The announcement came Sunday during TNT Sports’ pre-race coverage of the Brickyard 400, confirming that Hendrick Motorsports and longtime partner Ally Financial will loan the stylized No. 48 to Johnson and his Legacy Motor Club team for the one-race tribute. NASCAR has approved the arrangement, ensuring it does not impact points standings for either organization.

“This is far more than a number,” Johnson said. “The 48 represents people, relationships, memories and a chapter of my life that shaped who I am. To have the opportunity to make one final Cup Series start carrying that number is something I never imagined. I’m incredibly grateful to Rick, Hendrick Motorsports, Ally and everyone who made this possible. It’s a gesture I’ll carry with me forever.”

The gesture reunites the Hall of Famer with the number that defined his dominance. Driving the Hendrick No. 48 full-time from 2002 through 2020, Johnson captured a record-tying seven championships—matching Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt—while becoming the only driver in history to win five consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010. He amassed 83 points-paying Cup victories in the car, placing him sixth on the all-time wins list (tied with Cale Yarborough), including two Daytona 500 triumphs (2006, 2013) and a record-tying four Brickyard 400 victories.

Those 83 wins came alongside 222 top-five finishes and 341 top-10s across his primary Hendrick tenure, cementing the No. 48 as one of the most successful programs in modern NASCAR. Johnson’s partnership with team owner Rick Hendrick remains among the sport’s most iconic, producing consistent excellence that redefined championship expectations.

“The No. 48 is part of Hendrick Motorsports’ history, and it’s forever connected to Jimmie,” Hendrick said. “When Jimmie asked about using the number for his final race, it just felt right. Ally immediately understood why it mattered, too. Seeing Jimmie back in the No. 48 at Daytona one last time will be quite a moment.”

Ally, which served as primary sponsor for Johnson’s final two full-time seasons in 2019 and 2020, fully endorsed the loan. “The 48 has always stood for something bigger than racing: a relationship built on trust, shared wins, and a fanbase that gives everything they have,” said Andrea Brimmer, Ally’s chief marketing and PR officer. “Jimmie is part of the Ally family, and the chance to see him at Daytona one last time with that number is something our fans deserve as much as he does.”

Hendrick Motorsports will reveal the number for its Ally-sponsored entry in the 2027 Daytona 500 at a later date. For Johnson—now a team owner with Legacy Motor Club, broadcaster, and entrepreneur whose personal motto is “Never Stop Starting”—the return to the 48 closes the loop on a career that began with that very number and elevated him into the pantheon of NASCAR immortals.

One more race. One more start. One final ride in the car that made him a legend.

There’s been no let-up so far for the reigning series champion, who enters an off weekend for the Truck Series as its points leader with finishes of first and second to start the year. Smith won’t be idle this weekend; the 23-year-old California native is entered in Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Phoenix Raceway, where he will mark his second Cup Series start of the season and just the third of his career.

His kick-off to his Truck Series title defense has started in almost the best possible fashion. Smith prevailed in the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, then drove his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford to a runner-up result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway behind a dominant Kyle Busch, the series’ all-time wins leader, adding a stage win along the way.

“No doubt it’s a long year, but I mean, there’s 21 races left,” Smith said after last weekend’s event at Vegas. “These will go by quick, and the playoffs will be here before you know it. So you try to capitalize on these stage wins and good race finishes, and I felt like that’s what we did tonight. That was our goal last year, and it worked out pretty well for us.”

The Craftsman Truck Series returns to action Saturday, March 18, at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the FR8 Auctions 208 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Smith holds a slim two-point edge over ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski, who joined him in the Championship 4 field for last year’s truck title race.

Smith will get to sit on that advantage for an extra weekend before the Truck Series resumes its 2023 schedule. But there’s been little resting on laurels so far, and Chris Lawson – his crew chief for the No. 38 F-150 team – says his driver’s intensity still burns.

“This is the next step in expanding NASCAR’s presence in the metaverse and engaging with the community in unique and creative ways,” said Nick Rend, NASCAR managing director of gaming & esports. “At NASCAR we want to encourage the emerging generation of digital natives to manifest their passion for NASCAR racing their own way. NASCAR Speed Hub on Roblox is an exciting new space that lets players create and evolve their NASCAR story on their terms.”

And yet the second-year Trackhouse Racing driver continues to battle his own confidence levels, just months after reaching the Championship 4 and finishing runner-up in a breakthrough season for the fledging program.

Don’t be too confused: Chastain has no doubt about the capabilities of his equipment. He’s already netted three stage victories — one in the Daytona 500 ahead of a stage sweep at Auto Club Speedway — in addition to 12 stage points at Las Vegas Motor Speedway a week ago.