Jimmie Johnson on leaving NASCAR

Seven-time NASCAR Series Cup champ Jimmie Johnson recalls “the grind” of his final years in the sport and the challenges of a 20+ year career in NASCAR. He talks of the factors that weighed on his decision to stop racing full time.

#NASCAR #Racing #NascarRacing

Episode debuted nationwide in 2021.

Watch full episodes each week on TV stations across the country. Find the airing time and channel for your city:

Connect with Graham:

[RetroCarsForever]

It's so refreshing to hear a champion talk as honestly about the negative side of racing like this.
JJ is a gem of a human being.

[FlakMonkyk]

I have to agree with Jimmie on having a 25 race schedule. With 36 races, they're racing all year long. The off-season isn't really an off-season. It's just 2 months off and their back to racing. It's always go go go.

[dylanramos]

It is so crazy to hear this interview. Winning or not winning had nothing to do with his retirement. He just wanted to do something else. The pay cut all the drivers took, the grind of 36 races, the constant rule changes. He had nothing else to prove, why do it anymore? He is so much happier now racing in Indy and being with his family more often. I’m so happy for JJ, keep it up!

[WilliamDuh]

It is so satisfying to hear someone like Jimmie Johnson talk about shrinking the schedule. There’s no demand to watch because it’s always around. I’ve been watching nascar for 15 years and it’s honestly baffling that the schedule is still as long as it is. Fans, drivers, and owners all have been wanting it to be much shorter

[Thespecialk]

Great interview; I appreciate the truth Mr. Johnson.

[starskiwi]

Graham really mentioned Danica in the same breath of air as those legends. 🤣🤣

[eddietat]

One of the main reasons why the schedule is so long is because of the tracks. For most of them (owned by SMI, ISC, or otherwise), the Cup Series is their main source of revenue and they need 2 Cup races/year MINIMUM to stay afloat. NASCAR bloats the schedule to keep tracks like Darlington financially viable. Low ticket sales doesn't help, either. You can fill in the blanks on why there's low attendance across the board.

[graemebolger]

Hello. I am a long time fan of NASCAR. I am for the most an out of country Fan. I come from the Very Bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. However I now Live In Lao/ Lao's. I have had the Great Fortune to have had an association with Hendrick Motorsport since 1989. I watched Jimmy Johnson win in Charlotte. However week on week racing is a hard call. I tend to agree with Jimmy Johnson that a reduction of race weekend's may assist in a numbers turnaround. History shows that since Internet, social media, YouTube and in general 20 people watching an event, any event, a minimum of 13 Smart Phones will be the main attraction for those at the event.

[mattsellers]

26 race schedule would be perfect. You stick to going to a racetrack only once besides that of Bristol Dirt and the Charlotte Roval. Spread the season out, give breaks in the season so teams can promote. Do meet and greets on the weekends. It would allow more testing throughout the season without killing the drivers. Here is a mock schedule I made it.

The Clash @ Bowman Gray Stadium
1.) Daytona
2.) Homestead
3.) Phoenix
4.) Auto Club
5.) Sonoma
-Break-
6.) Bristol Dirt
7.) Kansas
8.) Richmond
9.) COTA
10.) Road America
11.) Indianapolis Oval
12.) Charlotte
-Break-
13.)Nashville
14.) Pocono
15.) Michigan
16.) Watkins Glen
17.) Worldwide Technology
-End of Regular Season-
All-Star Race @ Milwaukee Mile
Playoffs:
Round of 16:
18.) New Hampshire
19.) Chicago Street
20.) Darlington
21.) Dover
Round of 8:
22.) Talladega
23.) Roval
24.) Las Vegas
25.) Bristol
Final Four:
26.) Martinsville

[adamUDavies]

Nascar's greed took over many years ago.
Jimmy is only saying this because Nascar can't shut him up.

[NotSteveCook]

The insurance issue affects a lot of IndyCar drivers, too. Alex Lloyd stopped after the infamous Las Vegas race because he was barely getting paid, had no insurance against catastrophic injuries, and was seeking out minimal-cost hotel rooms and food (on top of being a husband and father of 3). Sad to see that becoming prevalent in NASCAR. Long gone are the days when highly popular consumer brands (Kodak, K-Mart, McDonald's, Sirius, Tide, Turner Broadcasting) were tripping over themselves to sponsor a Winston Cup car, even at 35th or 40th in owner points, for $3 million+.

[sergeantmasson]

Many long-time NASCAR drivers reached the point of "enough of this crazy crap" level. Some learn that quicker than others.

[S.K.R.E.Inc.]

That clean shave brings back memories of 2005-2007. Anyway, they race 70% of the year, most sports race 60% max. These drivers are probably worked to exhaustion with so many races

[brandonwilliams]

Interesting about the length of schedule I’ve always said as fan f1 was more appealing to me with the shorter races and schedule made session feel like a special event not just a another episode.. every track should just have one date imo

[jwrailve]

25 races, a couple more exhibition races, continue to change up the schedule, dont oversaturate the schedule with too many road courses, bring back more short tracks and possibly those could be heat style races.

[fredroberts]

I was always a JIMMY JOHNSON FAN, But it was obvious the last couple of years he was still racing that he just was tired of the grind and was wanting to do something else.

[steveutgaard]

Awesome video keep up the awesome videos

[BurtonsAttic]

Totally agree with reducing the number of events. So many positives to do so- more time off for teams, more time for car prep, building more fan excitement etc. Negative is all about money and TV time...The recent change up of the schedule has been great as well. No qualifying or practice has been good for many reasons also.

[joeblow]

I agree with Jimmy. There was to much NASCAR in the past. Got so bad you couldn't walk into a store without NASCAR crap in your face. Coupled with overpriced merch, tickets, concessions at the track and making you buy everything at the track that your were not allowed to carry in. Cookie cutter tracks, well that's another topic altogether. The greed with NASCAR got to be too much.

[stratmaniac]

My mom was a Gordon fan I was a Dale jr fan I told my mom when Jimmie came into the sport that Gordon wouldn't win another championship and he didn't, Jimmie would of won a 8th championship but Nascar didn't want him too they kept changing the points system around so much no one could keep track of what going on they didn't want him to pass the 3 and 43 in championship but I believe Jimmie is the King of Nascar 48 Forever