A defining part of Jimmie Johnson's Cup Series schemes was the neon No. 48 on the roof of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. He is bringing the neon back for a milestone start.
When Johnson takes the green flag for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, it will mark his 700th start at NASCAR's top level. He will become the 21st driver to reach this NASCAR milestone, and he will do so one week before fellow veteran Denny Hamlin joins the club.
Carvana, Johnson's primary sponsor for the Coca-Cola 600, is celebrating this start with special details in the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota scheme. The number "700" will be on the stock car's door area, between the 8 and the 4 in his door number. These numbers will tie into the stripes running down the side of the car, which reference the American flag.
The wait is OVER. 🏁🔥
We can’t wait to see this thing under the lights in Charlotte. ✨
Shoutout to .@KevinFrazier for riding shotgun on this one, literally. 👀#Carvana #CocaCola600 #NASCAR #PaintSchemeReveal pic.twitter.com/Ghx3JMbj6m— Carvana Racing (@CarvanaRacing) May 14, 2025
As Johnson explained in the reveal video, the neon numbers on the roof of the No. 84 are also a nod to the memorable design he used while winning seven Cup Series championships. This neon also extends to the door numbers, where it serves as the shadow for the 84.
"This special throwback design celebrates Jimmie's legendary NASCAR career," said Ryan Keeton, Carvana Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer, in a press release. "Reaching 700 starts is a remarkable milestone, and we're proud to celebrate it alongside him. We're excited to share this meaningful tribute with fans and honor Jimmie's lasting legacy in the sport."
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a fitting location for Johnson's 700th Cup Series start. After all, it is NASCAR's home track, and it sits essentially across the road from Hendrick Motorsports.
The 1.5-mile Concord track also served as the location for 39 of Johnson's career starts. This year's Coca-Cola 600 will be start number 40 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. How did Johnson perform at this track? He won eight races, including four straight in 2004-05. Four of these wins were the crown jewel Coca-Cola 600.
NASCAR fans in the Charlotte area became quite accustomed to seeing Johnson's neon roof number sitting in victory lane.