenna mentioned the team ownership side and putting up your money. Can you give us any insight? Do you have partners buying into this with you? Are you putting up money? I know that you’re probably not going to disclose financial details, but did you front some cash to get involved here?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I don’t think we’re eager to share structure and details, but it’s me. There is no one else on my side. It’s me.

Q. Just to follow up, Maury, are you still the majority owner of the team?

MAURY GALLAGHER: Yes.

Q. I assume you don’t have a charter for your Daytona 500 car, so are you prepared to race your way into the Daytona 500, and how do you view that challenge?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I’m definitely aware of the situation and would assume that would be the case. Let’s go racing. Do everything that I can to get in that Daytona 500.

MAURY GALLAGHER: I will put a plug in. This year we were in Talladega, the front row of the last two starts. So Mr. Beam here to my left, you go back and look at the GMS super track record, we’re as good as anybody in the business. I’m breaking my arm patting us on the back, but…

He’ll have an advantage, we believe, in quality of car that he’s going to be in.

Q. Jimmie, I guess this is a really basic question, but why become an owner as opposed to just doing some races? I’m sure that wouldn’t have been an issue for you to say we’ll field a car for Jimmie Johnson, but why become an owner in addition to doing that?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I of course started my — how can I say it? My 2023 plans started very traditional, the fact of trying to drive for people. Then when the idea was presented to me by Michael Bill, knowing where Maury’s commitment is, and he’s only been in the Cup business for 11 months, they’ve won a race, the pathway forward, and really learning and understanding about where he wants to take the company, it just started to feel right, and it’s really a gut feel.

I think that gut feel supersedes any logical thought of what other stories I’ve heard about being a team owner and jokes that I’ve heard Mr. Hendrick make over the years. It got to a point where this was a gut feel that I wanted to be a part of it, and I want to do this.

Q. Jimmie, what intrigues you about being an owner, and what do you think you can bring to the team from that perspective?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I don’t know where my strengths will play out at this point in time, but again, the last two years in the INDYCAR space and how my office has managed our partners, our relationship, the relationship I’ve had with Chip, Chip’s willingness to show me more of how a car owner acts, leads, decisions they make. I’ve had a better understanding of it all.

I’ve been intrigued by it. I’ve been interested in it. I’ve gained some experience in it. I think I’m in an environment here where I can learn from two of the best and grow.

Again, there’s some low-hanging fruit with the competition side and participating in events, driving in cars, helping build culture in the shop, working with our young drivers. So that stuff is kind of a standard, but the bigger picture is an opportunity to learn, and I’ve enjoyed the experience I’ve had over the last two seasons.

Q. You mentioned Justin Marks, but I’m wondering if you’ve talked to Brad Keselowski or Denny Hamlin two other drivers who have stepped into the ownership ranks and gotten their feedback on the process?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I’ve talked to a lot of people through the last — really the communication hasn’t stopped. I’ve always spoken to Michael Jordan a couple times a year. That still has happened. Sorry?

Q. (No microphone.)

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, advice, yeah. So I guess what I’m getting at is conversations, I’ve maintained my relationships throughout the industry, if it’s at NASCAR or other team owners, Mr. Hendrick, Jeff Gordon. And maybe they could sense my questions were a little more pointed as they happened more recently, but I’m always trying to keep my hand on the pulse and understand what’s going on.

In recent weeks I’ve asked a few more questions, so I’ll be curious to check back in with those folks now to see if any red flags went up in their minds.

Q. Jimmie, not that you need another thing on your plate, but is the possibility of running Le Mans still on the table, or is that going to be off the table?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: No, it’s still on the table. I’ve made sure that my calendar is nice and open in June, and hopefully it can stay that way.

Q. For Mike, one of the things that was evident after Tony Stewart joined with Gene Haas and Brad Keselowski joined with Jack Roush was not only was there what those individuals brought to the teams but the willingness of other people in the industry to want to join with that organization now because they’re now a part of it. Do you see, whether it be sponsors or just personnel, a bigger sort of impact in being able to attract top talent throughout the NASCAR industry?

MIKE BEAM: I mean, it’s a great question. We discuss that all the time just from the standpoint of what we’re going to do to get to the next level.

I keep saying we’re fast-tracking it. You know, with Jimmie we’ve had some great conversations, and talking to Richard last week, like what are we going to do to get to the next level, and talking to the GM folks.

So when Tony went to Gene, it made a huge difference, right? It did. And Brad being with Jack and Roush Fenway, it definitely made a difference.

