NASCAR: Where should Jimmie Johnson compete in 2021?

Jimmie Johnson 2021 races: NASCAR playoffs

With the heavy focus placed on championship contenders during the NASCAR playoffs, it’s unclear whether Jimmie Johnson would want to run any races during that stretch.

A third CGR car could take away from their potential postseason efforts, while running the #8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports could take away opportunities for Sam Mayer to gain experience ahead of a full 2022 campaign.

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If Johnson does decide to race during the playoffs, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval and Martinsville Speedway would be good options, whether in the Xfinity Series or the Cup Series.

The Roval is close to home for Johnson and he has two top 10 finishes in three Cup Series races at the track, including a near-win in its inaugural running in 2018 when he wrecked with Martin Truex Jr. while battling for the lead on the last lap.

Similar to superspeedways, short tracks can be a bit of an equalizer when it comes to speed, giving him a better chance at winning. He has nine wins, 19 top five finishes and an average finish of 9.9 in 38 Cup Series races at Martinsville.

And finally, a third potential track for him to make an Xfinity Series playoff appearance would be Texas Motor Speedway, since a part-time JR Motorsports team should still be competitive on 1.5-mile tracks. Johnson has seven wins, 16 top five finishes and an average finish of 11.6 in 35 Cup Series races at Texas.

Should Johnson decide to add some NASCAR races to his 2021 schedule, these events would be good options that do not conflict with any of his IndyCar commitments.