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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – JUNE 22: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, is greeted by Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, after NASCAR drivers pushed Wallace to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on June 22, 2020 in Talladega, Alabama. A noose was found in the garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway a week after the organization banned the Confederate flag at its facilities. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – JUNE 22: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, is greeted by Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, after NASCAR drivers pushed Wallace to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on June 22, 2020 in Talladega, Alabama. A noose was found in the garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway a week after the organization banned the Confederate flag at its facilities. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Jimmie Johnson is close to making his final appearance in what has been an extremely iconic NASCAR career. The weeks leading up to his farewell have not just been about tributes; they have witnessed words of praise from fellow drivers, and some of them shared interesting stories about their time with Johnson.
In light of that, NASCAR star Bubba Wallace shared his best memory with the 7-time champion. He looked back on a pre-race incident from the 2019 season and Wallace said the memory is still fresh in both their minds.
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“We always laugh about it,” Wallace said, reminiscing the moment.
The two drivers were sitting in the back of a truck during the pre-race driver introductions and were waving to the crowd. “I’ll never forget this,” Wallace said further as he narrated the incident.
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Sep 27, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) races for position along side driver Bubba Wallace (43) during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Bubba Wallace narrates the unforgettable incident with Jimmie Johnson
Johnson’s daughters were sitting beside him and witnessed the spectacle as Johnson also introduced them to Wallace. “And so leaving, I was like, ‘Alright, brother, have a good race tonight.’ He’s like, ‘Thanks, man. You too’,” Wallace continued.
Suddenly, after that exchange, Johnson’s younger daughter, Lydia, who was 5 or 6 back then, gave a stunned look to Wallace. She was not sure why Wallace called Johnson ‘brother’.
“Lydia looked at me in the most disgusted, shocked look, and look back at Jimmie. [Lydia] was like, ‘Why did he just call you brother?’” Wallace recalled.
Wallace could not control his laughter after that and then had some fun of his own. “Oh, I lost it. I lost it. I was just like, Surprise, we’re family!” Wallace said further.
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BROOKLYN, MI – JUNE 11: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, gestures while on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2010 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The laughter continued
The soon-to-be 23XI Racing driver of the No. 23 car, Wallace said he even messaged Johnson after the race that night, and Johnson could not stop laughing.
“So that’s my best Jimmie Johnson story. And I texted him after the race that night, and he said him and [his wife, Chandra], were on their knees laughing so hard about the story,” Wallace expressed.
Wallace, who is still a rising star in NASCAR, would be glad to have one such memorable experience with the NASCAR legend, that he can look back on.
Recently, after Wallace announced his association with Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, Johnson sent a congratulatory message to the trio. It’s not every day that a 7-time champion rests their fate on your team and when they do, you know you’re doing something right.
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