Jimmie Johnson Sets The Record Straight on Google’s “Rain-Shortened” Bristol Win Claim

By the time the 2010 NASCAR season came around, Jimmie Johnson had already cemented himself as the driver to beat. The seven-time Cup champ was rewriting the record books, but one track had stubbornly resisted his dominance: Bristol Motor Speedway. Known for its tight turns, short laps, and punishing concrete surface, the ‘Last Great Colosseum’ had always been a tough one to conquer for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. But the 2010 Food City 500 changed it all.

Jimmie Johnson’s 2010 Bristol triumph was another testament to his ability to seal the deal when it mattered, but there are some clouds hanging over that victory. For years, online chatter and some search results circulated that the race was rain-affected, leaving some to question how it truly played out. However, Johnson wasn’t one to accept such claims. In his recent recollection, he explained how he never forgets his wins and how he gets them.

Jimmie Johnson knows better than Google

In his chat with Marty Smith, Johnson was caught off guard by a surprising claim. Smith told him that Google listed the 2010 Bristol race as ‘rain-shortened’. However, Johnson was quick to set the record straight, saying, “Nope! Passed Tony Stewart, we had four tires on. I think I started 2nd or 3rd row. Couple of guys stayed out or maybe went for two tires, however that worked out. Then got around the outside of Tony, this is before we were running the top like we are now. It was the earlier version of the concrete, where the bottom was the only way. Before they ground it and forced us to run up top.”

Johnson made it clear that the win purely came on merit, and he won’t give rain or anything else credit where it isn’t due. As for the rain, yes, it didn’t bring multiple cautions that day for the garage. The final one that came specifically out of the rain was the ninth caution when the race was closing in on 400 laps.

Jimmie Johnson took the lead on Lap 6, battling Kurt Busch and temporarily losing the top spot before reclaiming it on Lap 53 from Brad Keselowski. He stayed strong through the cautions and pit cycles, consistently running inside the top three against Busch, Biffle, and Montoya. By the closing stages, the battle came down to him and Stewart.

And Johnson’s detailed description of that race also shows how well he remembers his iconic wins. His memory isn’t wrong, as he did pass Tony Stewart on lap 493, and continued his lead to finally clinch his first career win at Bristol. This reason it was iconic was because it also marked his 50th career win, and was his third one in 2010.

Legacy Motor Club has been eyeing a third charter for a while

Legacy Motor Club’s leadership, with Jimmie Johnson at the helm, has made it very clear that securing a third charter is more than just wishful thinking for them. They want that reality. As Johnson recently said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio: “We have full intentions to expand to a third car. Obviously, we’re in litigation and working through all of that.”

Part of that effort involves a legal fight with Rick Ware Racing over a charter purchase that was agreed to in early 2025. Legacy claims they struck a deal and paid for one of RWR’s charters effective 2026, but RWR disputes the timeline, arguing the deal should take effect in 2027.

Johnson is clear on their timeline: they want a third car by 2026, or 2027 at the latest. “If we could have four, I would aspire to have four charters,” he said, before noting that new rules limit a new team to three charters.