Jimmie Johnson will compete in his 23rd Daytona 500 this Sunday and has confirmed that the 2027 running of NASCAR’s Great American Race will mark his final Cup Series start. The seven-time NASCAR Cup champion from El Cajon revealed this decision on Saturday, explaining that while he will continue racing selectively in other motorsports events, his 24th Daytona 500 appearance in 2027 will officially conclude his NASCAR Cup driving career.
2026 Schedule and Transition to Team Leadership
Johnson’s 2026 schedule includes the 68th Daytona 500 on Sunday and a historic tripleheader race weekend from June 19-21 at Coronado Naval Base—highlighted by NASCAR’s first-ever Cup race in San Diego County. After these events, his only remaining NASCAR Cup race on the schedule is the 2027 Daytona 500. Since stepping back from full-time Cup competition after 2020 and spending two years in the IndyCar Series, Johnson has made just 15 Cup starts over the past six years.
In January 2025, he became majority owner of the Legacy Motor Club, whose drivers Joe Nemechek and Erik Jones currently compete. The team plans to expand its Cup entries next season and may venture into other racing disciplines. Johnson explained his shift in focus:
“It’s time to focus all my energy on leading and building a world-class organization,”
emphasizing his commitment to team ownership and management.
Continued Passion for Racing Beyond NASCAR
Despite ending his Cup driving career, Johnson will stay active behind the wheel in other competitions. In March, he will return to his off-road roots driving a featured Trick Truck for Terrible Herbst Racing at the Mint 400 in Las Vegas. Additionally, he aims to participate in marquee endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as other historic races.
Johnson’s racing background includes being named Rookie of the Year at the 2022 Indianapolis 500 and recently piloting Bill Muncey’s famed Blue Blaster hydroplane in an exhibition in Seattle. Reflecting his love for diverse vehicles, Johnson said,
“I love climbing behind the wheel of different race vehicles,”
“I sit there for a moment and just look at the dashboard and dials and think about the history of the vehicle, past drivers and the sport. My mind races. It’s hard to explain how I feel at those moments.”
Daytona Holds a Unique Place in Johnson’s Career
The Daytona International Speedway has played a special role throughout Johnson’s NASCAR Cup career, a connection underscored by his decision to conclude his Cup racing at the 2027 Daytona 500. Though he acknowledges not being the same driver he once was, he still feels competitive on the tri-oval superspeedway.
He candidly admitted,
“Unfortunately, at some point for every driver, it starts drying up,”
as he described the inevitable decline in performance despite passion and skill remaining intact:
“There is a moment out there for everyone where production just goes down, and it doesn’t mean that your heart isn’t in it, and your skills aren’t there, but whatever it is, it dries up.”
Johnson tends to struggle on short and intermediate tracks where recent, consistent seat time in the latest Cup cars is crucial for success, but believes he can still be a contender on superspeedways like Daytona. He is a two-time Daytona 500 winner and impressed last year by finishing third at age 49. His guaranteed starting position this year allowed extra testing and setup time on the super speedway without the pressure of qualifying.
Legacy and Continued Connections with Legacy Motor Club Drivers
This year, Johnson will be joined at Daytona by his Legacy Motor Club teammates Joe Nemechek and Erik Jones. In the previous Daytona 500, Nemechek placed fifth, just two spots behind Johnson, and Jones finished 12th. Johnson’s breakthrough moment came in 2002 when he won the pole at Daytona as a rookie—a shocking achievement at the time. His first Daytona 500 victory in 2006 kickstarted his march toward his first NASCAR championship, followed by another win in 2013, which preceded his penultimate title.
On the dynamics of racing at Daytona, Johnson observed,
“Racing in the draft at Daytona has not changed much in my 25 years there,”
explaining how big stock cars cut through the air and how expertise in drafting remains crucial:
“Regardless of the aerodynamic package, these big cars like blasting a hole in the air, and the way the draft works and behaves, you’re not out in left field. Even if you’ve been away for a while, you can come back and work your way through the duels, get some drafting time, and find that sweet spot and be competitive.”
By contrast, Johnson noted the difficulty of winning on smaller ovals without full-time driving experience in the cars:
“On the half-mile tracks, a mile and a half, it’s really tough. If you’re not in these cars all the time, and deeply rooted in the process, to have a shot to win is unrealistic.”
San Diego Race Brings Personal Significance
Johnson expressed deep emotion about the upcoming NASCAR Cup race at Coronado Naval Base in his hometown area, something he never imagined would happen:
“To bring our sport to San Diego and on a military base is just a scenario I could never have dreamed of,”
he said. He highlighted the event’s importance both for NASCAR and personally, marking the 20th anniversary of his foundation and recognizing family ties:
“And, you know, for me personally. It ticks so many boxes, including the 20th anniversary for our foundation. And also, my grandparents — there’s a beautiful cemetery there on the hillside, and my grandparents are there.
So it will be sentimental and really special.”
