NASCAR has been fortunate to have a pipeline of young talent to fill the void. Among those moving into the Cup Series in recent years have been Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Erik Jones, William Bryon, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick.
Still, retirement is on the horizon for many of the sport’s current stars.
Kevin Harvick has become a modern-day Dale Earnhardt because of his rugged racing style and his “I don’t give a damn” attitude.
With 49 career victories, including the 2007 Daytona 500, two Brickyard 400s and the 2014 Cup Series championship, Harvick remains one of the best drivers in the series. Harvick has qualified for the Championship 4 in each of the three years that format has been utilized.
Harvick turned 44 in December and appears to still have a passion for racing, but he has reached the age where it wouldn’t be a big shock if he retired at some time soon.
Other big names who could be the next to retire in the coming years include Kurt Busch (41), Ryan Newman (42) and Clint Bowyer (40), although none of them have expressed any interest or desire in calling it a career.
With Johnson exiting stage left, who is the Cup Series’ legend in the making?
It very well may be Kyle Busch. He has won so much, for so long it’s easy to overlook that he’s only 34 years old. It’s scary to think his best seasons may be ahead of him.
Busch has won 208 races in NASCAR’s three national series (Cup, Xfinity and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series).
He’s won 56 Cup Series races and collected his second championship last season.
A driver who never seems to get the credit he deserves as one of NASCAR’s best is Martin Truex Jr. He turns 40 on June 29 and has 26 wins, including eight en route to the 2017 Cup Series title. He won seven races last year.
The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver is certain to contend for the title again this season.
Denny Hamlin turns 40 in November and has won 37 races, including a pair of Daytona 500s, during his 15 seasons in the Cup Series. Still, the Joe Gibbs Racing pilot has yet to win the championship.
Brad Keselowski, who has won 30 Cup Series races, turns 36 four days before the Daytona 500. Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Series title.
His Team Penske teammate, Joey Logano, turns 30 on May 24 and has 23 victories and he won the 2018 Cup Series title.
Johnson’s historic accomplishments should leave one with a sense of awe and admiration.
A race driver can become a star through talent, skill and opportunity. Becoming a legend, however, happens over an organically long period of time.
“He was the guy that put that together,” Hendrick said. “I just think when you look back at a seven-time champion, he did it right; he represented the sport as a true champion.
“You never had to make an excuse for Jimmie Johnson. He was always on his mark. He never embarrassed anybody,” Hendrick continued. “He is a role model for kids, a role model for drivers and an athlete that I’ve never seen in any kind of sport. He’s that much committed to what he does in his job and to his family.
“I’m just very blessed to have known him, have him in that car, and win all the championships and all the races that he’s done for us.”