Johnson's spotter won't return.

During a modest round of layoffs Monday and Tuesday at Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson's spotter, Stevie Reeves, was told he would not return to the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet team next season.

Reeves confirmed the news on Tuesday night.

Reeves and the Hendrick organisation part on good terms. The spotter, who helped guide Johnson to his second consecutive Sprint Cup championship in 2007, has already been contacted by other teams and is weighing his options.

"They wanted to give me plenty of time to find something before Homestead and not leave me hanging high and dry," said Reeves, who will spot the final two races of the season for Johnson as he attempts to win a record-tying third straight championship. "Rick Hendrick knows how to treat people, and that's what makes him so successful.

"Jimmie Johnson is a class act, and the only thing I regret is that I won't be working with him next year, but I'm going to land on my feet OK."

Johnson has won 16 races with Reeves as his spotter the past two seasons, and Johnson leads the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by 106 points over Carl Edwards going into Sunday's race at Phoenix.

by Reid Spencer/Sporting News