CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson will open his first 12 months of semi-retirement by racing the Rolex 24 at Daytona as a part of an Motion Specific Racing lineup revealed Friday that needs to be among the many finest within the discipline.

The seven-time NASCAR champion will likely be teamed with Simon Pagenaud, Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Rockenfeller within the marquee IMSA sports activities automotive occasion thought-about the unofficial opener of the racing season. The 24-hour endurance race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway attracts drivers from everywhere in the world in a quest to gather the Rolex watches awarded to the winners.

Motion Specific will discipline a particular, second Cadillac DPi-V.R for the star-studded lineup. It will likely be the No. 48, Johnson’s quantity, and sponsored by Ally, which funded the ultimate two seasons of his NASCAR profession. The entry is being fielded along with Hendrick Motorsports.

“The Rolex 24 at Daytona is likely one of the marquee races on the planet,” mentioned Johnson, who referred to as his Rolex teammates “three world class drivers.”

Johnson will likely be making his eighth Rolex begin, first since 2011.

Pagenaud, an IndyCar champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, ran for Crew Penske at Daytona the final three years. Kobaysahi has gained the Rolex 24 the final two years with Wayne Taylor Racing driving its Cadillac, and Rockenfeller gained the 2010 Rolex in an Motion Specific prototype and later that 12 months gained at Le Mans.

“I believe we have now a giant probability to win,” Kobayashi mentioned. “Jimmie is a NASCAR legend. I’m wanting ahead to racing with him. Simon has lots of expertise within the U.S. and he has endurance expertise together with all of his IndyCar success. Mike has lots of time in quick technical automobiles.”

The No. 48 entry will take a look at the Daytona highway course subsequent week and preparations for the Jan.29-31 Rolex start per week earlier than the race.

Johnson has retired from full-time NASCAR competitors however is quickly filling his 2021 schedule. He’ll be an IndyCar rookie for Chip Ganassi Racing on the road and highway programs and has mentioned he’d wish to race sports activities automobiles. He has by no means gained the Rolex 24 however was a part of the runner-up crew in each 2005 and 2008.

He is anticipated to be joined on the Rolex by reigning NASCAR champion Chase Elliott, who has additionally mentioned he’s coming into the endurance race. Elliott is anticipated to be within the main automotive for Motion Specific, the crew owned by Jim France, chief of the household that owns each NASCAR and IMSA.

It was Rick Hendrick who initially, and unintentionally, revealed after the NASCAR season finale final month that Johnson and Elliott deliberate to enter the Rolex. Within the Motion Specific lineup reveal, the crew mentioned the No. 48 entry was “in live performance with 13-time NASCAR Cup Collection Champions Hendrick Motorsports.”

Chad Knaus, the seven-time championship-winning crew chief for Johnson, has moved right into a administration function at Hendrick and had taken a brand new curiosity within the sports activities automotive collection. He was within the IMSA storage at Charlotte Motor Speedway and attended the endurance race at Sebring final month.

“We have been speaking to Jimmie about working with us for a lot of months,” mentioned Gary Nelson, Motion Specific Racing crew supervisor. “All of it got here collectively in November with the assist of Hendrick Motorsports and their large associate, Ally.”