NASCAR drivers react to Jimmie Johnson’s retirement announcement
By Asher Fair
Jimmie Johnson announced that the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season will be his last as a full-time driver. Here is how his fellow competitors reacted to this news.
In an announcement that had been speculated for several months, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced that the 2020 season will be his final season of full-time competition in the Cup Series.
The 44-year-old El Cajon, California native has driven in the Cup Series since the 2001 season, competing in 651 races along the way, and he has driven in each of the 648 races that have been contested since the 2002 season began.
He shared this video confirming his departure following the 36-race 2020 season.
#Chasing8 one final time pic.twitter.com/ZoldabKy9M
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 20, 2019
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The driver of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is nothing shy of a NASCAR legend, with his seven championships being tied for the most in Cup Series history with the likes of legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, and his 83 wins rank in a sixth place on the all-time list, just one win behind a tie for fourth.
As one might expect, the reactions to Johnson announced that next year will be his last, even though it was an announcement that many saw coming, were quite emotional.
Several drivers, including but not limited to his active rivals and past teammates, took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Johnson being slated to step away from full-time competition next November.
https://twitter.com/chaseelliott/status/1197210867307352065
From one of the “best to never” to one of the “best ever”, THANK YOU https://t.co/sa5xryNYfF
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) November 20, 2019
Caught me right in the feels. Been a pleasure Champ. Looking forward to it one last time. https://t.co/s0TJMLzmh9
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 20, 2019
Nobody I enjoy battling with more on the race track than 7 time. The greatest driver of my generation. Look forward to 38 more races with you! https://t.co/SmpAQz26Cz
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) November 20, 2019
This man did it right from start to finish. Won everything and never changed who he was. I can’t wait to spend next year observing the weekly celebrations of one of the greatest to ever do it. https://t.co/ENMbctDABt
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) November 20, 2019
Awesome to be able to race with the GOAT. Looking forward to one more year with you while you cap of your incredible career https://t.co/bJa2KimFRM
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) November 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/AlexBowman88/status/1197246911692099589
Pretty rad I’ve been able to call @jimmiejohnson a teammate. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s taught me. Let’s go get it in 2020 pic.twitter.com/ckGYyjLJ7V
— Alex Bowman (@Alex_Bowman) November 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/RyanPreece_/status/1197242171700776961
https://twitter.com/Daniel_SuarezG/status/1197308384166531075
https://twitter.com/DanielHemric/status/1197237417507467264
https://twitter.com/keselowski/status/1197225989920710657
7x Champions are the Elite. Best of the best. Without doubt, Jimmie Johnson conquered everything in NASCAR, just as Petty and Earnhardt did. https://t.co/aHlPpsqmJ6
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) November 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/WilliamByron/status/1197213086291316736
A class act & true champion on & off the track. It's been a pleasure to compete with you over the years and call you a friend throughout it all. Congrats on a phenomenal career. Best of luck #Chasing8 one last time! https://t.co/jj6Co0Sku5
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) November 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/matt_tifft/status/1197244569433202689
Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
Throughout Jimmie Johnson’s 19 years in the NASCAR Cup Series, it’s safe to say that he has gained the respect of his competitors, even among those in the active field with whom he has only raced for a handful of seasons.
While those active drivers will certainly want to claim the 2020 championship as their own, it’s a safe bet that, like Joey Logano said in his video, the #48 is the driver they want to be beaten by if they finish runner-up.