Jimmie Johnson, a name synonymous with NASCAR excellence, holds an extraordinary record that places him among the sport’s greatest. With 83 race victories tying him for sixth all-time and seven NASCAR Cup Series championships—the most ever earned—Johnson stands as one of only 22 drivers to surpass 700 Cup Series starts. His seven championships have solidified his legacy as an all-time great in the sport.
Despite this impressive history, Johnson’s performance sharply declined in recent years, especially from 2018 through 2025. During this period, across both full-time and part-time Cup Series seasons, he has failed to secure a single win and has managed only 11 top-five finishes in 121 starts. His transition to <a href="https://www.big14news.com/indycar/”>IndyCar in 2021 and 2022 did not reverse this trend; he recorded zero wins, just one top-five finish, and one additional top-10 finish. Such a stark contrast to his dominant years has puzzled fans and analysts alike.
The Drastic Shift Following Johnson’s Dominant 2016-2017 Seasons
Johnson’s decline was especially surprising because it followed a period of remarkable success. Less than a year before his current winless streak began, he claimed three victories in the final seven races of the 2016 season while securing his record-tying seventh championship. He carried this strong momentum into 2017, winning three of the first 13 races that year. However, after that point, he did not win again, marking a sudden and puzzling fall from competitiveness.
This dramatic turn began on June 11, 2017, at the Axalta presents the Pocono 400. On lap 96, as Johnson entered turn one, he experienced a catastrophic brake failure that forced him off the track and into the grass, ultimately crashing almost head-on into the outside wall.
June 11th, 2017, the Axalta presents the Pocono 400. On lap 96 going into turn 1, Jimmie Johnson would lose his brakes. Johnson would then try to slide down into the grass to slow his car down. #nascar #pocono #crash pic.twitter.com/ISxp0Xs9du — Random Nascar Crashes (@Rdnascarcrashes) May 19, 2025
Johnson’s crash at Pocono Raceway left him visibly shaken as he knelt beside his battered car, a reaction that reminded many of a similar brake failure incident he endured at Watkins Glen International 16 years earlier. Unlike the more casual moment when Johnson climbed on top of his car in that earlier crash, this time he took a seat beside the wall, clearly winded.
Examining the Aftermath of the Pocono 2017 Incident on Johnson’s Career
While Johnson did continue racing following the Pocono accident, the trajectory of his career changed measurably. His No. 48 team never regained the competitive edge it once had. In the remainder of the 2017 season, Johnson recorded only six top-10 finishes and a single top-five finish without securing another victory, despite qualifying for the playoffs’ round of 8.
The subsequent seasons presented a gradual decline that seemed irreversible. His final full-time season in 2018 showed clear signs of struggle, with Johnson qualifying for the playoffs as the 15th seed but being eliminated in the opening round and finishing the year without a win for the first time in his full-time career. He failed to reach the playoffs in 2019 and 2020, further underscoring the difficulties he faced on track.
Since returning part-time in 2023, Johnson’s challenges have only intensified. In 14 starts, he experienced six Did Not Finishes (DNFs), while 13 finishes were outside the top 25. His only notable recent result was a third-place finish in the 2025 Daytona 500, an unexpected highlight amid a series of disappointing performances that have led many fans to reflect on the downturn in his fortunes.
Johnson Addresses the Role of the Pocono Crash in His Late-Career Performance
Despite widespread speculation that the Pocono crash marked the beginning of his late-career decline and eventual retirement, Johnson has publicly disputed this theory. During a recent appearance on his podcast Never Settle with ESPN’s Marty Smith, he addressed a fan’s question regarding the impact of the crash.
“I without a doubt disagree… I got out and had to sit down, not because the impact was so bad, but because my crotch belt was too tight. And for any man, you’ll understand what happens in the crotch area with a high contact rate. People think I was having all these other issues. Sitting down seemed like a great option!” —Jimmie Johnson
Johnson explained that his struggles in his final years stemmed from a deeper loss shared by him and his team, rather than from the crash itself. He emphasized that his decision to retire full-time was motivated by a desire to escape the exhausting 38-week racing grind, not a result of physical limitations caused by the accident.
He further stated that, despite his departure, he left behind a team capable of winning championships. This belief is supported by Kyle Larson’s 2021 Cup Series title, won with the No. 5 team, which was essentially a rebranded version of Johnson’s former No. 48 team from 2020.
Reflecting on What the Future Holds for Johnson’s Legacy and NASCAR
Johnson’s candid remarks offer a fresh perspective on his late-career challenges, even if many fans still wonder whether the 2017 Pocono incident affected his potential to become the first driver with eight championships. The true extent of the crash’s influence may never be fully known, particularly as Johnson continues to race part-time and has yet to detailedly revisit the issue beyond these statements.
Ultimately, the timeline and statistics paint a complex picture of a legendary career impacted by a host of factors. June 11, 2017 remains a key moment in NASCAR history, symbolizing a turning point after which one of the sport’s greatest ever drivers faced an ongoing struggle to replicate his former dominance.
Whether Johnson’s late-career decline resulted primarily from physical, mechanical, team, or motivational factors, his contributions to NASCAR are unquestionable. His continued presence on the track, despite adversity, serves as a testament to his resilience and the lasting mark he has left on motorsports.
