Jimmie Johnson is a NASCAR legend, and there is no doubt about it. He is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, a record matched only by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Johnson also stands alone as the only driver in history to win five consecutive Cup Series titles.
Despite professionally hanging up his helmet in 2020, the 50-year-old Johnson still occasionally returns to the track. So, what fuels that fire for a driver who has already accomplished so much? The NASCAR Hall of Famer has now revealed the reason he keeps hitting the gas.
What Is Driving Jimmie Johnson to Keep Racing in His 50s?
Since retiring from full-time Cup Series racing, Johnson has maintained a limited schedule, and he says that will not change anytime soon. “I’ve found a really nice balance with Carvana and their support to allow me to chase these ideas,” Johnson said in a recent conversation with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
🏆 “The 84th win, I want to believe the opportunity is there one way shape or another.@JimmieJohnson spoke about his racing future and how he plans to pick and choose races going forward.
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— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 11, 2025
“I was able to chase IndyCar with them, I was able to go sports car racing with Ally and Hendrick Motorsports, the Le Mans in the G56 vehicle, back in the Cup car, finish third in the Daytona 500 here in 2025 and really just trying to figure out how to do more of that,” he continued.
While Johnson has won 83 races in NASCAR’s premier division, it has been eight years since his last trip to Victory Lane. That elusive 84th win remains a powerful motivator. The pursuit of that victory is a key reason he continues to compete.
“Man, the 84th win, I wanna believe that opportunity is there one way shape or another. To be in the 84 car chasing that 84th win, I really would like to tick that box.”
For now, Johnson is picking races that excite him. From a Daytona 500 podium to Le Mans, he is chasing challenges that test his skills and check off bucket-list moments, all while maintaining the balance he has found with his sponsors and teams.
“Running at a high cadence in the Cup Series is really, really difficult, and I had a lot of exposure to that last year running the nine events. The cars are so specific, and the way you drive them, the team support, pit stops, all these different elements are really tough to do on a limited schedule,” he said. “But for the right races and the right reasons, that really makes a lot of sense. I’d love to continue to expand and tick more of these bucket list opportunities off my list.”
Since 2023, Johnson has run 14 races for Legacy Motor Club. After two difficult seasons where he finished outside the top 30, he roared back with a third-place result in the 2025 Daytona 500. This strong performance shows that even on a limited schedule, Johnson can still compete with the best, keeping the dream of that 84th victory alive.