NASCAR Legend Jimmy Johnson Is Set to Run Iconic Hydroplane
As a child, Jimmie Johnson sat on the legendary hydroplane he would look to pilot 46 years later.
Courtesy Atlas Van Lines
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson is set to drive the restored Atlas Van Lines Blue Blaster hydroplane on August 1, 2025, at the Seafair Weekend Festival in Seattle. This event marks the return of the iconic boat to the water after more than 40 years and fulfills a lifelong dream for Johnson.
The “Blue Blaster” is powered by a 2,500 horsepower Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine.
Courtesy Atlas Van Lines
Johnson has a long history with the boat, as a 1979 photograph showing a four-year-old Johnson sitting on it after it broke down during a race on Mission Bay, California. The boat was later restored at the Hydroplane & Race Boat Museum in Seattle. Originally driven by hydroplane legend Bill Muncey, the “Blue Blaster” was a fan favorite in the 1970s and 1980s, winning 24 races over four years and reaching top speeds of 180 mph. It is powered by a 2,500 horsepower Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine, originally built for World War II Spitfire fighter planes.
According to Jack Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group, there is “so much nostalgia surrounding hydroplane racing and its ties to Atlas Van Lines” which makes reigniting the partnership logical.
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The “Blue Blaster” was a fan favorite in the 1970s and 1980s.
Courtesy Atlas Van Lines
Johnson will be coached by Chip Hanauer, who succeeded Muncey as the boat’s driver following Muncey’s death in 1981 and went on to win the Unlimited National and World Championship for the Atlas team. The Muncey family, the Hydroplane & Race Boat Museum team, and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America President George Levy will be in Seattle to welcome Johnson.
We look forward to posting photos and video from the event, and watching Johnson let her rip.
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