Jimmie Johnson Breaks Silence on Retirement Rumors Ahead of 700th Cup Start

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson has confirmed that he has no plans to stop racing after 700th career Cup start this Sunday.

Jimmie Johnson Breaks Silence on Retirement Rumors Ahead of 700th Cup Start

Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)

Seven times NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is set to enter the top-20 list of drivers with most starts in the elite division of stock car racing. He will make his 700 Cup start this Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 with his team Legacy Motor Club. The team is fielding a special livery to celebrate the event and also has released a video celebrating the feat on social media.

Jimmie Johnson retired from full-time racing 2020, and after a two-year stint in the IndyCar, returned to NASCAR as the owner-driver at Legacy MC. In 2025 he is running a shorter schedule compared to the last two seasons. This factor and the latest feat, many to speculate that Johnson will decide to finally step away from racing after the Charllotte run.

The jokes are on them, as when asked about a potential retirement, Johnson asserted that he has no plans to stop racing anytime soon. He sees the speculation as hilarious and congratulated his social media team fort posting a good video. The fans seem to have got a good reminder of Johnson’ legacy with the video.  

Really? No… That’s hilarious. No, it’s just great editing, proud of our digital department, doing a great job

Jimmie Johnson told Kelly Crandall of RACER.

Currently the veteran is the active driver with the second most start in the sport. At the top, it is Kyle Busch, who has already passed the 700-start mark, and is going strong with recently signing a one-year contract extension with RCR. There is no chance Johnson is going stay racing in the sport long enough to beat Buch’s current numbers.

Why is Jimmie Johnson racing less in 2025?

In the same conversation, Johnson revealed why no longer races in a significant number of events. He admitted that his nine-race run last year put extra pressure on the team. So, he is running in less events this year and will plan his 2026 schedule with the primary goal of not disturbing his full-time drivers’ progress. He also teased plans to un-chartered field cars not just for him.

Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)

Last year I ran nine [races], it was a little too much on the organization. This year, I’m at two. Maybe we do a few more, so as we plan for next year, as long as it doesn’t take away from our full-time cars, we hope to run an unchartered vehicle and have me in it and use, use that to develop talent.

Jimmie Johnson said.

The veteran seems to think long-term, by plan to field cars for the developing TRD drivers and build strong partnership. He then pointed out that he has already asked his team to help him race in more than two events in the 2025 season, there looking to find events that matches all their requirement regarding part-time cars.

And also, help develop partnerships and such. So, it’s part of our plan. … Rest assured, there’s more than 700 starts, I’m jumping up and down asking for more races than two.

Jimmie Johnson added.

The comment from the veteran shows the NASCAR fans would have the luxury to watch their star man race for many of the upcoming events and prove his worth. At the same time this also concerning, as if the Hall of Famer continues to have mediocre stints in his part-time runs, it surely going to affect his legacy in the long run.

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