Jimmie Johnson Hits 700 Starts—and He’s Not Done Yet

PXL_20250524_174218861 — (Photo: Greg Engle CupScene.com)

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In Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson will make his 700th NASCAR Cup Series start on the same track where he made his debut in the series in 2001.

On Oct. 7 of that year, Johnson drove the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the first time, but his race ended early. On Lap 151, Johnson tangled with the Penske Ford of Ryan Newman, who would edge Johnson for Cup rookie-of-the-year honors the following season.

Johnson retired from the race in 39th place after 192 laps, but that was hardly predictive of his future performance at the track.

Eight of Johnson’s 83 career victories have come at Charlotte. In 2004 and 2005, he won four straight races at the 1.5-mile speedway.

“It’s wild how my first start just coincidentally ends up being my 700th,” said Johnson, who now co-owns and drives occasionally for LEGACY Motor Club. “It means a ton to me. I am a numbers guy, and to have these numbers play out on their own is really special.”

Johnson was quick to emphasize that his 700th Cup start will not be his last.

“Last year, I ran nine—it was a little too much on the organization,” said Johnson, who finished third in the Daytona 500 in his only start so far this season. “This year, I’m at two. Maybe we do a few more, so as we plan for next year, as long as it doesn’t take away from our full-time cars, we hope to run an unchartered vehicle and have me in it, and use that to develop talent, and also help develop partnerships and such.

“It is part of our plan. We don’t have ’26 picked yet, but rest assured, there (are) more than 700 starts. I’m jumping up and down asking for more races than two.”