Earlier this year, the Petty GMS Racing team announced that Noah Gragson would race for them full-time. Later, down the line, the organization dropped a massive bombshell that rocked the community. They announced that Jimmie Johnson is linking up with the team as a part-owner and part-time driver. In fact, he is targeting a run in the 2023 Daytona 500, and Gragson is excited to work with the 7-time champion.

It is worth mentioning that Gragson has established a rapport with Johnson. In fact, he considers the NASCAR legend as a “big brother figure” and often leaned on him for advice. This largely pertained to situations that could arise on the racetrack, and how to deal with them.

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What did Noah Gragson say about Jimmie Johnson?

He said, “[I] felt like a little brother just wearing out the big brother. Not comparing that he is like a big brother figure to me right now, but in the sense of like, I was trying to gain as much knowledge as I could from him. So he was always open to helping me out and really, really grateful for that. Jimmie, obviously, [brings] a lot of value into the team and different aspects. And personally, I think that it’s really special for everybody involved. Everyone’s really excited. And [I’m] excited to be able to be teammates with Erik Jones full time. He’s a great driver as well.”

With this, the Petty GMS Racing team will enter the 2023 Cup season with a formidable line-up. Gragson is the up-and-coming star, graduating from the Xfinity Series and Erik Jones is a 3-time race winner. Finally, what more is there to say about Jimmie Johnson? His seven NASCAR Cup Series titles speak volumes of his prowess as a racing driver. Additionally, Johnson will be a crucial figure in helping the team build the car and find what makes it tick, especially with his experience.

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There is a perfect blend of youth and experience at GMS Racing leading up to the new season and the expectation will be high from fans.