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Random Power Rankings: Retirement-busters
By Steve Luvender | Published: March 5, 2020 11
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Don't call it a comeback. Or, do. These are all comebacks, really. This week, we're ranking some of the most notable retirement-busting appearances from NASCAR drivers in recent memory.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
No. 10: Tony Stewart
OK, technically, this hasn't happened yet, but Smoke makes our list since he announced his intention to race again in this year's Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis. We knew he wasn't done!
OK, technically, this hasn't happened yet, but Smoke makes our list since he announced his intention to race again in this year's Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis. We knew he wasn't done!
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
No. 9: Elliott Sadler
Elliott Sadler wished his farewells following the conclusion of the 2018 Xfinity Series season, but we had a feeling he wouldn't stay away for very long. Sure enough, Sadler made a pair of starts in 2019 for Kaulig Racing — and we bet he'd do it again, too, even though he insists he’s done this time.
Elliott Sadler wished his farewells following the conclusion of the 2018 Xfinity Series season, but we had a feeling he wouldn't stay away for very long. Sure enough, Sadler made a pair of starts in 2019 for Kaulig Racing — and we bet he'd do it again, too, even though he insists he’s done this time.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
No. 8: David Ragan
Despite his announcement to retire from full-time competition at the end of 2019, David Ragan didn't stay away from the wheel for very long: He started the very next race — the 2020 Daytona 500 — and finished an impressive fourth. Can we call it a comeback if he didn't actually miss a race between his retirement and his return?
Despite his announcement to retire from full-time competition at the end of 2019, David Ragan didn't stay away from the wheel for very long: He started the very next race — the 2020 Daytona 500 — and finished an impressive fourth. Can we call it a comeback if he didn't actually miss a race between his retirement and his return?
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Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images
No. 7: Darrell Waltrip
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip said farewell to a legendary NASCAR Cup Series career in 2000, but hopped in a few self-owned Gander Trucks in the early 2000s. His last start, the 2006 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville, came in a car owned by his brother, Michael Waltrip. Since DW retired from driving but still came back, might we see him follow suit with his TV retirement, too?
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip said farewell to a legendary NASCAR Cup Series career in 2000, but hopped in a few self-owned Gander Trucks in the early 2000s. His last start, the 2006 Xfinity Series race at Martinsville, came in a car owned by his brother, Michael Waltrip. Since DW retired from driving but still came back, might we see him follow suit with his TV retirement, too?
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
No. 6: Bill Elliott
At 62, Awesome Bill from Dawsonville returned to the driver's seat for the 2018 Xfinity Series race at Road America. And, technically, since he'd never raced at the track, the Hall of Famer had to sport rookie stripes. Really.
At 62, Awesome Bill from Dawsonville returned to the driver's seat for the 2018 Xfinity Series race at Road America. And, technically, since he'd never raced at the track, the Hall of Famer had to sport rookie stripes. Really.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
No. 5: Jeff Gordon
After his retirement in 2015, Rick Hendrick gave four-time NASCAR Cup Series champ Jeff Gordon the call to fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a few races in the second half of 2016. He hasn't made a start since, but we bet he could still get the job done. Hey, there's still no successor named for Jimmie Johnson yet.
After his retirement in 2015, Rick Hendrick gave four-time NASCAR Cup Series champ Jeff Gordon the call to fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a few races in the second half of 2016. He hasn't made a start since, but we bet he could still get the job done. Hey, there's still no successor named for Jimmie Johnson yet.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
No. 4: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season was Dale Jr.'s last as a full-time driver, but how could anybody keep him out of the driver’s seat? Since his retirement, Junior has made a single Xfinity Series start each year since — and he's scheduled to do it again at Homestead-Miami Speedway later this month.
The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season was Dale Jr.'s last as a full-time driver, but how could anybody keep him out of the driver’s seat? Since his retirement, Junior has made a single Xfinity Series start each year since — and he's scheduled to do it again at Homestead-Miami Speedway later this month.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
No. 3: Mark Martin
Winner of 40 races, the original plan for Mark Martin was to retire following the 2005 season. And then that plan got pushed back a year. And then he raced two more partial seasons. And then he signed up for a three-year ride with Hendrick Motorsports.
Winner of 40 races, the original plan for Mark Martin was to retire following the 2005 season. And then that plan got pushed back a year. And then he raced two more partial seasons. And then he signed up for a three-year ride with Hendrick Motorsports.
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Jared Wickerham | Getty Images
No. 2: Mark Martin, again
Oh, sorry. We weren't done listing Mark Martin comebacks. Remember when we said Martin was done after 2005? Well, part of those 244 additional starts included two years' worth of a partial schedule with Michael Waltrip Racing, as well as a few odd fill-in roles for Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing. Mark Martin called it a career at the end of 2013, but part of us wonders if he could still get it done in 2020.
Oh, sorry. We weren't done listing Mark Martin comebacks. Remember when we said Martin was done after 2005? Well, part of those 244 additional starts included two years' worth of a partial schedule with Michael Waltrip Racing, as well as a few odd fill-in roles for Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing. Mark Martin called it a career at the end of 2013, but part of us wonders if he could still get it done in 2020.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
No. 1: Greg Biffle
Out of all the drivers on our list, Greg Biffle has done retirement best, in our opinion. Biffle peaced out following the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series season, lived life to its absolute fullest if his Twitter is any indication, and then came back in 2019 for precisely one race — the Gander Trucks race at Texas — and won it. There's no quit in The Biff.
Out of all the drivers on our list, Greg Biffle has done retirement best, in our opinion. Biffle peaced out following the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series season, lived life to its absolute fullest if his Twitter is any indication, and then came back in 2019 for precisely one race — the Gander Trucks race at Texas — and won it. There's no quit in The Biff.