NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jimmie Johnson is set to make a return to his racing roots in a significant way. The seven-time NASCAR champion, who initially started his motorsports career in offroad racing, is gearing up to join the Extreme E racing series in the coming weeks.
In partnership with the team he co-owns, Legacy Motor Club, Johnson will field an entry in the Extreme E series, which is sanctioned by the FIA. This unique series utilizes electric SUVs to compete in offroad races across various locations, including the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
Hailing from California, Johnson has an impressive offroad racing background. He has previously competed in the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) Stadium Racing Series, the Short-course Off-road Drivers Association (SODA), and the Southern California Off Road Enthusiasts (SCORE) series. Notably, Johnson became the youngest driver to win the Trophy Truck division in the Baja 1000. Throughout his offroad career, he amassed 25 wins, 100 Top 3 finishes, six championships, and received Rookie of the Year honors in all three leagues.
The Extreme E series kicks off this weekend with the first two rounds taking place in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, due to prior commitments related to NASCAR's Daytona 500, Johnson will not be able to participate in the Saudi Arabia rounds. In his absence, action sports star Travis Pastrana has been tapped by Legacy to fill in for Johnson and team up with Johnson's teammate, Gray Leadbetter.
Leadbetter, a 19-year-old driver from Morganton, North Carolina, made her mark in the Championship Off-Road series in 2019. She became the first woman to win a US Pro Class Championship in the Championship Off-Road closed-course series, securing victory in four races and claiming the crown. Additionally, she made history as the youngest competitor and first woman to win a Sportsman SXS race in December 2020. Leadbetter's racing journey began at the age of five in arenacross.
Expressing his excitement about Legacy Motor Club's participation in the Extreme E championship, Johnson said, 'We are essentially representing America in this unique and very competitive series, and we are committed to the challenge.' Although Johnson will be in Daytona for the Great American race, he looks forward to witnessing his team's performance on foreign soil. Johnson expressed confidence in Pastrana and Leadbetter, stating that he can't wait to see what they accomplish.
Joining the series in place of Johnson is three-time motocross champion and multi-disciplinary X Games gold medalist, Travis Pastrana. Pastrana, known for his versatility and high-profile racing career, has extensive experience with electric vehicles and offroad events. He eagerly accepted the opportunity to join Legacy Motor Club and compete in the Extreme E series. Pastrana also expressed his admiration for Leadbetter's talents, highlighting her status as a top female up-and-coming talent in Nitro Cross, and expressed hope in achieving success as Americans.
Pastrana humorously shared his desire to beat rival Mattias Ekström, stating, 'I’ve never beaten Mattias at anything, and before he retires, I want to beat him at something! With that in mind, I guess my two biggest reasons for participating in this event is to help out my friend Jimmie, and, for the first time in my life, beat Mattias.'
Johnson is set to join Leadbetter in driving for the Extreme E series when it heads to Europe in July. Johnson will then conclude the season in the United States in November. Emphasizing the goals of the team, Johnson mentioned, 'Our goal is to learn as much as we can and see what the future might bring.' He further expressed excitement about returning to his offroad racing roots and the thrilling experience it will bring.
As the Extreme E series combines sustainability, inclusion, and equality, Johnson sees it as an appealing venture from both technical and personal perspectives. The series's transition to hydrogen in 2025 also captures Johnson's attention and has the motorsports community at large closely watching. For Johnson, the opportunity to go back to the type of racing that kick-started his career is not only nostalgic but promises to be an exhilarating journey.
