NASCAR: Who is on Hendrick’s radar to replace Jimmie Johnson?

With Jimmie Johnson set to retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2020 season, who is on Hendrick Motorsports’ radar to replace him?

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson recently announced that the 2020 season will be his 19th and final season as a full-time driver in the sport and that it will mark his fourth and final attempt to become the series’ first eight-time champion.

The 44-year-old El Cajon, California native tied the all-time titles record with his seventh championship in the 2016 season, matching Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

With Johnson set to step aside from his full-time driving duties after the 2020 season comes to a conclusion, there has naturally been a ton of speculation regarding who may take his place behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet, the only car he has ever driven in 651 career starts.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

• NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
• NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
• NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
• NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
• NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500

There have been many names thrown around regarding who that replacement might be come the 2021 season. After all, Ally Financial have already signed a three-year contract extension to continue serving as the full-time sponsor of the #48 Chevrolet through the 2023 season.

But Hendrick Motorsports’ focus is on the 2020 season and the 2020 season only, and that includes Johnson behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet, Chase Elliott behind the wheel of the #9 Chevrolet, William Byron behind the wheel of the #24 Chevrolet and Alex Bowman behind the wheel of the #88 Chevrolet.

2021 will have to wait.

Here is what Jeff Gordon, who holds an executive role within Hendrick Motorsports, had to say about the team looking for replacements for Johnson, according to NASCAR.

"“I can tell you right now, we’re not looking. It’s just because we’re not there yet. This is the most important thing right now is focusing on Jimmie going out on top that he deserves. I think he wants it, his drive is there. I think the connection between he and Cliff (Daniels, No. 48 crew chief) is there. We’ve not done a good enough job giving him the equipment the last couple years, and we’re very focused on that. So we’ve got some time before we need to think about that, and I think when we get closer to that process, we’ll keep you guys informed as we can.”"

As for what we do know about Hendrick Motorsports for the 2021 season, all three of their drivers are expected to be back. Elliott is under contract through the 2022 season while Byron and Bowman both have several sponsors under contract on multi-year deals.

The fact that these three drivers are all slated to remain with the team for at least two more years will more than likely present Hendrick Motorsports with an opportunity to focus solely on who Johnson’s replacement should be since they will have just one seat to fill.

That time, however, has not yet come, and the team are clearly in no rush for it to get here.

When that time does come, who will be some of the drivers who Hendrick Motorsports consider to replace Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, and who will they end up selecting as the successor to the seven-time champion?