NASCAR: 5 drivers who could retire after Jimmie Johnson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 10: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Rush Truck Centers Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's New 9-Grain Wheat Sub Ford, Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, pose for a photo with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series trophy after making the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 12: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer is slated to return as the driver of the #14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing for the fourth year in 2020. Bowyer just finished his third season at Stewart-Haas Racing, and toward the end of the season in October, he inked a one-year deal to stay in the #14 Ford.

This was a huge deal for Bowyer, as there were rumors of him potentially being replaced by Stewart-Haas Racing Xfinity Series sensation Cole Custer. With that deal, it ensured at least one more year for him at NASCAR’s top level.

2019 was a disappointing season for Bowyer and the #14 team. Coming off a year in which he earned two wins, his first wins since 2012, he went winless and was eliminated from the playoffs after the round of 12.

The year was quite lackluster for Bowyer, as he was largely irrelevant in the championship mix, and while he was stuck at that level, teammate Kevin Harvick won four races, all in the second half of the season, and advanced to the Championship 4 for the fifth time in six seasons and third year in a row.

With Bowyer only having signed a one-year deal with Stewart-Haas Racing, this could very easily mean that the end of his career is near. While Custer has been promoted as Daniel Suarez’s replacement behind the wheel of the #41 Ford, Chase Briscoe still looms in the Xfinity Series.

The lack of quality of remaining open rides coupled with the fact that Bowyer is slated to be 41 at the end of next year will probably leave him with no choice but to retire.

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