• by Tanya Gazdik , October 29, 2020

Online automotive retailer Caravan has signed on as a sponsor for frequent NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, who will soon race with Indycar’s Chip Ganassi Racing.

Johnson co-holds the NASCAR Cup Series record with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for most premier series championships and is the only driver to win five consecutive titles (2006-2010). Johnson saw his next challenge in IndyCar, and recently announced his plans to race with Chip Ganassi Racing. 

Johnson has already made his mark as one of the best NASCAR drivers in history, yet he’s continuing to push himself with a new challenge, said Carvana Chief Brand Officer Ryan Keeton. 

“He’s not resting, but raising the bar, and that’s a mindset we can very much relate to,” Keeton says in a release. 

Johnson’s new paint scheme will be unveiled prior to the start of the 2021 IndyCar Series season where he is scheduled to compete in the full road and street course calendar.

According to a release from Chip Ganassi Racing, Carvana will be the “primary partner” for Johnson. 

The driver calls Carvana a “young, tech-forward, smart and aggressive company.” He took to Twitter to publicize the relationship, including a photo of him outside of Carvana headquarters. Carvana has also posted about the new relationship on its social media.

The relationship stands out because Johnson has spent the last 19 seasons driving for Rick Hendrick, one of the largest car dealers in the country. Johnson sought Hendrick’s blessing before signing the deal, according to The Associated Press.

“I’ve had him in the loop from the beginning,” Johnson told The Associated Press ahead of the announcement at the IndyCar season finale in St. Petersburg. “In typical Rick fashion he was great with it and he knows how hard it is to raise sponsorship money.”