NASCAR HISTORY
A LIFETIME IN NASCAR “A Lifetime in NASCAR” recalls memorable moments from NASCAR’s incredible history. Hosted by NASCAR historians Ben White and Aaron Burns, here are some snippets from a recent episode of the podcast: BY AARON BURNS BURNS: One of the coolest there in the pits, just me and Jimthings about NASCAR’s Media mie and Jimmie’s manager. I was Tour happened in 2018. I was like, “What would it take for you to standing out in this expansive try one of those things?” Jimmie area for drivers where they relax says, “If it was a road course, yeah, – Ben, you were at that Media I’d try it.” Tour weren’t you? I’m thinking, in what world is WHITE: I was, yeah. Jimmie Johnson going to race an BURNS: In this area, if you Indy car? He might talk about it, so remember those “This is I was like, “Yeah, man,” but he’s not SportsCenter” commercials going to do it. But now, in 2021, Jimwhere somebody’s wearing their mie Johnson is an IndyCar Series uniform and they’re just doing driver for Chip Ganassi Racing. stuff in an office atmosphere, Ben, if you’d have placed that well, I lived that. I was in the bet with me, you would have colbathroom, washing my hands lected big bucks. WHITE: I’m with you on that, beand there’s Chase Elliott in his cause I didn’t see that one coming. NAPA fire suit, washing his A lot of times, I can, but I did not hands beside me. It’s not terribly see that train coming down the uncommon if you were at Media •• Jimmie Johnson’s interest in open-wheel racing became more evident as tracks. I just didn’t think that was Tour and you had that access. his NASCAR career reached its end. going to happen. It was kind of a But I walk out and Jimmie bucket list thing for Jimmie. He Johnson and (Formula One and I have talked about that. He’s told me before, “I always thought I was going to champion) Fernando Alonso, (IMSA champion) Scott go Indy car racing,” and the same (was true) for Jeff Gordon. Jeff Gordon was a big Pruett and (Formula One driver) Lando Norris are all Rick Mears fan growing up. talking. It was this meeting of the minds that was BURNS: Really? just incredible to watch. When Johnson and Alonso WHITE: Jeff lived in Pittsboro, Indiana. Everybody in the Midwest – in Indiana were talking, they were talking about trading cars. especially – is all about going to the Indianapolis 500. As fate would have it, Jeff None of us knew this at the time, but Fernando ended up going to NASCAR, and of course, the rest is history. It was kind of the Alonso used to play NASCAR video games and he’d same with Jimmie. He was into off-road racing and stock cars weren’t on his always drive Jimmie Johnson’s car. WHITE: Really? Wow. radar, but Chevrolet put Jimmie in a stock car and the rest is history there, too. I BURNS: This meeting was what set off in late 2018, admire the fact that he can go and say, “These are the things I want to do in my life Jimmie Johnson and some of the Hendrick guys before I say ‘I’m done,’” and he’s still young enough to try his IndyCar hand. Hey, take the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet to the Bahrain Interkudos to him for doing that. It’s interesting. I just did not see him doing it. national Circuit. Fernando Alonso climbs behind the Speaking of Media Tour, it was so cool to be in the same room with all those wheel of the Lowe’s Chevrolet and Jimmie Johnson guys, just kicking back, having a soft drink and talking about things. It was like, gets behind the wheel of a papaya McLaren Formula 450 wins sitting there. You pinch yourself a little bit. BURNS: For all the Media Tours I’d done, the most incredible moment for One car. I always thought it was so cool that Jimmie me was Scott Pruett talking to Fernando Alonso, talking to Jimmie Johnson. had this passion for running an open-wheel car, but That’s like LeBron James talking to Derek Jeter, talking to Tom Brady. That just everyone thought, OK, he’d crossed that off his list. doesn’t happen. So, about a year and a half ago, during qualifying for the second ROVAL race, Jimmie is standing there Part of the Out of the Groove Podcast Network, “A Lifetime in NASCAR” watching Josef Newgarden test his Indy car. They is available on platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. did a little exhibition with an Indy car running the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I was standing
68
POLE POSITION 2021
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
