Jarrett contends he can contend as 50-year-old

CONCORD, N.C. -- Dale Jarrett saw Darrell Waltrip riding in the back of the pack during his final years in Cup and said to himself: "That won't be me. I will know when to walk away."

Times have changed. Jarrett, now 50, says he understands why a driver hangs onto the sport long after his prime has passed, because he firmly believes:

• he physically can compete with 30-year-olds
• quality equipment overrides age
• his family will let him know when to quit

"You always wonder and wonder and look whether someone did stay around a little too long," Jarrett said. "I can see now where that becomes a difficult decision because as a race driver, I just don't see that there is any skills that I don't have that should hinder me from competing and winning."

Is it difficult to determine whether Jarrett is correct. Unlike Waltrip, Jarrett won as he approached his 50th birthday and unlike Waltrip, Jarrett had quality equipment.

Jarrett left Robert Yates Racing at the end of the 2006 season after years of decline, as evidenced by its lack of success at downforce tracks. Jarrett himself suffered his second mediocre season in four years in 2006, scoring just one top-five finish (and that was aided by fuel mileage).

The lack of results, Jarrett said, doesn't mean his ability has receded from the frontrunner he was 10 years ago, the man who won 18 races from 1996-99, culminating with the 1999 title.

His own family, Jarrett maintains, would tell him when to give up, get another job, or simply stay in Hickory, N.C., and play golf.

"The good thing that I have is a couple of people in my life that always been up front and open with me in that respect, and that is my dad and my wife," Jarrett said. "If they felt like or saw something that I didn't, they would be very willing to tell me that, and try to help me understand that my time is done."

Jarrett's outlook for 2007 is anyone's guess -- he starts the year with the fresh-faced, freshly backed Toyota team of Michael Waltrip -- but Jarrett says his age is not an issue. (Continued)