SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 20: Jimmie Johnson 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Carvana Toyota during qualifications for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Anduril 250 Race the Base race on Saturday June 20, 2026 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, CA. Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUN 20 NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 Race the Base EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon953260620205
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 20: Jimmie Johnson 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Carvana Toyota during qualifications for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Anduril 250 Race the Base race on Saturday June 20, 2026 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, CA. Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUN 20 NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 Race the Base EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon953260620205
Jimmie Johnson is set to bring the curtain down on his driving career next year, after confirming that the 2027 Daytona 500 will be his final race. As part of the farewell, Rick Hendrick will allow the seven-time Cup Series champion to drive the iconic No. 48 once again.
Discussing the decision on the Herm & Schrader podcast, NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader admitted the gesture was a nice tribute but suggested there was also a business side to it.
“You know, it's neat. They'll sell some die-cast." After a brief laugh, Schrader added, “Yeah, it doesn't make any difference what number's on those cars.”
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Jimmie Johnson 84 Legacy Motor Club Carvana Toyota waves to the crowd prior to the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 Duel 1 on February 12, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 12 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Duels 1 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602122374
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Jimmie Johnson 84 Legacy Motor Club Carvana Toyota waves to the crowd prior to the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 Duel 1 on February 12, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 12 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Duels 1 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602122374
Hendrick Motorsports has created a successful and emotional way to honor retiring drivers through special paint schemes and related merchandise.
The 2015 farewell campaign for Jeff Gordon showed how valuable retirement merchandise could be. Because of the strong push for tribute apparel and collectibles, Schrader on Kenny Wallace's podcast considered Johnson driving the No. 48 to be more about business.
Johnson's farewell has already generated plenty of excitement among fans, especially with the return of the famous No. 48 that became synonymous with his record-equalling seven Cup Series championships at Hendrick Motorsports.
Rick Hendrick's decision to reunite Johnson with the number for one last race is expected to make the 2027 Daytona 500 one of the biggest storylines of the season.
Schrader's comments from the same interaction, however, offered another perspective. While acknowledging the sentimental value of the move, he suggested that bringing back the No. 48 would naturally boost merchandise sales, particularly die-cast collectibles, regardless of the number on the car.
Why are modern NASCAR retirements more permanent?
The conversation on the Herm and Schrader podcast later focused on Johnson’s retirement and whether a driver can come back and compete at the highest NASCAR level after stepping away from full-time competition. The hosts noted that today’s drivers are much more athletic than many drivers of the past.
Wallace argued that today's Cup Series demands constant simulator work, physical training, and year-round preparation, making it extremely difficult for drivers to remain competitive after leaving full-time racing.
“These cars are so difficult," he added. "These guys are acting like, I mean, they are. It's incredible. They're athletic. They're in sims every day. You hear them, and it's really happening. And my God, they all got washboard abs. If you got a belly in NASCAR nowadays, you're frowned upon. It's like, 'Oh my God, he's got a belly.' These guys put so much effort into it.”
While Johnson's return in the No. 48 is expected to be an emotional farewell, Schrader believes the modern era leaves very little room for successful comebacks once a driver steps away from the sport full-time.
What do you feel about Jimmie Johnson's farewell in 2027? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Aaradhya Singh
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar