Jimmie Johnson will retire from NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2027 DAYTONA 500.
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and principal owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB made the official announcement Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, ahead of Sunday’s 68th Running of ‘The Great American Race’, in which Johnson will start via the Open Exemption Provisional.
“Next February, I’ll make my final start in the Cup Series at Daytona,” the two-time DAYTONA 500 champion said. “I’ve been very fortunate to accomplish more than I ever imagined in this sport. The last six years have given me the freedom to choose where I compete and, more importantly, the clarity to understand where I’m needed most. It’s time to focus my energy on building a world-class and unrivaled organization in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.”
The El Cajon, California-native stepped away from full-time competition at NASCAR’s top-level following the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series campaign and elected to move to the NTT IndyCar Series, where he ran two seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing. Johnson then returned to America’s highest level of Stock Car Racing in 2023 as a co-owner and part-time driver for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.
While Johnson admits that his time competing at NASCAR’s top-level is coming to an end, the 50-year-old driver is clear that this doesn’t mean his racing career is over, as he’ll pursue other opportunities outside of NASCAR in the coming years.
“As a team owner, I need to be on the sidelines on race day supporting our drivers and crews on the competition side and cultivating relationships that are crucial to the long-term growth of the CLUB,” Johnson continued. “I also want to take the time to celebrate with fans throughout the season to show how grateful I am for their support throughout my career.”
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB says it’s committed to honoring Johnson’s final NASCAR Cup Series start in a way that reflects the impact of his racing career with the fans who have supported him along the way. Additional plans for those celebrations will be announced in the coming months.
Johnson has had an illustrious career in the NASCAR Cup Series, which began at the start of 2001 when Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports scouted him. After 19 years of driving the No. 48 Chevrolet that he made iconic, and scoring seven championships, 83 victories, and 36 poles, Johnson chose to step away to pursue other chances.
The driver of the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE, sponsored by Carvana, will be competing in his 23rd DAYTONA 500 on Sunday at 2:30 PM ET on FOX. Johnson will start the race 31st. Johnson also has plans to run at Naval Base Coronado on Father’s Day Weekend, which includes a rare appearance in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
