Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson withdrew on Tuesday from this week’s street race in Chicago after the death of his wife’s parents and a nephew in Oklahoma.
Police in Muskogee, Oklahoma, found the bodies of Jack Janway, 69; his wife, Terry Janway, 68; and their grandson, Dalton Janway, 11, on Monday night in an apparent murder-suicide.
Muskogee police spokesperson Lynn Hamlin said Terry Janway was the shooter.
“That’s what they are still investigating, but there appears there’s no threat to the community, so it’s looking very likely that it’s a murder-suicide,” Hamlin told the Muskogee Phoenix.
Johnson’s wife is Chandra Janway.
The 47-year-old Johnson has been driving the No.84 Carvana Chevrolet car part-time on the NASCAR circuit as co-owner of Legacy Motor Club. He is an 83-time winner in the Cup Series.
“The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time, and no further statements will be made,” Legacy Motor Club said in a tweet.
Johnson, who raced briefly on the IndyCar circuit after retiring as a full-time NASCAR driver in 2020, raced earlier this season in the Daytona 500, at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, and in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family,” NASCAR said in a statement. “The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie, and the entire Johnson & Janway families.”
This weekend’s race will be the first of its kind for the Cup Series, according to NASCAR.
“The best stock car drivers in the world will take over the streets of Chicago on Sunday starting at 4:30 p.m. CT — transforming Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and surrounding thoroughfares into a 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course that starts and ends at Buckingham Fountain. Along the way, drivers will pass through some of the most memorable parts of the city, including Grant Park and Soldier Field,” NASCAR Chicago says on its website.
