Johnson did his part for the third straight Daytona 500 to land a big-time — like, really, really big — partner for one of the Legacy cars. After working with rock bands Creed and Guns N' Roses each of the last two seasons, Johnson's paint scheme in the No. 84 Toyota for the Daytona 500 was inspired by retired NBA great Shaquille O'Neal's career.

The pull of driver vs. owner responsibility Johnson wrestled with for two years at last had a decisive winner. “I still want to be behind the wheel,” Johnson said, “but it’s really ... I need to come here with a different agenda.

I made it to 49 without ever having a real job,” the seven-time NASCAR champion and El Cajon native said earlier this week. That changed on Jan. 27, when Johnson became the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club — the NASCAR team that started out 7 ½ decades ago as Petty Enterprises.