The No. 48 will return to the NASCAR Cup Series for one final race, and it will once again have Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel. Rick Hendrick announced during TNT Sports’ pre-race coverage before the Brickyard 400 that NASCAR had approved Johnson’s request to drive the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet in the 2027 Daytona 500. The decision brings one of the sport’s most recognizable numbers back to the season-opening race and gives Johnson one final chance to close out his Cup career in the car that defined it.
Johnson last drove the No. 48 as a full-time competitor in 2020 before moving into sports car racing and eventually becoming co-owner of Legacy Motor Club. While he has continued making select Cup Series starts, this will be the final time fans see him behind the wheel of the number that carried him through nearly two decades at Hendrick Motorsports.
The No. 48 produced one of the most successful runs in NASCAR history. Johnson collected 83 Cup Series victories, seven championships, 36 pole awards, 232 top-five finishes and 374 top-10 finishes during his career with Hendrick Motorsports. From 2006 through 2010, he won five consecutive championships, a record that still stands in the Cup Series. However, one question surfaced almost immediately after Hendrick’s announcement.
Would Lowe’s return for Johnson’s farewell race? For years, the blue-and-yellow No. 48 became one of the most recognizable cars in NASCAR. Lowe’s sponsored Johnson from his rookie season through 2018, appearing on the car for every one of his seven championships and all but two of his Cup victories. It remains one of the longest-running driver-and-sponsor partnerships of the modern era.
Yet, Johnson believes bringing Lowe’s back for one final race will be difficult. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Johnson explained that while both he and Hendrick Motorsports have explored the possibility, existing sponsorship agreements make it unlikely. Carvana is already committed to sponsoring Johnson’s final Cup Series start, leaving little room for another primary partner.
Even so, the return of the No. 48 remained too meaningful not to pursue. Johnson revealed the idea started with a phone call to Hendrick. He understood there would be several hurdles, but he wanted to finish his Cup career driving the same number that helped build his legacy. Making that happen required more than Hendrick’s approval.
Alex Bowman currently drives the No. 48 full-time for Hendrick Motorsports, while Ally remains the team’s primary sponsor. NASCAR also needed to sign off on the plan before it could become official. Once those conversations were completed, the one-race agreement finally came together.Johnson later credited Hendrick for making the entire process possible, pointing to the relationships he has built throughout NASCAR with sponsors, manufacturers and series officials.
Daytona also adds another layer to the story. Johnson won the Daytona 500 twice, first in 2006 and again in 2013. He also earned four victories in the summer race at Daytona International Speedway, giving him six Cup wins at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Across more than 40 Cup starts at Daytona, the track became one of the signature stops of his career, making it a fitting place for his final appearance.
The 2027 Daytona 500 will look different from the races Johnson dominated during his championship years. The cars have changed, many of his longtime competitors have retired, and a new generation now fills the Cup Series garage. However, one familiar sight will return when the field takes the green flag.
Jimmie Johnson will climb back into the No. 48 Chevrolet one final time, giving NASCAR fans another chance to watch the driver and number that combined for one of the greatest championship runs the sport has ever seen. Whether he contends for the victory or not, the moment will mark the end of one of the most successful careers in Cup Series history.
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