By: Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
Homestead-Miami Speedway will rename their turn 3 tunnel to honor Jimmie Johnson who won all of his seven titles at the South Florida track.
The tunnel sits on Palm Drive and is the Southernmost tunnel in the [continental] United States. It’s permanent new name will be, “Jimmie Johnson’s Southernmost Tunnel.”
In addition, the tunnel will feature artwork of Johnson and his seven NASCAR Cup Series trophies, as well as his car number, 48.
“It’s such an incredible honor to have this tunnel renamed for me,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be weird not driving in there with that familiar pit in your stomach, as I have so many years in the past as we were in contention for championships. So many incredible memories were made at this track, I will always remember how special this place is to me.”
His seven championships include five in a row that occurred from 2006-2010, and also 2013 and 2016.
“Jimmie Johnson embodies much of what Homestead-Miami [Speedway] has been about for the past 25 years,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Al Garcia. “He has given our fans an awful lot to cheer about in his 19 starts here, and he has been an exemplary champion in every way possible. His legacy at our track is unmatched by any individual at any sports venue, and this will ensure that his accomplishments here will always be remembered.”
To honor @JimmieJohnson's seven @NASCAR Cup Series championships earned here at Homestead-Miami Speedway, we are renaming the Turn 3 tunnel in his honor.
Jimmie Johnson's Southernmost Tunnel will greet competitors and fans entering the infield.
📰: https://t.co/fyMoSGS39K pic.twitter.com/hPWCmRXiMz
— Homestead-Miami Speedway (@HomesteadMiami) June 12, 2020
2020 will be Johnson’s final full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. He currently has two-top five and six top-10 finishes this year and sits 11th in the driver points standings, 151 points behind first place Kevin Harvick.