Overview
- Hendrick Motorsports agreed in late July 2026 to loan its stylized No. 48 so Jimmie Johnson can make a one-race farewell start in the 2027 Daytona 500, with NASCAR treating the swap as cosmetic so owner and driver points remain unchanged.
- On Aug. 3–4, Lowe's posted a public message on X tagging Ally Racing and Carvana, Johnson replied that he would put them in a group chat, and public replies from Ally and Carvana have signaled active, informal discussions about sponsorship.
- No formal sponsorship deal has been announced and multiple outlets emphasize the Lowe's reunion is speculative at this stage rather than confirmed.
- Alex Bowman will return to Hendrick Motorsports for one more season but will not carry the No. 48 at Daytona, and the temporary number he will use for that race has not been announced.
- Johnson is now a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, which plans to expand to three full-time cars in 2027, and analysts say any Lowe's return would likely be a one-off commercial opportunity with strong merchandising potential.