’27 Daytona 500 Will Be Johnson’s Last
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By Dennis Krause
Jimmie Johnson has announced that the 2027 Daytona 500 will be his final NASCAR Cup Series race. While the 7-time series and 2-time Daytona 500 champion says that’ll be it for Cup series competition, but he has plenty more racing he’d like to do.
“Yeah, just really excited to get this announcement out and build some excitement around the opportunity in (20)27. We had a great run here last year. I think we have a real shot at winning the Daytona 500 and putting my name on here again. But, I'm just thankful for the opportunity that's been granted to me through my career. I didn't use the word retirement way back when in 2020. I still love to compete and want to be on the track and racing.
“The journey as an owner, and certainly where I am in life right now, to compete at the Cup level, week in and week out, is just a door that's shutting from here now. I'll be able to enjoy it a bit more this year with the race this weekend and getting in San Diego, and then put a bow on everything, Cup wise, when we come back in (20)27.
“It doesn't mean I'm not going to race and do other fun things. I've got plenty planned this year and hope to have some more fun later in the year as well, but a quick start to the year with this race. Also, the Mint 400 (off-road race) that’s coming up, and then the truck race in San Diego, and just trying to find, you know, fun bucket list things to do.”
Although he has another Daytona 500 on his schedule after Sunday’s race, Johnson is trying to savor and enjoy events he may be doing for the last time.
“I have to say, the induction in the (NASCAR) Hall of Fame was the moment in time that really allowed me to reflect, and I imagine this year will be more reflection, and certainly, when we come back here next year, that'll happen again, but I'm now savoring and enjoying, the emotions, feelings, conversations, all the moments around the time I've spent in this sport and all the great times we had.
“So, there'll be more of that, but as I look back, the Hall of Fame, first being nominated, which kind of knew that was coming (laughter), but the week, and all the events going into the Hall of Fame, it was just such a special time and it's really opened the door to enjoy these emotions and reflecting and letting it in. So, I'm getting better at that and enjoying it, and, I know we'll have another year of that.”
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While drives in IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans hold interest for Johnson, as well as a run at the Bonneville Salt Flats, INDYCAR is no longer on his bucket list.
“No, that one's closed too,” Johnson said. “The commitment it takes to be where I want to be in the field, I just, I don't have that in me anymore. My focus and interest is truly building this race team. When I reflect on who I was is a 25 year old kid jumping in that 48 car - I was up at o dark 30 with this passion and energy to chase the day and do the best that I could.I don't have that passion for that part of life anymore, and that's been a tough thing to kind of accept, and if I'm honest with myself, maybe the last year or two of driving, I was in that phase, but I mean, I had the best seat in the house. I was almost in denial of, maybe what was going on, and it's taken time. It took the two years in INDYCAR, and the journey that I've been on now to really reflect on that and see it.
“I mean, I had four hours of sleep last night, because we're (having) a sponsor event, and I was up all night doing emails, and then I was over at Home Depot this morning buying plants and furniture for our hospitality area and the driver-owner lot, and that was fun. I mean, we had a great time this morning doing all that. I going to go over there and start putting chairs together. (laughter) So it's just, I'm in a different place of life and really enjoying it.”
With Johnson scaling back on Cup Series races, the plan is for him to become more of a face for the Legacy Motor Club team in the future.
“Without a doubt. Yes, that is a big part of going forward. When I got involved with Maury (Gallagher), and we renamed the company, we were working in that direction, had some other things to focus on, more so at that point in time. Then our tragedy happened, and we chose to go to England and just have our time as a family. Then stayed a second year, and it was really an incredible year for our family to be together and grow and heal, and, we got back in August of (20)25.
“Now that I have control of the company and a lot of other elements are in play, I can really lean into that. So, I was going get started a few years ago, but a little behind schedule, and we'll do a lot more of that now.”
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As he prepares for his second-to-last Daytona 500, what does Johnson take away from this chapter of his career?
“When I think of the 20 years or I spent probably 25 now, there's been so much innovation, so much change, from the safety side, the technology, where we race, and how we race now, is technical, but an entirely new way. I feel very fortunate that I was in the generation where ingenuity and creativity really was allowed, and we can do that stuff. Chad (Knaus) was one of the best at it being a rule maker. He did break the rule a couple times, (laughter), but we were much more rule makers than anything. The innovation, and the journey, was really fun, and all the testing we were allowed to do. I can't tell you how many times, at the end of a test session, he'd stick his head in the window and he's like, I have no clue what this is going do, let's tiptoe into this. He just always had some crazy ideas, and going on that journey with our engineering group, and developing all that technology, was really fun.”
As far as making the 2027 Daytona 500 his final race, Johnson said it just made a lot of sense to him.
“I think as a driver that moonlights, the restrictor plate-tracks or that style of tracks is where you can be the most 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 have a shot to win, even when I ran a 9-race schedule. It's just not a truth that they can really be seen, or realized. Daytona, you can, Talladega, you can, Atlanta for sure. So, I want to show them being competitive, and to have my last race in an event where I could truly win - it could be that cool walk off home run.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.