- Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion becomes fourth Founding Patron of the Goodwood Road Racing Club of America
Goodwood today announces that seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson will join the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC) of America as a Founding Patron, becoming the fourth legendary motorsport figure to lend their support to Goodwood’s historic expansion into the United States.
Johnson joins fellow Founding Patrons Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Richard Petty, bringing together four of the most accomplished and influential figures in global motorsport.
The GRRC of America represents the first major international expansion of the Goodwood Road Racing Club, which for nearly three decades has brought together a community united by a shared passion for motorsport, automobiles and car culture. Beginning in California and Nevada, the new club will introduce Goodwood’s distinctive combination of access, experiences, community and automotive culture to enthusiasts across the United States.
“Jimmie represents everything we want the Goodwood Road Racing Club of America to stand for,” said The Duke of Richmond and Gordon CBE DL. “His achievements in competition are extraordinary, but equally important is his genuine passion for motorsport and car culture in all its forms. To have Jimmie join Jackie, Mario and Richard as a Founding Patron is incredibly special, and I can think of nobody more appropriate to help us establish Goodwood’s next chapter in America.”
Johnson’s relationship with Goodwood extends well beyond his accomplishments in NASCAR. A longtime admirer and participant in Goodwood’s motorsport events, he shares the organization’s belief that the automobile can transcend competition—connecting generations, disciplines and communities through a common passion.
“Goodwood has always been special to me because it celebrates so much more than racing,” said Jimmie Johnson. “It celebrates the cars, the people, the history and the culture around motorsport. There really isn’t anything else like it.
“To see The Duke of Richmond and the Goodwood team bring that spirit to America is incredibly exciting. I’m honored to join Sir Jackie, Mario and Richard as a Founding Patron, and even more excited about what we can help build here. American car culture is incredibly diverse, and I think Goodwood has a unique opportunity to bring those communities together in a way that hasn’t really been done before.”
The GRRC of America will build upon the ethos that has defined Goodwood while creating an experience distinctly rooted in American automotive culture. Members will have access to a year-round program of driving tours, track experiences, private visits, social gatherings and opportunities to engage with significant cars, collections and personalities from across the automotive world.
The club will launch in 2027, initially centered in California and Nevada before expanding to additional regions across the United States. Members will also enjoy reciprocal opportunities with the existing Goodwood Road Racing Club community in the United Kingdom.
The expansion will ultimately include a new flagship Goodwood event in America, planned for Willow Springs Raceway in California in 2028. The event will bring together motorsport, car culture, spectacle and storytelling through Goodwood’s distinctive lens while celebrating the history and future of American motoring.
Johnson’s addition as a Founding Patron further connects Goodwood’s heritage with the history of American motorsport. Together, Stewart, Andretti, Petty and Johnson represent generations of achievement across Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR—and a shared belief in the cultural significance of the automobile beyond the racetrack.
-ENDS-