Jimmie, the night he come up here to the shop and met with me and Joey Cohen, and people needs to — you don’t need to understand, but it’s like, 11 months into this deal, and like I told Jimmie, I said, you’re going to be — there’s going to be a huge task here because you take Joey Cohen, you take Chad Norris, you take Dave Ellison, you take myself, and it’s just us four making the decisions on this Cup stuff. It’s not like it’s a big committee, right?

So it’s like he’s getting in on the ground floor, and Maury and I, we’ve said this all along. Jimmie has got — I know he works hard because I get text messages from him at 6:00 in the morning. I get that.

It’s going to be exciting to see because there’s a lot of work to do here. For us to get to where we need to be, we’re a couple years where we feel like we need to be on certain things with relationships. Like I said, it’s only been a week with him. You don’t need to talk.

MAURY GALLAGHER: Just to follow on to that, one of the things I think that was a seller for Jimmie was I’ve built a lot of businesses over my time, and there’s nothing more exciting in a business world than to start with an idea, look around the corner, and see it work.

As I tell people that are involved in that, these are the good ol’ days. Building something is tremendous. It’s a lot of fun, and if you’ve never done it before, it’s an exceptional thing.

I think Jimmie picked up on that side because this is going to be a building effort. We’re at that young age, four people that are really running shows compared to the big boys in the sport, Hendrick and Gibbs and things like that. Those are very well, big, established companies.

I think that was a big piece of the attraction. I’m putting words in Jimmie’s mouth, but I know it’s been exciting for me.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Putting no words. That’s the absolute truth. Certainly hopeful that being involved does attract the sponsors, personnel, some of that low-hanging fruit that we think we recognize immediately.

And, frankly, why we were so eager to try to announce here and not wait until we had more answers. We need to get going. It’s November.

Q. (No microphone.)

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Still in the works. We don’t have anything there yet. I think Rick wants to just give me the 48.

WINSTON KELLEY: Don’t start any Channie rumors, but you’re okay with that rumor?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, give me the 48.

Q. (No microphone.)

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, we’ll figure it out. I’ll go drive a sprint car a little bit.

Q. Jimmie, you’ve said your wife was watching; what was your reaction when you told her all of this?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: She’s awesome. She is my biggest supporter and believes in me more than anyone. Just when I think I’ve thrown her a curve ball, she continues to support me like no one else. She’s absolutely on board.

I think my youngest daughter, Lydia, is probably the most excited because she’s overheard some phone calls, and she keeps asking me when she can go to school and let people know. Monday she can go to school and let people know. I’m sure she’s told everybody already, though (laughing).

Q. Do you have any idea like what type of races? Do you want to do a short track, intermediate? Is there anything specific that you want to do when it comes to the races next year? Chicago Street Course, is that one, as well?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I think we have a few ways to look at it. Obviously partners in areas that they want to race in is one thing to look at.

I have a list of races that I’m super interested in and would love to do. Then there’s also the competition point, standpoint of what’s best for the team, are there test sessions. It would be really nice if I could test a car and then go to that race because so much has changed, how can we collect for data and information for our group to help the 42 and the 43.

Q. Winston, since you’re standing there, does this impact his Hall-of-Fame eligibility timeline?

WINSTON KELLEY: Those have been done on a case-by-case basis. The intent of the eligibility rule is that somebody not compete significantly or full-time in the area that they, a competitor, have worked in, be it a driver, crew chief, et cetera, so NASCAR, the Hall of Fame, with input from the nominating committee would look at whatever that situation is at the time and make a determination. We’ve got a couple of examples that we’ve worked through, but there’s not a hard-and-fast.

The answer is we don’t know until the scenario plays out.

I don’t know how many races he’s going to run, either, so for whatever that’s worth.

Q. Probably less than the 31 that Matt Kenseth ran —

JIMMIE JOHNSON: I can confirm that.

WINSTON KELLEY: Yeah, but Matt had a full year off and then raced and another full year off, so that 31 did push his eligibility back, so that’s accurate. With Jeff Gordon I believe it was eight that did not, and looking at the circumstances of how they came in, to help in very challenging situations was also a factor that the committee felt like was important. But great points.

RICHARD PETTY: Getting back to your question of what races he’s going to run. He’s going to look at where’s the biggest purses.

WINSTON KELLEY: There’s one final thing.

MAURY GALLAGHER: Jimmie, would you come out here with me? I tried to get Richard to do this, but he wasn’t interested since he already has a wardrobe, but these are team owner shoes. I’ve been using — it turns out I guess New Balance is now the look, but I wanted Jimmie to have his official team owner shoes. Congratulations.

