Jimmie Johnson made a notable comeback to hydroplane racing on Friday by piloting the legendary Atlas Van Lines Blue Blaster during the Seafair Festival on Lake Washington in Seattle, thrilling fans and reflecting on his early racing influences. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion nearly reached speeds of 100 mph in the historic hydroplane, reconnecting with a passion from his childhood.
A Childhood Dream Revived on Seattle’s Lake Washington
Johnson’s affinity for the Blue Blaster dates back to his fourth birthday in 1979, when he attended the Unlimited Hydroplane races in San Diego and admired the boat driven by the legendary Bill Muncey, a two-time national champion and three-time Gold Cup winner. Years later, inspired by Johnson’s story, Atlas Van Lines invited him to take the Blue Blaster out for a spin, giving him a rare chance to experience the 2,500-horsepower Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine that powers the iconic hydroplane. This engine boasts four more cylinders than a typical <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR stock car, allowing the boat to reach exceptional speeds on the water.
Johnson shared moments of his hydroplane run on social media, while NASCAR insider Steven Taranto highlighted the excitement of the event, noting that Johnson
“really hustled the thing and ran close to 100 MPH.”
Taranto also mentioned that Johnson was accompanied by another classic hydroplane, the Griffon Budweiser, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere of the Seafair Festival.
“Really cool moment just now for Jimmie Johnson, who just took a couple laps in the famous Atlas Van Lines Blue Blaster hydroplane out in Seattle. Jimmie (Johnson) really hustled the thing and ran close to 100 MPH. And he was flanked by another classic hydroplane, the Griffon Budweiser,” Steven Taranto, NASCAR Insider
Balancing a Racing Legacy and New Ventures with Legacy Motor Club
Though Johnson retired from full-time NASCAR competition in 2020, he remains active in the sport as a part-time driver and co-owner of Legacy Motor Club (LMC), which competes with Toyota support. His teammates John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones race full-time in the #42 and #43 cars respectively, while Johnson drives the part-time #84 Toyota Camry entry. This involvement keeps Johnson connected to the racing world as he explores other motorsport interests like hydroplane racing.
Johnson has shown glimpses of strong performances during his part-time NASCAR return, including a third-place finish at the Daytona 500 earlier this year, a race marked by a last-lap incident that reshuffled the leaders and worked in his favor. However, his most recent outing at the Coca-Cola 600 was challenging, ending with him finishing last after retiring on lap 111.
Jimmie Johnson Reflects on His NASCAR Future with Optimism
When asked about the possibility of his final NASCAR race, Johnson emphasized he has no plans to set an endpoint for his driving career and remains hopeful to continue competing in select events. During a recent discussion shared by NASCAR reporter Jeff Gluck, Johnson expressed his desire to keep racing and mentioned there might be opportunities to increase his participation in the coming year if Legacy Motor Club adds a third charter to their roster.
“Jimmie Johnson, answering a question from (Dustin Long), says he’s put ‘zero thought’ into when his final race will be yet or whether it could be San Diego next year. ‘I want to keep going, I want to be in a car. There’s a chance I run more races next year if we have a third charter on the docket … I’m hopeful I can keep going.’” Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Reporter
As the NASCAR season advances toward the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, Johnson and Legacy Motor Club prepare for the fourth-to-last event before the playoffs, held at a track where Johnson previously earned a top-five finish in IndyCar. Both LMC drivers currently sit well below the cutoff points to qualify for the postseason, adding extra pressure as the season nears its conclusion.
Johnson’s unexpected return to hydroplane racing, coupled with his steady presence in NASCAR, highlights a versatile athlete willing to embrace both his past and present passions. His ongoing commitment to racing, both on water and asphalt, suggests fans can expect to see more of Johnson’s competitive spirit in the near future.
