Each weekend that passes is another crucial date on the calendar in the race toward the end of NASCAR’s charter agreement with its teams. As the fiasco surrounding revenues and permanent charters continues to prevent stakeholders from signing deals with the promotion, Jimmie Johnson, seven-time Cup Series champion and co-owner of the Legacy Motor Club, provided some much-needed insight into the issue.
Johnson was answering questions from the press in Texas when the topic of charter negotiations came up. He said the holdup was partly about “money” and was leaving team owners far more experienced than him talking. Quoting Rick Hendrick, he said: “It’s not about money until it’s about money.” and continued to reveal his takeaways from the table.
He noted that the financial aspects surrounding television deals were still up in the air and that teams were also looking to secure their future in the game by making their charters permanent. While recent updates mention that the promotion is only interested in offering a 7-year extension to the charter contract, Johnson reiterates that teams continue to push for more.
“It was interesting to watch,” Johnson spoke about his participation in the deal. “This is really my first time in this world as a team owner. I did a lot more listening than talking and let the pros really do their job. But what ultimately impressed me the most was how the team’s ownership group stuck together.
Jimmie Johnson on the different perspectives between drivers and team owners
Speaking about drivers’ contributions to the charter negotiations, Johnson said there was still a long way to go for all stakeholders. He stressed that although the agreement appears to have been left aside and concluded late, the negotiations are still far from over. “I know it feels like time is running out, but if you look at how much time is left, we’re probably entering the eighth, maybe the ninth, of what really needs to happen in the negotiations for all sides , ” he said.
The former HMS driver is in only his second season as co-owner of Legacy Motor Club. A busy man from day one, he implemented a significant change in team operations and is currently adjusting mechanics to accommodate the manufacturer change from Chevrolet to Toyota. In addition to his office duties, Johnson will also drive the No. 84 car on select dates, including Sunday in Texas.
