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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Guardian sport

Nascar star Jimmie Johnson withdraws from race after in-laws found dead

Jimmie Johnson was due to race in Chicago this weekend
Jimmie Johnson was due to race in Chicago this weekend. Photograph: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson has withdrawn from this weekend’s Nascar Cup street race in Chicago after his in-laws and nephew were found shot dead.

Johnson’s team, Legacy Motor Club, said the seven-time Nascar Cup Series champion “elected to withdraw the No 84 Carvana Chevrolet from this weekend’s … event” in the wake of the deaths.

Police in Muskogee, Oklahoma, said Terry and Jack Janway were found dead along with their 11-year-old grandson, Dalton. Police have named Terry Janway, Johnson’s mother-in-law, as a suspect in the shooting. Police said Terry Janway called them on Monday night to report someone with a gun. Law enforcement found the bodies when they arrived to investigate the call.

Jack Janway was a well-know chiropractor in Muskogee.

“It was traumatizing to find out that a long-standing family who had made so many contributions to our community were involved in this type of incident. It was even more bone-chilling to find out there was a child involved,” Muskogee’s mayor, Marlon Coleman, told Fox 23. “I knew Dr Janway. Dr Janway has worked on me, we’ve been acquaintances for a very, very long time since I’ve been in Muskogee. Just knowing that it was him and his family took a different toll on me.”

The Janways’ daughter, Chandra, married Johnson in 2004.

“The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made,” Legacy Motor Club said in its statement.

Johnson is a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club and is racing part-time this season as part of the team. The 47-year-old El Cajon, California, native returned to Nascar after retiring in 2020.

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