Jimmie Johnson Headlines NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #84 Carvana Chevrolet, looks on … [+] during qualifying for the Busch Light Pole at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

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During his spectacular career that included a record-tying seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships, Jimmie Johnson was a Hall of Famer in waiting.

The wait is over for the legendary driver from El Cajon, California as he was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

To make it extra special for Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports, he will enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame with his long-time crew chief Chad Knaus, who helped orchestrate many of Johnson’s victories and championships.

“Chad is so deserving of going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. To accomplish this together is so fitting as every special moment in my Cup Series career was shared with Chad. He’s a brother, a friend, and a brilliant crew chief – one of the best ever,” Johnson said after he received the news. “I drove a Chad Knaus set-up racecar throughout every moment we had and to share this induction with him is incredible.

“This is such a huge honor, I’m thankful for Ricky Hendrick, Rick Hendrick and the entire Hendrick family, Jeff Gordon, Chad, and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and in the NASCAR industry who has ever touched a No. 48 car throughout the years.

“This is as much of a celebration for all of them as it is for me. We did this as a team.”

It was also a moment of pride for NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who helped mentor and guide the two from the early days of their careers.

CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 20: NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rick Hendrick poses for a portrait prior … [+] to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony at NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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“I cannot imagine a more fitting moment than Jimmie (Johnson) and Chad (Knaus) being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the same class,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “As individuals, they’re truly unique, with different personalities, strengths, and approaches to their craft. Each is a champion and generational talent in their own right. But together, they were pure magic.

“All of us at Hendrick Motorsports were fortunate to see greatness up close as they re-wrote the record book. On behalf of our entire organization, congratulations to two of the fiercest competitors – and best people – our sport has ever seen. We look forward to celebrating their unprecedented achievements.”

Also voted into Hall of Fame membership was Donnie Allison, a member of the famed “Alabama Gang” along with brother Bobby Allison, Neil Bonnett and Red Farmer.

Janet Guthrie was named the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR winner. She was the first female driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 1977, but actually competed in the World 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway one year earlier.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met Wednesday in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2024 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

Ten nominees appeared on the Modern Era ballot, which was selected by the traditional Nominating Committee. The same committee selected the five Landmark Award nominees. The Pioneer ballot, which included five nominees whose careers began in 1964 or earlier, was selected by the Honors Committee. Beginning with the Class of 2021, each Hall of Fame class features two inductees from the Modern Era ballot and one from the Pioneer ballot.

The Class of 2024 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano).

In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Jeff Burton and Ricky Rudd). The accounting firm of EY presided over the tabulation of the votes.

Johnson received 93 percent of the Modern Era ballot votes; Knaus received 81 percent. Harry Gant finished third, followed by Ricky Rudd and Carl Edwards. Donnie Allison received 53 percent of the Pioneer ballot votes. Banjo Matthews finished second.

Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote were: Donnie Allison (Pioneer); Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus (Modern Era).

The two Modern Era inductees came from a group of 10 nominees that included: Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, Larry Phillips, and Ricky Rudd.

Nominees for the Pioneer Ballot included: Donnie Allison, Sam Ard, A.J. Foyt, Banjo Matthews, and Ralph Moody.

Nominees for the Landmark Award included Janet Guthrie, Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, and Les Richter.

The Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony is set for Friday, January 19, 2024, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Johnson’s seven career NASCAR Cup Series championships famously tie him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most in series history; his five consecutive titles are a NASCAR record. Johnson’s on-track accomplishments behind the wheel of a stock car put him on the short list in the “Greatest of All Time” discussion.

He has 83 wins at 20 different race tracks, including multiple wins in every NASCAR crown jewel event: two Daytona 500s (2006, ’13), four Brickyard 400s (2006, ’08-09, ’12), four Coca-Cola KO 600s (2003-05, ’14), two Southern 500’s (2004, ’12) and four All-Star Race wins (2003, ’06, ’12-13). Currently the co-owner of NASCAR team Legacy Motor Club, Johnson was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.

Chad Knaus (left) and Jimmie Johnson (right) at the 2013 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Awards. … [+] (Photo by Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images)

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Knaus led his father to multiple track championships as a teenager and was destined to be a successful crew chief at stock car racing’s highest level. His NASCAR start came at Hendrick Motorsports as an assistant in the body shop, learning under Hall of Famer Ray Evernham as part of the “Rainbow Warriors.” His breakthrough came in 2002 when he was paired with rookie driver Jimmie Johnson on a fourth Hendrick team – the start of one of the most productive partnerships in sports history.

