NASCAR: Hendrick Motorsports Coming To A Crossroads

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmie Johnson

Johnson is signed with HMS through this upcoming season and could potentially become a free agent after 2015. The time that it took me to write that sentence is longer than Rick Hendrick would ever consider the idea of not bringing back Johnson.

Johnson is a six-time NASCAR champion and one of the greatest drivers in the sport. Johnson has a chance to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with seven titles and then he would have the opportunity to win a record-setting eighth. Johnson just turned 39 years old in September and one would have to assume that he still has at least another three or four years left in him. Johnson will most likely get a new three-year deal from HMS which would keep him with the team until 2018 when he is 43.

It is also not out of the equation for Johnson to receive a lifetime-deal like the one that Jeff Gordon has. After all, Johnson has brought HMS six titles and that number could continue to rise in the coming season.