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In their words: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rick Hendrick on retirement
By | Published: April 25, 2017 45
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'He's like a son. We've had for many, many years a tremendous relationship.'-- Rick Hendrick on his relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'The response just in the last six hours from teammates, colleagues and fans has been overwhelming. I just want to thank everyone for making me feel pretty incredible today.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I just wanted the opportunity to go out on my own terms. I wanted to honor my commitment to Rick, my team, my sponsors and fans.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I wanted to be able to make the decision and not have it made for me. I feel healthy.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the timing of his decision to retire at the end of 2017
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'Without a shadow of a doubt the hardest thing to do was to tell you, you mean so much to me. I didn't want to disappoint you.'-- Dale Jr. on discussing decision with team owner Rick Hendrick
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'Through thick and thin, Amy's love and support has been constant. … Without her help in those days of recovery, I wouldn't have been back at the track.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'To my father - Dale Earnhardt, I would not have been a racecar driver without him. He believed in me, I appreciate my father.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I think if I were to sum up Kelley's life in one word it would be 'sacrifice.' … She made it her life mission to have my back.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the bond with his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller
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'To my fans, one thing that has made my career the incredible ride that it's been is Junior Nation.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his incredibly loyal fan base
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'There will never be another Dale Earnhardt Jr.' -- Rick Hendrick
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'From my road crew to the pit crew to all the people in the Nos. 48 and 88 shop, I'm a better driver and person because of you.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, just to name two of probably a dozen guys I’m excited about. All those guys have great attitudes and great personalities.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the young talent in NASCAR
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'No one in the garage could be better to mentor these young guys than Dale.' -- Rick Hendrick
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'This is a new batch of guys that are going to do things a new way and bring some more energy to the sport.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'During my rehab I was given time to understand what was important to me, the incredible support system I have with my wife, team & doctors.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I've never woke up since I talked to Rick and had a change of heart.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the days since making his decision when he first informed Rick Hendrick of his plans on March 29
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'I’m very sad, because I know it’s definitely disappointing for a lot of people to wake up to that news this morning.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the conflicting emotions his retirement brings
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'We have a lot of urgency to go out there and try to make some things happen this year.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the mindset of the No. 88 team for the remainder of the year
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'We are very close. I appreciate the sacrifices he and his family have made for our team.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his relationship with crew chief Greg Ives
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'You have helped me mature and grow well beyond the racetrack.' - Dale Jr. on his time and relationships at Hendrick Motorsports
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'I felt like a member of my family came and told me this is what I decided to do.' -- Rick Hendrick on discussing the decision with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'At a very young age, all I wanted to do was make a living driving cars.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I feel healthy and I'm having a really good time driving these cars. I'm excited about the races I have left.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'This was going to come at some point. Everybody gets to a point in their career where they are going to retire.' -- Rick Hendrick
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'Going through what we went through last year was a challenge. I was pretty sick at one point, didn't think I was going to get to race.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the road to returning to race in 2017
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'This season has been a blessing to me. A gift.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I saw, even at an early age before I was a driver, that growing up in that man's shadow was going to be difficult.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on growing up around his racing legend father, Dale Earnhardt
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'I've been treated so well by the industry and by the fans everywhere we go.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'When he said he wanted to talk to me, I had this inkling that it might be pretty serious.' -- Rick Hendrick on the discussion of retirement with Dale Jr.
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'I'm at peace with the decision. I’m very comfortable with it. I’m more concerned with the fallout of it.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I enjoy the race team with have JR Motorsports and the fact that we have graduated so many people. … Our connection to HMS is critical to our success.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'When I really want to know the facts, I'll sit down with Dale. -- Rick Hendrick on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s eye for young talent
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'I really don’t know what to expect.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. regarding the farewell tour he is set to embark on
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'It was a very emotional conversation...but when we came out of that deal, we were excited about what's next.' -- Rick Hendrick
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'I kind of want this season to drag a little just so we can get everything we can out of it.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'My heart loves being in the car, I love driving and I enjoy it as much as I ever have.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I still have two XFINITY races to run in 2018 so even after this season you have not seen the last of me on the race track.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealing his has a few races on the books next year
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'I'm going to be on the track Richmond with my foot on the floor and this press conference will be a distant memory.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'Coming out of the gate and winning two XFINITY championships, blew me away.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his early success
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'I wanted to leave some kind of mark that somebody would know I was here.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on being a part of Hendrick Motorsports
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'I want to be a part of the future of this sport for many, many years to come.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I do love winning races but it isn’t the one thing I enjoy the most. The one thing I enjoy the most about racing is my relationships with the team.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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'I accomplished way more than I ever dreamed. Way more. So I'm good.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on an overall look at his career
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'He wouldn't tell me to my face, but he would probably tell Rick (Hendrick) that he was really proud of me.' -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. on what his dad, Dale Earnhardt, would think of his career
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'I knew your dad very well, and he would be proud of the man that you are and all that you've done.' -- Rick Hendrick on what Dale Earnhardt would think of his son's career