NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson still planning to retire after 2020?
By Asher Fair
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson still plans to retire after the 2020 season, despite how the season has gone and his recent positive COVID-19 test.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, which seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson announced last November would be his 19th and last season as a full-time driver, has been anything but conventional.
After just four races had been run, the season was suspended indefinitely following the race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 8 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR ended up returning 10 weeks later with two previously non-scheduled races at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 20, and the sport is still on pace to produce a full 36-race Cup Series schedule this year.
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During the unexpected 10-week hiatus, Johnson stated that he was no longer sure if he would retire from his role as the full-time driver of the #48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports after the 2020 season. But when NASCAR returned, he said that this was still in his plans.
However, that was before he was sidelined himself for testing positive for COVID-19. He tested positive last week, and as a result, for the first time since he became a full-time driver in 2002, he missed a Cup Series race.
Johnson, who entered this past weekend having competed in 663 consecutive races, the longest active streak at the time, was sidelined for Sunday’s Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
JR Motorsports Xfinity Series driver Justin Allgaier replaced him behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet and finished in 37th place after he was involved in an early pileup in the pits.
Officially, Johnson, who is asymptomatic, is out indefinitely and has been granted a playoff waiver. In order for him to return to action, he must test negative for the virus twice, and the two negative tests must not be conducted within 24 hours of one another. He must also receive clearance from his physician.
Depending on how things play out, is there a chance he will be back next year again, especially since the #48 team already has full-time sponsorship from Ally Financial confirmed through 2023?
As he has said many times, he still plans to race next year. But yes, he does still plan to retire from full-time competition once the 2020 season ends.
Jimmie Johnson says he is trying not to be disappointed about what he will miss on the competitive side. He reiterates his plans for next year don’t include full-time NASCAR: pic.twitter.com/1brQPVJmdv
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 4, 2020
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The earliest race in which Johnson could return to action is the Quaker State 400, which is scheduled to take place this Sunday, July 12 at Kentucky Speedway. This race is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 2:30 p.m ET.