In the two or three times Johnson mentioned that the ’20 season would be his last, he said Hendrick never reacted. “And then the fourth time he said, ‘I guess you’re serious about this aren’t you?’”

“Everybody knows Jimmie, he processes everything, and then when he’s made up his mind, he’s not wishy-washy at all,” Hendrick said. “He’s done so much for us and for the sport. If you just said, I’m going to list what the perfect driver from the talent to the ability to working with sponsors, athlete, he’s just raised the bar at our company from fitness to charity; it’s unbelievable how perfect he is. So whatever he wanted, I wanted for him.”

Johnson was introduced at the press conference by his two daughters, 9-year-old Genevieve and 6-year-old Lydia. Wednesday morning, before the retirement video hit his social media channels Johnson shared it with his daughters over breakfast.

Lydia was unfazed and just wanted dad to pass the butter for her pancakes. Genevieve said Johnson is still processing and wants him to be happy.

“So excited to be where I am today and to be in this press conference today and tell everyone what my plans are,” Johnson said. “I’m very excited and just ready to get 2020 started. The process has been interesting. Telling friends, telling my team yesterday. To sit the team down, people who have worked on the 48 from the beginning, that was probably one of the harder moments I think that I had. … It’s been an interesting process and a day you never really can plan for, but it’s here, and I’m just thankful to be with family, friends, this man right here (Hendrick) and all that he’s done for my life.”