Dario Franchitti, a four-time IndyCar Series champion, is returning to NASCAR after a 17-year break. His comeback will take place at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, marking the series’ first street-course event.
This significant return is closely linked to Jimmie Johnson NASCAR return, as Franchitti acknowledges Johnson as a key influence behind his decision to get back behind the wheel in stock car racing.
How Jimmie Johnson Inspired Franchitti’s NASCAR Comeback
Franchitti has been announced as the driver of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, representing TRICON Garage in a collaborative effort involving Jimmie Johnson and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, with sponsorship from Dollar Tree. Despite the formal partnership, Franchitti emphasizes that his NASCAR return is fundamentally inspired by his close personal connection with Johnson.
The two first met around 2004 or 2005 during the Daytona 24 Hour race, though their racing careers followed very different paths—Johnson earned seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, while Franchitti collected multiple IndyCar titles. Over the years, they maintained contact via texts and calls, forging a friendship far deeper than mere professional respect.
Franchitti and Johnson’s Evolving Friendship
Franchitti recalled in a press briefing how their friendship blossomed after they began socializing more, and Johnson even tried his hand at IndyCar with Franchitti’s guidance. Serving as an advisor at Chip Ganassi Racing, Franchitti helped Johnson adapt to open-wheel racing, which strengthened their bond.
“We started hanging out a bit more and then he had this crazy idea to come and do IndyCar,”
Franchitti said during the briefing.
Their camaraderie extended beyond the track, with Johnson and his family spending time in Europe with Franchitti, sharing many memorable experiences along the way.
“really got into a lot of trouble and had a lot of fun together.”
Franchitti summed up their relationship simply: “He’s my brother.”
“He is just such a good dude. We have so much fun together.”
Watching Johnson Build a Competitive NASCAR Team
As Johnson prepared to transition from driver to team owner, Franchitti was initially surprised by this bold career move.
“I was like I’m sorry, what?”
Franchitti recalled.
Once Johnson shared his vision for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Franchitti began to understand the depth of Johnson’s ambition, watching him work closely with Cal Wells and the rest of the team to develop a competitive outfit in the demanding NASCAR Cup Series environment.
“I watched them build this organization and you look at the level of teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, it’s bloody tough,”
Franchitti stated.
“But I am just watching this competitive thing that Jimmie has and how he is putting that all into team ownership, so that’s really impressive.”
The Role of Johnson’s Team in Facilitating Franchitti’s Entry
Franchitti’s chance to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series came together through the support of Johnson’s network and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s resources, including their strong relationship with Toyota.
The upcoming race at St. Petersburg, a significant event given its street course format and alignment with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend, will mark a high-profile setting for Franchitti’s NASCAR track return.
“It was really him, it was the whole team that he has there that made it all happen,”
Franchitti explained.
Balancing Brotherhood with Competition on Race Day
Despite their close friendship, Franchitti made it clear that race day accountability remains firm, and he joked about holding Johnson responsible if things do not go smoothly.
If it goes well, great, he said.
“If it doesn’t go well, I am going to be blaming Jimmie.”
Dario Tricon St. Pete: 👍👍
TRICON Garage (TRICON) announced today that four-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti will make his return to NASCAR competition for the first time since 2008, driving for the organization when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) takes…
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) February 3, 2026
