When a seven-time NASCAR champion returns to the hallowed Goodwood Circuit after a dramatic victory the previous year, motorsport enthusiasts take notice. Jimmie Johnson, who thrilled crowds in 2024 by sliding a duct-taped 1960 Aston Martin DB4GT to victory in the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, headlines an extraordinary roster of driving talent for the 2025 Goodwood Revival this September. Johnson’s successful adaptation from America’s thundering ovals to the refined world of historic racing exemplifies why the Revival has become the premier destination for racing legends past and present.

The 2025 Revival entry list, described by organizers as “one of the most impressive line-ups of racing drivers and riders in the event’s history,” reads like a hall of fame ballot from multiple motorsport disciplines. Johnson’s return underscores how completely he’s embraced this new chapter in his storied career, having declared after last year’s triumph: “It is not a high-speed parade. It is a legitimate race, and it is something that I hope to never miss again. I’m already making my plans for 2025.”

From NASCAR to nostalgia: Johnson’s Goodwood Encore

Johnson’s love affair with Goodwood continues in 2025 as he prepares for another multi-event weekend. After last year’s whirlwind tour of racing history, where he competed in a Ford Galaxie, an Aston Martin DB4GT, and an AC Cobra Le Mans Coupe, Johnson returns with unfinished business. While his 2024 victory alongside four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti in the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy was the highlight, his third-place finish in the St. Mary’s Trophy and 12th place in the RAC TT Celebration suggest there’s room for improvement.

This September, Johnson will again tackle the technically demanding 2.4-mile Goodwood Circuit, where his NASCAR-honed skills of car control and adaptability will be put to the test against some of motorsport’s greatest talents. The unique challenges of Goodwood—its high-speed corners, minimal runoff, and often unpredictable British weather. All of this creates a proving ground where driving talent transcends the machinery.

The 2025 lineup reflects Goodwood’s growing prestige among professional drivers. Johnson will be joined by 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, who will campaign his newly acquired CUT 8 Jaguar E-type in the RAC TT Celebration. Current IndyCar championship contender Scott Dixon, a six-time series champion, will make his Goodwood debut, bringing another level of star power to the weekend’s festivities.

“This is quite the list of motorsport legends, and a great indication of the kind of action we can expect to see when the racing gets underway this September,” noted Goodwood’s announcement, hinting at the wheel-to-wheel battles to come between these legends of modern motorsport in machinery from a bygone era.

The American contingent will be particularly strong this year, with Johnson joined by Franchitti and Dixon. However, they’ll face formidable competition from an international field that includes nine Le Mans winners with a combined 33 victories at the French classic. Tom Kristensen (9 wins) heads this elite group, joined by Derek Bell (5), Emanuele Pirro (5), Dindo Capello (3), Marcel Fassler (3), Romain Dumas (3), Andre Lotterer (3), David Brabham (1), and Neel Jani (1).

Formula 1 will be well represented beyond Button, with Karun Chandhok, Festival of Speed Time Shoot-Out record holder Max Chilton, Formula E star Jean-Eric Vergne, and Érik Comas also confirmed. Even legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey will return to the Revival, having shared a hospital room with Franchitti after separate incidents at the 2006 event—a reminder of the genuine risks these drivers accept when piloting priceless machinery to the limit.

What separates Goodwood from other historic events is the authentic competition. As Franchitti explained after last year’s race in the DB4GT: “The cars are pushed to the limit. From the very first lap, I was so comfortable just sliding it around.” This commitment to genuine racing rather than ceremonial parade laps is what draws competitors like Johnson back year after year. But it seems like the veteran NASCAR star has more ambitious plans for his 2025 schedule.

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Tom Brady and Jimmie Johnson: A historic Indy 500 team-up

Two sports legends, Tom Brady and Jimmie Johnson, will join forces for an unforgettable moment at the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025. Brady, the NFL’s greatest quarterback with seven Super Bowl titles, will ride in the “Fastest Seat in Sports,” a custom IndyCar driven by Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. This thrilling pre-race lap, dubbed “The G.O.A.T. Ride,” will see the two icons lead the 33-car field, creating a historic spectacle for fans.

Brady, who is currently a FOX NFL analyst, adds his amazing resume to the event, five of which are Super Bowl MVPs and three of which are NFL MVPs. Johnson, a 2022 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, has experience navigating his way around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he ran there in the IndyCar Series. They both have had seven of those championships, and one time being called Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, making this duo a perfect fit for the legendary Indy 500.

Meanwhile, on the NASCAR side of things, Johnson’s team, Legacy Motor Club, has turned a corner for good. Both Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek have started churning out top 10 finishes. But if they are competing for the playoff spots, they will need more than just top 10 runs.