Jimmie Johnson To Compete In Nationwide Series Race at Phoenix

Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will compete in the March 2 Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway for JR Motorsports, general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced today.

Johnson will drive the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 (4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2). This will mark Johnson’s first Nationwide Series race since finishing second in a JR Motorsports car at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 13, 2011. Johnson is a four-time winner at Phoenix in the Sprint Cup Series, where he drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.

“I appreciate Junior letting me run one of his cars," said Johnson of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate and JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “My goal is to make my team owner so proud that, perhaps, he’ll invite me back more often than once every two years.

“In all seriousness, this is a great opportunity for me to get more familiar with the new configuration at PIR. Not only do we race there twice in Cup, but both races are in crucial spots on the schedule for Team Lowe’s Racing. I appreciate JR Motorsports and Great Clips giving me this opportunity, and I hope to not disappoint my team owner."

Johnson has competed in 92 Nationwide Series races, 64 of which came during his full-time campaigns in 2000 and 2001. He has one victory (Chicagoland Speedway on July 14, 2001), 24 top-10s and two pole awards.