Unlike other sports, Nascar can see drivers compete well into their 50’s. While this allows for some pretty cool stories and added fan memories, it also can lend itself to some drivers staying active well past their prime.
With Jimmie Johnson being just the latest driver to announce his retirement from Nascar (effective the end of the 2020 season), I wanted to take a look at drivers who voluntarily retired from the sport to see if they hung on too long or left at just the right time (or maybe even a little too soon). By “voluntary retirement” that means I’m not including anyone who was killed or seriously injured while driving.
Instead of looking at EVERY driver (even though interest in an analysis of Derrike Cope’s latter years could be quite high) I’m limiting it to Hall of Fame inductees—for now.
(Drivers listed in order of their Hall of Fame induction)
NOTE: Those inducted primarily or exclusively for achievements outside of driving (team ownership, crew chiefing, etc.) will not be considered. Cup performance is all that’s considered for this piece. Also, the more modern term “Cup Series” will be used instead of Grand National, Winston Cup, etc.
Junior Johnson
DRIVING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 50 Cup Series wins. 1960 Daytona 500 champion. Innovator of drafting. Subject of “The Last American Hero” by Tom Wolfe, an early exposure of Nascar to the rest of the nation.
LAST HURRAH: Junior won a career-high 13 races in 1965—even more impressively this was his first year running his own equipment as Junior Johnson & Associates.
FINAL YEAR(S): Johnson ran a handful of races in 1966 posting mediocre results, although he did notch a fifth place finish in his last race. He announced his retirement as a driver, reportedly because driving had lost its luster for the former moonshiner, and embarked on a team-ownership career that would notch six Cup Series championships (as well as bringing in Winston to the sport).
DID HE HANG ON TOO LONG?: No. As a driver-owner he was able to call his own shots and simply walked away from the driver’s seat when he felt like it.