At the start of the season, NASCAR’s rumor mill made a huge prediction: This would be Jimmie Johnson’s last year competing in NASCAR, and he would sign off at the Coca-Cola 600 race. 700th Cup start for the 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. It was one heck of a way to hang up boots from racing. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, this 700th race comes on a track where Jimmie Johnson made his Cup Series debut. It is indeed an emotional moment for the driver, who has now matured into a team owner at Legacy Motor Club.

“The thing that really has put a lot of emotional meaning into this for me is that my first start and my 700th start will be at the same track,” Johnson said in an interview with RACER. While he crashed out in his first race at Charlotte, Johnson later went on the conquer the 1.5-mile oval, in an unmatched domination. He has eight wins at the racetrack, which also includes the sweep of 2003, 2004, and 2005. So, with his milestone 700th race on the horizon, this was turning out to be a perfect Cinderella story. But, it looks like the California-native wants to write a few more chapters to his NASCAR story and has now publicly cleared the air surrounding his future beyond 2025.

“I know I was going to run couple of races this year, the coincidence its landed on the track that I had my very first Cup start at. So, this is funny how the universe works, 700 at Charlotte, its really turning out to be something very special for me, and it’s not going to be my last. I’ll still be behind the wheel at least next year, and as long as it makes sense for me to run cars for us to run at Legacy Motor Club,” Jimmie Johnson shared on MRN’s NASCAR Live podcast.

Last year, Kyle Busch joined the 700 Cup starts club with his appearance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Doing so, he became just the 20th driver to reach this milestone. And now, Johnson is all set to become the 21st driver, joining Busch and an elite group of drivers. His last win at Charlotte came back in 2016, the year when he won his 7th title, and while his chances of winning the race are slim, his fans are glad that he will continue to race.

Jimmie Johnson has some unfinished NASCAR business

Jimmie Johnson’s announcement that he’s not retiring after the Coca-Cola 600 has sent fans into a tailspin of nostalgia, and with the hope of reaching another milestone. “Imagine if he squeaked out a win, would be crazy,” one fan wrote on Reddit, dreaming of a fairy-tale finish for the seven-time champ who’s already got 83 Cup Series wins under his belt. He is chasing a fifth-place overall standing in terms of all-time wins for a Cup driver. Currently, he is tied with Bobby Labonte, and another win would draw him level with Darrell Waltrip.

At Charlotte alone, he’s a four-time Coca-Cola 600 winner with eight total victories, making him the track’s most successful active driver. Another fan shared the sentiment, saying, “What I’d give to see him in Victory Lane one final time. Not holding my breath, but it’s nice to know that dream won’t be entirely dead for another year.” Even if that 84th win doesn’t come this Sunday, the mere possibility of Johnson having more opportunities next year is enough for his fans.

The love for Johnson isn’t just about his stats—it’s about what he represents to fans across generations. “I might’ve hated him as a kid but love seeing him race as an adult,” one fan confessed, a nod to Johnson’s polarizing dominance in the 2000s when he won five straight titles from 2006 to 2010, a feat that made him a villain to some and a hero to others. Nobody thought that anyone could match the success and domination once shared by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Despite the changes in playoff formats, tournament structure, and points distribution, Johnson always found a way.

For many, Johnson is a link to NASCAR’s past, a driver who’s carried the torch through changing times. A reminder of NASCAR’s golden era, which is why the fans want to see him keep racing. “Jimmie, Logano, Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Keselowski are the last of my childhood so I’m in no rush to see 7-time hang it up,” a fan admitted, clinging to the icons who defined their early racing memories. If anything, NASCAR needs their heroes now more than ever, and JJ continuing to run and grow his team, LMC, will only help the sport grow.

That legacy is why fans are rooting so hard, even if the odds are long. “Jimmie’s legacy is airtight even if he runs last at every race he runs in. Always root for him whenever he runs NASCAR,” a supporter shared, summing up the unwavering loyalty Johnson inspires. Even if he calls it quits, he’s not going away from the sport. His commitment at LMC as a team co-owner goes to show that his ambitions spread far beyond just piloting a race car. Clearly, he is in for a long run and ready to give back to the sport that made him the superstar he is today.

As Johnson gears up for more races in 2025 and beyond, the NASCAR faithful are ready to cheer him on, hoping for that one last Victory Lane celebration that would cap a career already etched in history.