NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson says next year's Daytona 500 will be final race in Cup Series

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Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced Saturday that the 2027 Daytona 500 will be his last in the Cup Series.

Johnson, who has taken home the checkered flag in the big race twice, wants to continue racing in other series, maybe even in other NASCAR events, but won’t return to stock car racing’s premier level again.

"I’ve been fortunate to accomplish more than I ever imagined in this sport," Johnson said. "The last six years have given me the freedom to choose where I compete and, more importantly, the clarity to understand where I’m needed most. I am going to focus all of my energy on leading and building a world-class organization."

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Jimmie Johnson (#84 Legacy Motor Club Carvana Toyota) waves to the crowd prior to the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Duel 1 on Feb. 12, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"Jimmie Johnson is a champion in every aspect of his life – with his family, as the leader of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and with his incredible success behind the wheel," Toyota vice president Tyler Gibbs said in a statement. "As he prepares to close the chapter of his iconic on-track NASCAR career, we celebrate his legacy in the sport and look forward to what we’ll continue to achieve together in the years to come."

His seven titles are tied for the most ever in NASCAR history, along with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. His first five were won consecutively from 2006 to 2010, followed by titles in 2013 and 2016.

Jimmie Johnson (48) wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series