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Jimmie Johnson gets candid about racing future, desire to win 84th NASCAR Cup Series race

Meby: Nick Geddes11/11/25NickGeddesNews
Jimmie Johnson
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Jimmie Johnson‘s full-time racing career has long been in the rearview. But at 50 years old, there’s still some bucket list items he’d like to fulfill.

Johnson has kept up a limited schedule since retiring from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2020 season. That will continue in the future, he said.

“I’ve found a really nice balance with Carvana and their support to allow me to chase these ideas. I was able to chase IndyCar with them, I was able to go sports car racing with Ally and Hendrick Motorsports, the Le Mans in the G56 vehicle, back in the Cup car, finish third in the Daytona 500 here in 2025 and really just trying to figure out how to do more of that,” Johnson recently said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“Running at a high cadence in the Cup Series is really, really difficult, and I had a lot of exposure to that last year running the nine events. The cars are so specific, and the way you drive them, the team support, pit stops, all these different elements are really tough to do on a limited schedule. But for the right races and the right reasons, that really makes a lot of sense. I’d love to continue to expand and tick more of these bucket list opportunities off my list.”

Jimmie Johnson still believes he can win

Since 2023, Johnson has competed in 14 races for his team, Legacy Motor Club. Johnson struggled to race inside the top 30 in 2023 and 2024 before finishing third in the 2025 Daytona 500. That gave him a boost.

As far as his 2026 schedule, Johnson announced last week he will race at Coronado Naval Base in NASCAR’s inaugural event in San Diego. Whether in San Diego or somewhere else, Johnson doesn’t just want to run some laps; he wants to win. He’s got 83 Cup wins to his name, and he would like to make it 84, driving the No. 84 car for Legacy.

“That was a very nice day [Daytona]. I hope to have more shots [at that]. We don’t really speak of the podiums in our industry but to finish third and essentially be on the podium was an incredible opportunity,” Johnson said. “Man, the 84th win, I wanna believe that opportunity is there one way shape or another. To be in the 84 car chasing that 84th win, I really would like to tick that box.”