Seven‑time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will bring his final Cup Series start to a close at the Daytona 500 in February 2025, marking the end of a two‑decade career that reshaped modern stock car racing.
A Legendary Farewell
The veteran will once again strap into the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet, the same machine that carried Alex Bowman in the previous season, as he prepares for what he has called his last full‑time run on the track.
A roster of high‑profile investors has thrown its weight behind Johnson’s newly restructured team, Legacy Motor Club. The group includes IndyCar stalwart Scott Dixon, Grammy‑winning singer Darius Rucker, and MLB All‑Star Chase Utley, among others.
Under Johnson’s majority ownership, the organization aims to transition into a profitable franchise, with plans to field a third full‑time entry in 2027. Prospective drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek are expected to continue the lineup.
The team’s resurgence will be underscored by a Hollywood Walk of Fame star that Johnson will receive during the Daytona 500 week, cementing his crossover appeal beyond the racing world.
Johnson’s on‑track résumé reads like a Hall of Fame highlight reel: 83 career victories, five consecutive series titles, and a record of consistency that earned him a permanent place in NASCAR’s history books.
Though he began his open‑wheel career in IndyCar and tasted success in endurance racing, Johnson returned to the stock‑car circuit for what he has described as a fitting final chapter.
The restructuring effort is being overseen by Knighthead Capital Management, which has provided the financial backing needed to modernize operations and expand the team’s competitive edge.
His retirement signals the close of an era, ending a 20‑year tenure that not only delivered unprecedented championship streaks but also inspired a generation of drivers and fans across the United States and beyond.