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Thank you, pal.

MAURY GALLAGHER: We’ll see if he’ll wear them.

 
 
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Johnson to compete in limited NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2023

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 4, 2022) – Petty GMS Owner Maury Gallagher and Chairman Richard Petty, announced today the team has entered into an ownership agreement with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, Johnson will compete in a select number of NASCAR Cup Series events in 2023, to include the running of the 65th annual DAYTONA 500.

“I couldn’t be happier to have Jimmie Johnson joining Petty GMS,” stated Gallagher “We have been consistent since we began our Cup effort last year in wanting to be up front and have a winning program. No one in the modern era of NASCAR has won more than Jimmie. Having a driver, the caliber of Jimmie, driving our equipment and being able to provide feedback to our crew chiefs and engineers but most importantly, mentoring Erik and Noah will be invaluable. Perhaps most important of all, Jimmie will be a great partner. I know I speak for all the Petty GMS team members, including Richard Petty, in welcoming Jimmie to the team. No one else will be able to say they have two seven-time Cup champions on their team. We are looking to make a strong statement next year and show that we are here to contend for wins and championships. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

Petty GMS was formed in December 2021 when Gallagher, a two-time NASCAR Truck Series Championship team owner, purchased Richard Petty Motorsports. Petty, “The King”, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class member, and the all-time winningest driver in NASCAR history, will continue with the team his family started in 1949. Mike Beam, who began his career with Petty Enterprises as crew chief for Kyle Petty in the early 1980s, will remain in his role as team President.

“What an exciting time for Petty GMS,” said Petty. “This year we’ve accomplished so much together with Maury and now adding Jimmie will only continue to help us grow. To have Jimmie – another seven-time champion – as a part of the team, and his abilities both on track and off will be special for Petty GMS. I’m looking forward to having him as a part of our team and seeing what we can build together.”

“It’s great to be back in NASCAR,” stated Johnson. “When the INDYCAR season ended I started on this journey of what was next. Maury and I connected, this opportunity came to light and it’s the perfect fit for me. Team ownership makes so much sense at this stage of my career and after spending time with Maury and his family, talking with Mike (Beam), Dave (Elenz, crew chief of the No. 43) and Joey (Cohen, Director of Competition and Engineering), I realized this was something I wanted to be involved with from both the business perspective and on the competition side. If I’m going to commit to something like this, I want to make a difference and have something tangible to show for it when it’s all said and done. So, this opportunity with Petty GMS is all of that and much more.”

Johnson stepped away from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition at the conclusion of the 2020 season after 686 starts with Hendrick Motorsports. He currently ranks sixth on the all-time Cup Series wins list with 83, tied with NASCAR Hall of Fame member Cale Yarborough. Johnson will join 26-year-old driver Erik Jones, who recently scored Petty GMS’ first Cup Series win for the organization in the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and 24-year-old NASCAR Xfinity Series standout Noah Gragson, who will contend for NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of Year in 2023.

“I’m fortunate that I had incredible mentors throughout my life, and I’ve always tried to pay that forward,” said Johnson. “My experience and energy will add value to a team with young drivers like Erik and Noah – I feel like I can be a good resource both on and off the track.”

The remainder of Johnson’s racing schedule, partnerships, paint scheme and car number will be revealed at a future date.

About Petty GMS: Petty GMS competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, currently operating the No. 42 Chevrolet for Ty Dillon and the No. 43 Chevrolet for Erik Jones. The newly formed team brought together two storied organizations in December 2021. Over the last decade, owner Maury Gallagher built a victorious team, capturing two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, one ARCA Menards Series title, and two ARCA Menards Series East championships, as well as 65 wins and 235 top-five finishes across six series. Richard Petty, a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2010, serves as Chairman of Petty GMS. Petty, known as “The King,” accumulated 200 wins and was the first of three drivers to win seven championships in the Cup Series. For more information, visit www.pettygms.com

About Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, sharing the all-time record with stock car racing legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Johnson’s run of five championships in a row (2006-2010), is one of the greatest ever seen in sports. To date, he is the only race car driver in history to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2009). After Johnson’s final full-time season in NASCAR, he competed for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NTT INDYCAR Series in 2021 and 2022. Johnson and wife Chandra are co-founders of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which focuses on K-12 public education and has contributed more than $12.4 million to organizations and schools in need across the U.S., since its inception in 2006. The Johnson family resides in Charlotte, N.C., with daughters Genevieve and Lydia.