Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, will compete in the forthcoming worldwide Race of Champions, which he won with Jeff Gordon in 2002.
Johnson will compete for the “Champion of Champions” title in the individual ROC competition, which will be held February 4-6 in Pite Havsbad, Sweden. He’ll also compete for Team USA in the ROC Nations Cup alongside Travis Pastrana, the current American Rally Association Champion.
On the frozen Baltic Sea, 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the ROC “Snow + Ice” World Final will be place.
“The short days, the brutal cold and the changing conditions will make Sweden really well suited for all-round talents like Jimmie,” ROC president Fredrik Johnsson said. “He does not have much experience with four-wheel drive, but he is very skilled off-road and at high speeds, so I’m sure he’ll adjust very quickly just like he did in 2002.”
Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas, nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, reigning FIA World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson, and nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb are among the drivers already confirmed to compete. Former Formula One champion Mika Hakkinen and three-time ROC world final winner Mattias Ekström have also been confirmed.
In 2002, Johnson won the ROC Nations Cup title for Team USA in Gran Canaria, Spain, with Gordon and MotoGP great Colin Edwards. It was Team USA’s final victory in the worldwide championship, which pits the best racers from around the world in a winner-take-all battle.
Johnson and Gordon became the first NASCAR drivers to win the ROC Nations Cup, which was considered an upset victory. They defeated incumbent champion Team Spain, and the victory allowed more Americans to compete in the ROC Nations Cup.
“Gran Canaria was dirt and I don’t think the other guys knew how much dirt racing Jeff and I had in our backgrounds,” Johnson said. “I don’t think many expected me to run well or even knew who I was, for that matter.
“To win the ROC Nations Cup was something really unique. The only event where I represented my country. I’ve been able to accomplish a lot in my career, but that’s the only experience I’ve had like that.”
Before retiring at the end of the 2020 season, Johnson has won 83 Cup races and a record-tying seven championships in NASCAR. Johnson, now 46, finished his first season in the IndyCar Series this year.
Kurt and Kyle Busch, as well as IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden, have competed in the ROC Nations Cup since Team USA’s victory in 2002.
The “Champion of Champions” is determined by pitting racers from several motorsport disciplines in head-to-head heats until only one driver remains. The ROC Nations Cup and the title of “World’s Fastest Nation” go to the last of the two-driver teams.
From 2007 through 2012, Germany’s Nations Cup was dominated by Formula One superstars Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. The duo is the most successful team in the history of the ROC Nations Cup.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to ROC and competing with Travis,” Johnson said. “He’s a tremendous talent and we have such fun competing together. Hopefully we can go have some fun and success on the snow and ice.”
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