Jimmie Johnson closed the book on his storied full-time NASCAR Cup Series career in 2020. Since then, he joined forces with the legendary Richard Petty to former Legacy Motor Club in 2022, and started competing on a part-time basis for the team in 2023.
The seven-time Cup Series champion is set to make his 15th start for LMC in this Sunday’s Daytona 500, piloting the #84 Toyota. On Saturday, February 14, Johnson provided huge news on what his future looks like as a driver.
The 83-time Cup Series winner announced that next year’s Daytona 500 will be his final race as a NASCAR Cup Series driver.
Jimmie Johnson on why he chose Daytona as his final race
Johnson made the massive announcement regarding his racing future in a press conference on Saturday morning.
The former Hendrick Motorsports driver was asked by FOX motorsports insider Bob Pockrass about the decision to choose Daytona as his send-off race. Based on the NextGen car, Johnson believes Daytona is his best chance at being competitive.
“This car is so different than any generation of car I’ve driven before. To show up at Kansas and think that you’re going to have a shot to win, even when I ran a nine-race schedule, it’s just not a true fit that can really be seen or realized. Daytona, you can. Talladega, you can. Atlanta, for sure,” Johnson added.
Johnson will compete as a fourth LMC entry in next year’s Daytona 500. The team will have three chartered teams, while Johnson will enter as an open team.
The 50-year-old has won the Daytona 500 twice before in 2006 and 2013, and knows that another triumph in “The Great American Race” next year would be a fitting cap to his Hall of Fame career.
“To have my last race at an event where I can truly win it can be that cool walk-off home run,” Johnson said.
Jimmie Johnson doesn’t have plans to compete in other forms of motorsport
Like his career as a NASCAR driver, Johnson is closing the door on the possibility of racing in other forms of motorsport, such as IndyCar. The driver of the #84 said his focus is on building LMC and that he doesn’t have the competitive drive he once had.
Johnson recalls being 25 years old when he first hopped behind the wheel of the #48 HMS Chevrolet. Back then, he had the drive to conquer the day and compete at a high level.
But as the years have gone on, even in the final years of his full-time Cup career, Johnson started to slow down.
“I don’t have that passion for that part of life anymore, and that’s been a tough thing to kind of accept. If I’m honest with myself, maybe the last year or two of driving, I was in that phase, but I had the best seat in the house. I was driving for the best team. I was almost in denial of maybe what was going on,” Johnson said.
Next year, Johnson will close out one of the most decorated careers in NASCAR history. He won a record-tying seven Cup championships, including an unprecedented five straight from 2006-2010.
Jimmie Johnson to Bid Farewell From NASCAR Racing in 2027