The pair combined for seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, including a NASCAR-record five in a row. They won 81 races over 19 seasons, including the 2013 Daytona 500, two Southern 500s, four Coca-Cola 600s and four Brickyard 400s.

Knaus won his 82nd – and final – race with William Byron in 2020. He trails only Dale Inman and Leonard Wood for all-time wins by a crew chief. Knaus currently serves as Vice President of Competition for Hendrick Motorsports.

Allison was a member of NASCAR’s famed “Alabama Gang” and an ambassador for the sport for more than 50 years, Donnie Allison had never planned to be a race car driver. But like his brother (and NASCAR Hall of Famer) Bobby, Donnie got his start racing modifieds and worked his way to the top level of stock car racing.

Donnie Allison before the start of the 1980 Daytona 500. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

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After winning the 1967 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, Allison partnered with famed mechanic Banjo Matthews where he experienced his most success. In 1970, Allison won three races for Matthews, including the Coca-Cola 600.

But Allison might be best-known for his role in NASCAR’s most famous moment – his 1979 Daytona 500 fight with Cale Yarborough. An intense battle for the win ended with both drivers wrecked, scuffling in the infield. It all happened on the first nationally televised NASCAR race and made headlines across America.

The publicity was instrumental to the growth of NASCAR and remains one of the defining moments in the sport’s history.

Guthrie moved on from a successful career as an aerospace engineer in the early 1960s, trading equations for a wheel to become a full-time racer in 1972.

A true pioneer in motorsports, Guthrie became the first woman to compete in a NASCAR premier series superspeedway race when she drove to a 15th-place finish in the 1976 World 600.

The next year, she piloted cars in the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500, becoming the first female to participate in both events. Guthrie steered her car to a sixth-place finish at Bristol in 1977, one of five career top-10 finishes.

Janet Guthrie waiting to qualifying for the 1980 Daytona 500 (Photo by Robert Alexander/Archive … [+] Photos/Getty Images)

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Overall, the University of Michigan graduate made 33 premier series starts. Guthrie was a member of the first class inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Her helmet and firesuit are on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

This was the first year of eligibility for Johnson, as he hasn’t raced full-time in NASCAR since stepping away from Cup Series competition at the conclusion of the 2020 season.

He joined the NTT IndyCar Series Chip Ganassi Racing team in 2021, driving the No. 48 Honda in street and road course races. He became a full-time IndyCar driver in 2022 and made his only start in the famed Indianapolis 500.

Johnson’s best finishes came on the oval tracks where he finished fifth at Iowa Speedway and sixth at Texas Motor Speedway. Johnson was able to fulfill a childhood dream as he competed in the 106th Indianapolis 500.

In 2021 – 2022, Johnson participated in the IMSA Series where he earned two podium finishes.

In late 2022, Johnson became a team co-owner at Legacy Motor Club along with Maurice “Maury” Gallagher and team ambassador Richard Petty “The King”.

In 2023, he competed in the Daytona 500, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), and the Coca-Cola 600. In June, Johnson traveled overseas to participate in the NASCAR Garage 56 program competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

Johnson’s transition to team co-owner has been a welcomed resource for young Legacy Motor Club drivers Erik Jones and Noah Gragson.

“I think Jimmie’s nomination into the NASCAR Hall of Fame was fairly a no-brainer for everybody,” said Jones, driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. “I am proud to see him go in and proud to have him as part of our group. I am happy for him and his family to see the well-deserved nomination. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to race against him early in my career and now to have him in an ownership position is incredible. Jimmie has revolutionized the sport in so many ways, and I am truly looking forward to seeing his induction.”

When Gragson was just a kid, he was enamored with Johnson and his race car.

“A Jimmie Johnson Darlington win diecast was the first one I ever purchased,” said Gragson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. “Growing up I was a fan of his and now that I get to drive for him, it’s a big deal to me. He deserves this recognition as he is such a leader and mentor both on and off the track for me and our team. He truly is one of the nicest guys out there and is so genuine. I’m so happy for him today.”

Jimmie Johnson celebrates after his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2016. … [+] (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images)

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