5 NASCAR drivers who retired without a win in their final season ft. Jimmie Johnson

Modified Dec 09, 2024 23:23 GMT

NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 - Practice - Source: Getty

NASCAR has witnessed some exceptional talent over the years. These drivers have made their mark in the national stock car racing series since their debut races and have triumphed in their rookie seasons. However, despite their prowess, a few veteran drivers couldn't capitalize on a win in their final full-time season in NASCAR.

Let's take a look at a list of five NASCAR Cup Series drivers who retired without a win in the final season of their professional career:

#5 Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer competed in the NASCAR Cup Series for over 15 years and debuted with Richard Childress Racing in 2006. After accumulating a total of 10 wins in more than 500 races, the former Xfinity Series champion hung his helmet while competing for Stewart-Haas Racing's #14 Ford in 2020.

In his last season, the driver-turned-analyst came close to winning once in the 2020 Bristol race and finished second. Bowyer ended the same season at P12 in the final standings and racked up 12 top-10 finishes.

#4 Kevin Harvick

2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick competed for two top organizations in the premier division. He made his full-time debut with RCR in 2001 and finished his Cup career with Stewart-Haas Racing, driving the #4 Ford, in the 2023 season.

In his final season with SHR, the 60-times Cup race winner Harvick finished runner-up once at Darlington Raceway and concluded the year with five more top-five finishes.

#3 Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. is the most recent addition to this list of drivers. The 2017 Cup Series champion last competed for Joe Gibbs Racing and has been in the sport for over two decades.

Although the 34 Cup race winner managed a playoff spot based on points, he fell out of contention in the Round of 12. This season, Truex Jr. managed a runner-up spot in Bristol and garnered four more top-five places in 36 starts.

#2 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended his full-time Cup Seris career in 2017 after competing for two major organizations. He started his rookie season with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and finished his final season with Hendrick Motorsports.

After suffering from concussion-like symptoms in the 2016 season, Dale Jr. returned for his last full-time season in 2017 and decided to hand in his helmet for good. The two-time Daytona 500 winner ended up with only one top five finish at Texas in the entirety of the year.

#1 Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Club co-owner and part-time driver, had one of the most storied NASCAR Cup Series careers in its history. Throughout his full-time career, the seven-time Cup Series champion competed for Rick Hendrick in the winningest NASCAR organization.

The 83-time Cup race winner made his debut in 2002 and last competed full-time in the 2020 season. In his final season for HMS, Johnson managed only four top-five finishes in 36 races.

About the author

Sashwat is part of Sportskeeda’s NASCAR division and frequently covers various events from each race during the season. A Mass Communication and Journalism graduate, he has been interested in the intersection point of sports and writing and has found that opportunity in motorsports journalism.

Sashwat is a firm believer in being true to what he covers and tries to pick up as much information as possible from races as they happen, helping him get the first jump on in-race incidents. His favorite driver is Kyle Larson, as he is intrigued by his dynamicity and diversity as a driver.

Sashwat wants to see NASCAR travel around the world, adding a global element to the Cup Series, and believes this could help the sport bridge the popularity gap to F1.

When he isn’t working, Sashwat follows football and tennis, supporting Real Madrid and Novak Djokovic, respectively. He is also interested in the creativity that comes with film-making.

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Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar