The isn’t any stranger to massive stars on race day. How massive?
Do this on 7-foot-1, 300-plus kilos.
That’s proper, Shaq is and he hopes to have a trip for the Nice American Race. No, not in a automotive, however on one.
In a means.
A current free-throw contest between Shaquille O’Neal and seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champ Jimmie Johnson didn’t go Jimmie’s means. Per an agreed-upon wager, by way of every man’s relationship with Carvana, Johnson’s fundamental NASCAR sponsor, Shaq received to design the No. 84 Toyota Johnson hopes to place within the beginning discipline for subsequent Sunday’s Daytona 500.
And that’s why the No. 84 will characteristic Shaq’s “Dunkman” emblem on the hood, in addition to a colour scheme and pinstripes apparently borrowing from Shaq’s early-career tenure with the close by Orlando Magic.
“Jimmie and I had a ton of enjoyable placing this collectively,” O’Neal mentioned by way of press launch. “The automotive appears to be like wonderful, and I can’t wait to see him tear up the monitor subsequent Sunday. Fortunate for him, he’s received a greater shot at victory lane than on the free-throw line!”
Shaq rides post-career free-throw prowess to Daytona 500
The free-throw contest occurred following some on-line back-and-forth between the 2. With Shaq’s famend struggles from the stripe throughout his profession — simply 52% general — it was certainly the one fathomable basketball-related contest between the 2.
First one to 5 profitable free throws would win, and Shaq received there, barely, successful 5-4.
“I figured our little feud would keep on-line, however subsequent factor I do know, Shaq’s difficult me to a free-throw contest and calling the pictures on my paint scheme,” Johnson mentioned.
Johnson had just a little extra say within the matter than most drivers would, since he’s part-owner of Legacy Motor Membership, which fields full-time Cup Sequence vehicles for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones, in addition to Johnson’s part-time trip.
First issues first for Jimmie Johnson’s Daytona 500 plans
For Johnson’s Shaq-themed automotive, there’s a tall order of enterprise coming Wednesday and Thursday. WIth the No. 84 automotive’s part-time standing, there’s no assured beginning spot for the five hundred — 9 drivers come to Daytona in that very same boat. Johnson has to make the sphere both via Wednesday evening’s pole qualifying or his 150-mile qualifying race Thursday evening.
Together with Johnson’s seven Cup championships, he’s additionally a two-time Daytona 500 winner. He retired from full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season and has returned for the previous two Daytona 500s, ending thirty first and twenty eighth.
