In a surprising announcement 42 year old Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of NASCAR’s most endearing personalities, and son of the late legend Dale Earnhardt, will retire after the 2017 NASCAR season closes November 19.
Missing 18 races in the 2016 season from a severe concussion gave him time to consider that when he did decide to retire he wanted it to be his decision and not have it made for him due to injuries or lack of being competitive, he told ESPN. While he’s had quite a successful driving career as well as winning 14 consecutive NASCAR Sprint Most Popular Driver awards, he lacks winning a Cup Championship, which his father did seven times. The closest he came to winning was a 3rd in points in 2003. This season he’s had one top-10 finish and currently sits in 24th place. In all he’s snagged 26 victories in 603 starts, with Daytona 500 wins in both 2004 and 2014.
For his own Xfinity team he plans on running two races next year, so he’s not entirely out of racing. It’s interesting to note that within the last year we’ve now seen three 1990s superstar NASCAR drivers retire with Tony Stewart and Robbie Gordon, as well as popular driver Carl Edwards abruptly announcing his retirement just a couple of months ago.
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