Seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will retire following the 2020 season. Johnson made the announcement Wednesday morning (Nov. 20) with a video posted on his Twitter feed.
#Chasing8 one final time pic.twitter.com/ZoldabKy9M
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 20, 2019
“I’m so thankful for 18 incredible years of racing in NASCAR,” he says. “The sport has been good to me and allowed me to do something I truly love.
“I showed up chasing a dream and achieved more than I ever thought possible. I’m looking forward to next season and celebrating what will be my last year as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver. I know what this team is capable of and I hope 2020 is one of the best yet.”
One of only three seven-time champions in the sport along with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, Johnson is a surefire Hall of Famer. He’s earned 83 Cup wins including two Daytona 500s, four Coke 600s, four Brickyard 400s and two Southern 500s.
His Cup career, which started as a part-time season in 2001, spanned all the title sponsors in NASCAR history. It was also spent entirely with one team, the No. 48 at Hendrick Motorsports. Sponsorship came from one company, too, in Lowe’s Home Improvement stores before Ally Financial took the reins at the beginning of 2019.
Besides his seven titles and 83 race wins, Johnson has 227 career top fives, 364 top 10s, 36 poles and over 18,000 laps led in his 651 NASCAR Cup starts.
2019 was a bit of a rough year, however. Johnson missed the playoffs for the first time ever, recording only three top fives and 12 top 10s en route to a career-low 18th in the final point standings.
According to a story on the Hendrick Motorsports website, Johnson will be holding a press conference Thursday (Nov. 21) to discuss this decision.
HENDERSON: HOW NASCAR HAS EVOLVED IN THE JIMMIE JOHNSON ERA
BOWLES: WHY 2020 WAS THE RIGHT TIME FOR JOHNSON’S RETIREMENT
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Wow. Now to see who gets this ride for 2021?
Not surprised. I figured 2020 or 2021 at the latest. He had a good run.
I think Mario Andretti was the only driver really successful in the twilight of his career. Sammy Swindell and Steve Kinser were still winning regularly in their fifties.
It should be, “I’m so thankful for 18 incredible years of racing in NASCAR, and especially Brian.”
especially Brian – isn’t that the truth! One of only 3 seven-time champions. What a crock that is.