© 2026 WGCU News
News for all of Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson's in-laws found shot to death in Oklahoma

Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra Janway pose on the red carpet before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto racing awards in Las Vegas, Dec. 2, 2016.
John Locher
/
AP
Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra Janway pose on the red carpet before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto racing awards in Las Vegas, Dec. 2, 2016.

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Police in Muskogee, Oklahoma, confirmed Tuesday they are investigating the shooting deaths of three relatives of seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.

The bodies of Jack Janway, 69; his wife Terry Janway, 68; and their grandson Dalton Janway, 11, were discovered Monday at a home in Muskogee, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa, Muskogee police spokesperson Lynn Hamlin said. Hamlin said investigators believe Terry Janway shot and killed her husband and grandson before shooting herself.

Police responded to the home after a woman called 911 to report a disturbance with a gun before hanging up, Hamlin said.

When police arrived on the scene, they found one person near the front door of the home and then heard a gunshot from further inside, where officers later found two other people dead, Hamlin said. Hamlin confirmed the three are the parents and nephew of Johnson's wife, Chandra Janway.

Johnson's race team, Legacy Motor Club, announced on Twitter it was withdrawing his No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series event in Chicago. The team added: "The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made."

"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."

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

The Associated Press
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • The Queensland Umbrella Tree is sometimes known as the “Octopus Tree” because of its often nearly 3-foot-long stems that radiate upwards and outwards away from the its very large umbrella-like compound leaves. This puts the clusters of flowers and resulting fruit of the plant along each stem into the open – facilitating pollination of the tiny red flowers and easy access to the clusters of small purple fruit for birds that eat it and spread the seeds.
  • Hopsized Brewing Co., along Old US 41 Road in Bonita Springs, gained international recognition with its one-of-a-kind “Chargie,” dubbed the best golden or blonde ale around the globe, just in time for American Craft Beer Week from May 11 to 15. But earning this designation has brought a disconcerting trend to both owners’ attention that they said passionate craft beer connoisseurs cannot ignore.
  • A wildfire of undetermined origin was burning in 98 acres alongside northbound Interstate 75 by mile marker 151 Saturday with smoke and flames visible from the freeway. The fire was reported at 85 percent contained.