BACK TO GALLERIES
Take 5: Learnings from Dale Jr. retirement day
By Zack Albert, NASCAR.com | Published: April 26, 2017 6
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his plans for retirement from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Tuesday, scheduled for the end of the 2017 season. The sport's most popular driver covered a sweeping range of topics in the nearly hourlong news conference with the factors that helped him reach his decision.Presenting the best five of the many takeaways from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s retirement announcement.
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Driving days not exactly done
Earnhardt's full-time career in the premier series is coming to a close, but stock-car racing apparently will remain part of his fabric. His JR Motorsports team's plans for the 2018 NASCAR XFINITY Series are shaping up nicely, general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller reported Tuesday, and those plans include two races (at undetermined tracks) with Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel.
But Earnhardt, who said 'my heart loves being in the car,' left the door open for more participation in extracurriculars. 'I told (wife) Amy I might slip off and run a 40-lapper at Hickory (Speedway) one night,' he said. 'So if I'm missing on a Saturday night, she might know where I'm at.'
Earnhardt's full-time career in the premier series is coming to a close, but stock-car racing apparently will remain part of his fabric. His JR Motorsports team's plans for the 2018 NASCAR XFINITY Series are shaping up nicely, general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller reported Tuesday, and those plans include two races (at undetermined tracks) with Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel.
But Earnhardt, who said 'my heart loves being in the car,' left the door open for more participation in extracurriculars. 'I told (wife) Amy I might slip off and run a 40-lapper at Hickory (Speedway) one night,' he said. 'So if I'm missing on a Saturday night, she might know where I'm at.'
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Family's prominent presence
Earnhardt Jr.'s support group wasn't far from him during Tuesday's announcement, with his wife, Amy, and sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller in attendance. But part of the backdrop for the news conference was a towering image of Dale Earnhardt Sr. celebrating with his son in Victory Lane after his first All-Star Race win as a rookie in 2000.
Earnhardt Jr. said that he knew early on that pursuing the career path blazed by his father would mean competing in his shadow, but Rick Hendrick -- by now considered family by the Earnhardt clan -- had a keen perspective on what the elder Earnhardt's thoughts would have been.
'I knew your daddy pretty well. I knew him real well,' Hendrick said. 'He would be proud of the man that you are and what you've done for so many, and all the charities and all the good will that you've done. He would be very, very, and is, is very proud of you.'
Earnhardt Jr.'s support group wasn't far from him during Tuesday's announcement, with his wife, Amy, and sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller in attendance. But part of the backdrop for the news conference was a towering image of Dale Earnhardt Sr. celebrating with his son in Victory Lane after his first All-Star Race win as a rookie in 2000.
Earnhardt Jr. said that he knew early on that pursuing the career path blazed by his father would mean competing in his shadow, but Rick Hendrick -- by now considered family by the Earnhardt clan -- had a keen perspective on what the elder Earnhardt's thoughts would have been.
'I knew your daddy pretty well. I knew him real well,' Hendrick said. 'He would be proud of the man that you are and what you've done for so many, and all the charities and all the good will that you've done. He would be very, very, and is, is very proud of you.'
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Happy, but still hungry
Shadow or not, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he was satisfied with his racing career to date, that he 'had accomplished way more than I've ever dreamed.' That list of achievements includes a pair of Daytona 500 victories and two NASCAR XFINITY Series titles that propelled him into the sport's big leagues.
But Earnhardt indicated there's more at stake in the remainder of what will be his final season, that adding to his career total of 26 wins has taken on newfound urgency. 'We feel very confident that that's not out of the question,' Earnhardt said.
Shadow or not, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he was satisfied with his racing career to date, that he 'had accomplished way more than I've ever dreamed.' That list of achievements includes a pair of Daytona 500 victories and two NASCAR XFINITY Series titles that propelled him into the sport's big leagues.
But Earnhardt indicated there's more at stake in the remainder of what will be his final season, that adding to his career total of 26 wins has taken on newfound urgency. 'We feel very confident that that's not out of the question,' Earnhardt said.
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Hendrick roster shuffle
In some circles, the speculation about who would step in as Earnhardt Jr.'s replacement in 2018 began in short order after the team's announcement nestled in NASCAR inboxes. Hendrick Motorsports development drivers Alex Bowman or William Byron would make logical choices, but the door is potentially open for an outsider candidate.
Team owner Rick Hendrick reiterated what had been spelled out in the team's release Tuesday morning, that a decision on the fate of the No. 88's driver's seat would be made at a later date: 'Priority one is to get everything prepared, get the day over with, and then we'll take time to decide what we do there.'
In some circles, the speculation about who would step in as Earnhardt Jr.'s replacement in 2018 began in short order after the team's announcement nestled in NASCAR inboxes. Hendrick Motorsports development drivers Alex Bowman or William Byron would make logical choices, but the door is potentially open for an outsider candidate.
Team owner Rick Hendrick reiterated what had been spelled out in the team's release Tuesday morning, that a decision on the fate of the No. 88's driver's seat would be made at a later date: 'Priority one is to get everything prepared, get the day over with, and then we'll take time to decide what we do there.'
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New hope for the future
Earnhardt Jr.'s retirement is the most recent in a series of big names -- Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards -- to leave the ranks of full-time drivers. The changing makeup of the NASCAR garage often goes in cycles, and Earnhardt's enthusiasm for the incoming new wave of talent spoke volumes Tuesday.
'This is a new batch of guys that are going to do things in a new way,' Earnhardt said. 'They're going to bring a lot of color and excitement and energy to the sport. We've just got to get them in front of the fans, let the fans get to know them, and I think the rest will take care of itself.'
Earnhardt Jr.'s retirement is the most recent in a series of big names -- Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards -- to leave the ranks of full-time drivers. The changing makeup of the NASCAR garage often goes in cycles, and Earnhardt's enthusiasm for the incoming new wave of talent spoke volumes Tuesday.
'This is a new batch of guys that are going to do things in a new way,' Earnhardt said. 'They're going to bring a lot of color and excitement and energy to the sport. We've just got to get them in front of the fans, let the fans get to know them, and I think the rest will take care of itself.'