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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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Ford (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Kevin Harvick

Sitting at 44 years of age, Kevin Harvick is the oldest active full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver aside of Jimmie Johnson. He is set to return for his seventh season at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2020, as the driver of the #4 Ford Mustang signed a long-term contract extension back in 2016.

Harvick’s crew chief Rodney Childers signed a multi-year contract extension this year. There is no definite answer to the end of their two deals, but at Harvick’s age, it may not be a whole lot longer.

The driver of the #4 Ford has done nothing but win since he arrived in 2014. He won the championship back in 2014 and has made the Championship 4 in five out of the six years in which the elimination format has been in place, including each of the last three.

In 2019, Harvick led the Mustangs, as he was the only Ford driver in the Championship 4. Along with that Championship 4 berth, he secured four victories in the second half of the year to lead the blue ovals in wins for the entire season.

Harvick has expressed his interest in continuing racing through at least the 2021 season, but once you hit a certain age, family seems to become more important, and Harvick is bound to experience that over the next few years. Expect him to be out of the car by the end of 2023 at the latest.

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