"Dale Jr. made a lot of threats": When Jimmie Johnson recalled Earnhardt "freaking out" to wear proper cycling gear
In 2017, Jimmie Johnson sat with Larry McReynolds of Fox Sports to discuss NASCAR, his future in the sport, aim for an eighth Cup Series title and fellow drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. Johnson recalled how Earnhardt 'freaked out' once after hearing about proper cycling gear.
Johnson and Earnhardt raced together for one and a half decades in the Cup Series, where they fought for wins and race leads. Besides being fierce competitors on the track, they got along well off the track. As a result, they shared a significant amount of time.
Jimmie Johnson, being a fitness freak, pulled Dale Earnhardt Jr. into it, and they began with cycling. While the seven-time Cup Series champion was a habitual man, it was the opposite for Earnhardt. So much so that upon hearing about the proper cycling gear, Earnhardt 'freaked' out.
"He's been so freaked out over the tight-fitting cycling gear, and he (Dale Jr.) made a lot of threats and said he was going to be in like a jumpsuit for basketball to ride the bike, and he emerged in proper cycling apparel," Jimmie Johnson told McReynolds.
"He made us meet him outside the tunnel. So he put a spike in the car and drove it out. He didn't want to have an issue going through the tunnel and everybody see it. But he had a great first ride in. He's been hot and heavy and getting fit," he added. (2:11-2:44)
Jimmie Johnson retired from the full-time Cup Series racing in 2020, raking up 692 races in over 22 years. In the aforementioned races, he claimed 83 wins, 36 pole positions and 374 Top 10s. He currently races under a part-time obligation in the Cup Series for Legacy Motor Club, a team he co-owns.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., meanwhile, retired from the full-time Cup Series racing in 2015. He took part in 631 races in over 19 years and registered 26 wins, 15 pole positions and 260 Top 10s.
Jimmie Johnson lauded Joey Logano following Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix
Jimmie Johnson hailed 2024 Cup Series winner Joey Logano after the Team Penske driver claimed his second Cup Series title in three years. Logano led a total of 107 laps in the Championship race at the Phoenix Raceway and clinched the win ahead of his teammate, Ryan Blaney.
“We see it year in and year out,” Johnson said about Logano. “His abilities, his drive, his focus. And a lot of it has to do with timing, timing of your manufacturer, timing of your team, a track that is strong for you, and we certainly know this track has been strong for Penske and Ford for the last couple of years, and man the championships are so much about timing to have that come together.”
Logano had a magical comeback to win his third Cup Series title. The Penske man was almost out of the playoffs until Alex Bowman's disqualification reinstated him in the round of eight.
In the very next race in Las Vegas, Logano cemented his position in the Championship 4, only to win the race last Sunday.