Jimmie Johnson won’t help prop up the Rolex 24 race in 2012

NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson has revealed that he will skip next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, a race that the five-time Sprint Cup Series champion participating in for the last seven years to help prop up the race hardly anybody bothered to attend.

“I have an open seat to drive that car, to participate and have fun with them. This year, I’ve informed them that I won’t come down and compete in the [Rolex] 24," Johnson said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of this weekend’s Sprint Cup Series finale.

“Although it’s a big year, and a very special year for Chevrolet with the Corvette, I just want to unplug and really spend some time at home. I’m going to regret it when I turn on the telecast to see all my friends out there racing.

“It’s probably going to be the year that the Stallings group goes on and wins the 24 hour and I’m going to kick myself for not being part of it. But with my daughter running around and how busy things have been and the workload and stress level, I just want to take the… winter off this year."