Daytona Beach, Fla.—“New leader … 84.”
Jimmie Johnson sent a jolt through the track when he shot to the top of the leaderboard in practice for the Daytona 500. Ol’ seven-time has returned to NASCAR after a humbling two years in IndyCar as part owner and sometimes driver at what’s called Legacy Motor Club.
Legacy is the Johnson-led rebrand of what began as Petty Enterprises in 1949—a year after NASCAR began. The Daytona 500 on Sunday starts NASCAR’s celebratory 75th season and all eyes are on Johnson, who just over three months ago did an about-face, returned to NASCAR and energized Richard Petty’s limp race team….