Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson says next year will be a ‘semi-retirement’ year for him as he races for the last time as a full-time racer in NASCAR in 2020.
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American singer and a friend of Johnson’s, Blake Shelton, tweeted on Sunday, requesting Jimmie Johnson to make ‘next year’ his retirement year.
Shelton said that the current season has been unideal due to disturbances caused by COVID-19, and fans should have another season to witness Johnson in NASCAR.
Singer Blake Shelton requests Jimmie Johnson to not retire this year
Shelton wrote, “Just my opinion but since 2020 has turned out to be an absolute cluster with Covid-19 how about @JimmieJohnson make NEXT YEAR be his retirement year? Give the fans a chance to see him in person one more time AND a reset season for him. Just saying Jimmie… Please.”
Just my opinion but since 2020 has turned out to be an absolute cluster with Covid-19 how about @JimmieJohnson make NEXT YEAR be his retirement year? Give the fans a chance to see him in person one more time AND a reset season for him. Just saying Jimmie… Please.
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) August 2, 2020
To this, Johnson replied saying that next year could be just a ‘semi-retirement’ year and invited his friend Shelton for a ‘cold one’ soon.
Johnson wrote, “Can next year be a semi-retirement year?? Let’s have a cold one soon by the way.”
Can next year be a semi-retirement year?? Let’s have a cold one soon by the way. https://t.co/Axjvk3KqYq
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) August 2, 2020
Driving the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Hendrick Motorsports, Johnson finished 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Johnson aims for IndyCar Series in 2021
Johnson had expressed his intentions of racing in the IndyCar Series next season after he retires from NASCAR.
Last week, he took a step towards fulfilling that dream. Johnson had his first test in an Indy Car with Chip Ganassi Racing and said that ‘it only lit the fire more’.
ALSO READ- “It Only Lit the Fire More”- Jimmie Johnson Excited After First IndyCar Test
“I want to do this more than ever before. It was something new, something different. NASCAR has been so good to me and I am so proud of the success I’ve had. But to try something new, man, this was really cool,” Johnson had said in an interview post the test.
Imago
In this image provided by Jimmie Johnson Racing II, Inc., Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson poses with an IndyCar during testing with Chip Ganassi Racing on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Indianapolis. Johnson is interested in competing in the IndyCar Series when he retires from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of this season. (Jimmie Johnson Racing II, Inc. via AP)
“When I got in the car, I needed two sessions to let my eyes adjust. Things were coming up on me pretty quick,” said the 44-year-old. “In the beginning of the day I was finding big chunks, but the track was going away while my ability was increasing.”
Johnson has already started making plans about his participation in the IndyCar Series next season.
SOURCE- Jimmie Johnson- Twitter, APNews.com, Blake Shelton- Twitter
