BUY TICKETS: See the races at Richmond
RELATED: Reactions | Relive every Dale Jr. win | Top quotes from day
How appropriate that after an emotional, heartfelt press conference to formally share his decision to retire at the end of the 2017 NASCAR season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. walked outside into the Hendrick Motorsports parking lot to find a large crowd waiting for him.
Some were there to ask him for his autograph, but many more had come to give Earnhardt their support and appreciation as he competes in his final season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
The adoration is something Earnhardt, 42, receives in bulk every time he goes anywhere in public. The fan love and positive feedback have translated to more than 2 million followers on Twitter.
Sure, two Daytona 500 trophies, the amazing run of restrictor-plate victories and the racing lineage have helped earn him these loyal fans. But perhaps it’s the real triumphs and real struggles of Earnhardt’s career — the high highs and low lows — that the masses of people relate to and appreciate most.
“One thing that’s made this career the incredible ride that it’s been, is Junior Nation,” Earnhardt acknowledged. “The fan support that I received straight out of the gate, was in large part because of my famous last name.
“But throughout the ups and downs it occurred to me that the fans that stuck it out and the new ones that joined us, they were there because of the person I was and not who they wanted me to be.”
While Tuesday’s news may have caught some off-guard, the sport’s reigning 14-time Most Popular Driver seems genuinely content about the decision. And that should give his fans some peace.
MORE: Junior: A kid, a son, a racer and fan favorite
Earnhardt openly shared the process behind his decision and then answered questions from the media. Often there were long pauses between question and answer and that’s because Earnhardt actually thinks about his responses instead of replying with clichés and soundbites.
He is honest and heartfelt — even in the moments after he’s just climbed out of his race car. He is genuine.
And that — not just his ability to win big races or even his racing lineage — is what fans seem to appreciate most about Earnhardt.
His time behind the wheel has evolved — much as the sport’s fan base has as well.
There was the “Junior” I first met in the mid-1990s — young, worry-free and sporting bleach-blond highlights. He was learning about the sport, winning Busch Grand National races and hoisting championship trophies under the watchful eye of his dad, seven-time premier-series champion Dale Earnhardt.
It was fun to watch their interaction and see the pride on the elder Earnhardt’s face. I remember vividly the way Earnhardt shut down an interview in the Daytona press box one afternoon during Speedweeks just so he could watch his son run practice laps on the speedway down below.
Fans were intrigued by the young Earnhardt then — those that cheered for his father and those that cheered against him. He was a “typical” 20-something making his way up the ranks, having fun and winning.
After his legendary father passed away on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Junior’s world naturally shifted. Almost immediately he received new fans. So many felt for this young man who had suddenly lost his beloved dad. Many others had already taken him in as “their guy.”
And Junior never disappointed. Whether he won or not.
His career highlight reel includes winning the summer Daytona Monster Energy Series race five months after losing his father and a streak of four consecutive Talladega victories from 2001-03.
He has collected 26 trophies in all — huge triumphs at Daytona and Talladega and workmanlike wins at Phoenix and Pocono. He has challenged for season championships — finishing a career-best third in 2003.
TAKE A DEEPER LOOK: Complete Junior stats
It’s the success he’s collected without trophies that will be remembered most — the way he has shown how to persevere after tragedy, overcome doubt and recover from injury.
Perhaps Earnhardt’s announcement this week wasn’t honestly a total surprise to his fans and friends. He is 42 years old, just got married on New Year’s Eve and maybe there’s a “Dale III” in the future.
MORE: Dale, Amy’s wedding album | Dale and Amy through the years
As Junior stressed on Tuesday, his decision to retire after an incredible career came of his own free will. It was not dictated by injury or loss of ability, team orders or even a sponsor decision.
It is what Junior wants to do. It is best for him.
And what more could you ask. He deserves that.