Is Dale Earnhardt Jr., looking at retirement?

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 18: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Hendrick Chevrolet, looks on in the garage during NASCAR Testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR)

 

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 18:  Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Hendrick Chevrolet, looks on in the garage during NASCAR Testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR)
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 18: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Hendrick Chevrolet, looks on in the garage during NASCAR Testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on January 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR’s most popular driver, several years in a row, Dale Earnhardt Jr. once said he couldn’t see himself racing past the age of 40. This October Earnhardt will turn 39 and according to that earlier prediction should soon be looking at retiring from NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.  However, that statement was made during some dark days in Earnhardt’s career.

Prior to last season, Earnhardt was in the midst of a winless slump. Despite racing for one of the top teams in NASCAR, with top equipment, Earnhardt seemed to struggle at every track; Victory Lane wasn’t even close.  It seemed that indeed if that trend continued Earnhardt could retire once the age of 40 was reached.

Then came 2012.MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.