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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JULY 29: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, looks on during practice for NTT IndyCar Series Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JULY 29: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, looks on during practice for NTT IndyCar Series Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Ever since his NASCAR Cup Series debut, Jimmie Johnson was always in the Hendrick Motorsports stable. During that time, he raced with the #48 number. In Johnson’s career, that number became synonymous with him. However, when he retired, Alex Bowman inherited the number and has been racing with it ever since. With Johnson back though, will he be reunited with the #48/ Let’s just say that Bowman is giving the number up without a fight.
He said, “I don’t see any number change coming. I will drive whatever Mr H tells me to drive, I think you guys know that. At the same time, I’m 100% sure that that it’s going to be the #48 car this year. There’s way too much stuff that they would have to change already, that has not been changed. So it’s not happening. It is his number, right? He was so successful with it, but at the same time there’s so much that goes on at this time of the year.”
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Bowman also acknowledged that there are a fair number of issues with getting a number change. First of all, there are a lot of logistical problems, especially with sponsors. That was the biggest reason behind the reluctance to give the number back.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, walks the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The Hendrick Motorsports driver continued, “I don’t think a lot of casual NASCAR fans realize how much we’re doing, this time of year. How many production days we’ve already had, fire suits are already being made. All this stuff has already been happening. We’re filming commercials with #48 on the side of the car. It they were going to change it, they probably would have had to change it six months ago. Obviously he had so much success with that number, so I understand for sure.”
On the other end of the spectrum, the current #48 driver knew how much Johnson has been associated with the number. So it is fairly odd to see him racing with another number. Obviously, Johnson will not be the only one facing this issue, as Kyle Busch will be another driver with an unfamiliar number.
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