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Jimmie Johnson is stepping into an unfamiliar role following his recent Daytona 500 appearance, confirming he will serve as a crew chief in the NASCAR Truck Series race at St. Petersburg on February 28. The seven-time Cup Series champion will climb atop the pit box for four-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti when the Truck Series shares the track with IndyCar for the first time at the Florida street course.
Johnson, 50, confirmed Sunday that he will guide Franchitti as he pilots the No. 1 Tricon Garage Toyota. The race marks Franchitti’s first NASCAR start since 2008 and Johnson’s first time serving as a crew chief at any NASCAR national series level. The event will also be the Truck Series’ first race on the St. Petersburg road course.
Franchitti brings limited NASCAR experience into the weekend. He has one career Truck Series start, finishing 33rd in 2007. He also made 18 starts in what was then the NASCAR Busch Series, recording one top-five finish, and competed in 10 Cup Series races without a top-10 result. Authorities within the sport view the pairing as a notable crossover between two accomplished champions from different disciplines.
Johnson and Franchitti share a friendship that spans more than two decades, and their partnership will take place at TRICON Garage, a Toyota-aligned organization that also serves as the manufacturer partner of Johnson’s NASCAR team, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.
Fan reaction quickly followed the announcement, with many expressing surprise at Johnson’s decision to move from behind the wheel to atop the pit box. Some compared the move to other former drivers who have taken on advisory or crew chief roles after their driving careers.
Johnson is set to make his crew chief debut when the Truck Series takes the green flag at St. Petersburg, where the collaboration will unfold under national attention.
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