http://wishtv.com/2017/04/25/dale-earnhardt-jr-announces-retirement/
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announces retirement
After 18 seasons and more than 600 races behind the wheel, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will bring his NASCAR Cup Series driving career to a close at the conclusion of 2017. Today, he shared the news with members of his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team.
The fan favorite and two-time Daytona 500 champion will discuss his decision in a press conference this afternoon. He will be joined by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, for whom Earnhardt has driven since 2008. The two first met about the driver’s decision on March 29.
Earnhardt, who will turn 43 in October, made his first career Cup Series start on May 30, 1999, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Since then, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, native has captured 26 points-paying Cup race wins and been voted by fans as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver a record 14 consecutive years. He has qualified for the NASCAR playoffs eight times.
Now in the midst of his 18th full-time season at the elite Cup level, Earnhardt made his 600th career series start on March 26 at Fontana, California. He will compete in his final NASCAR Cup Series race on Nov. 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hendrick Motorsports will announce plans for its 2018 team alignment at a later date.
Funny, as a big Jr fan, I am not the least bit saddened by this news.
I think those of us that watched his father dominate at times, wished, wished and hoped Junior would turn out to be a really, really good driver that won a lot of races - but that just never happened.
Dale Jr is one of the most likable drivers and personalities in sports as far as I am concerned. The fact that he can and did do whatever he wanted in the sport is evidence of this.
Saw him one time on the Lee Corso college football pregame show, whatever that show is called, and it was hilarious - Dale Jr fit right in, laughed on camera at Corso's comments, just a regular likable guy discussing college football.
Not sure if he would translate very well to "the booth." I'd enjoy listening to his insights as I do most ex drivers (except DW - who needs to retire.)
But we all know Dale Jr certainly does not need to work.
Good for him to get out.
Carl Edwards did it, others may join the retirement party soon.
The success of the young drivers may drive that movement.
In my recollection, never has a group of young drivers made such an immediate impact as of late.
Dale Jr has 26 wins and there are 6 active drivers with more wins.
26 wins nothing to sneeze at, not what I am saying at all.
Who invited heineken515 to the league anyway...........? 
Who invited heineken515 to the league anyway...........?
Top of the chart!
what I liked about Jr best is his kind of happy-go-lucky attitude, well not the attitude so much, but the way it came across in words....something like -
'well, yeah I don't know, cars not real fast, yep, maybe it's me, probably me I don't know, need to get some more speed we're working on it, yeah, we'll have to see I don't know, we'll get it in there and figure something out'
Something about the way he talked that I always liked hearing because it made me laugh.
Him retiring, makes me wonder, I know the issue he had last year with concussions, but makes me wonder if he was more competitive if his outlook might be different. They say winning solves everything. Dale Jr doesn't win much lately, or even run well.
But yeah, it is exciting I think seeing so many younger drivers excel right now. There may be some pressure on some other older drivers to retire as contracts come up for renewal.
You nailed it, he talks just like a regular guy.
Your description reminded me of an occasional Mark Martin interview, something like:
TV: Mark how are your chances today, do you like your car ?
Mark: we have about a 14th place car today
I'd enjoy listening to his insights as I do most ex drivers (except DW - who needs to retire.)
Not sure he has to retire but him and 24 have to stop disagreeing with each other. They sword fight way too much. One guy says its black the other says pumpernickel. Painful to listen to them squabble over shit no one cares about.
Appears Danica and a couple others set some new records in practice Friday!
A fluke from NASCAR's scoring system that captured something in error right when they put the red flag out for rain and those 3 drivers had just gone onto the track.
Congrats to Stenhouse ! Nice to see him win that one.
How about that move from McMurray there at the end, going between the 48 and 18, nice move !
"The Big One" - although I like the Dinger, I sure thought that was his fault, hitting the 24 like he did, but in the interviews at the Care Center, no one seemed very pissed about it.
Great final 2 laps!
Glad 18 got beat. Seemed to pout like a baby afterwards..."we'll go to a real race track next week". Wha Wha.
Not sure I've seen Chase get upset yet. I think most of them just know that stuff can and will happen at some point. When 47 spun 24 I said well 'not surprised that it was AJ who did it'. Just thinking he is kind of desperate for a win and good showing he might be more aggressive at that point than some other drivers would've been.
It never ceases to amaze me how they can run so close front-to-back and side-to-side and they can keep it together. And the saves people can make. Even the back of the pack guys who make it into the lead pack can avoid from wrecking somebody or being spun out themselves. Just that one big wreck and a couple single car incidents. Not much crashing yesterday.
Heineken515 extends his lead on 2nd place by 55 pts and by 8 pts on me in 3rd. Sang wins the week and sticks his head into 4th place, but is still 180 back from the leader. Everyone else jockeying for position in the back. Danb with some average races, leafsfan and legliz doing better, alan needs alot of help!
3 to go in this segment! (all star race is not a fantasy race).
yeah, that was a great last two laps 
I'm glad for Stenhouse, he's an ok dude.
I'm also glad 18 got beat. Was pumped when Stenhouse held him off.
good race.
Even a blind squirrel - but at least I am beating DanB and Woods............. 😛
11 cars failed to pass prequalifying inspection today (plus another who missed with an engine change). Some big names, Jr, Jimmie, Boyer, Kayne. NASCAR said the machine is calibrated properly and that the teams are "pushing the limits" on their set-ups.
First night race of the year tomorrow!
Thinking back to the stage discussion following Daytona...at Talladega the first stage ended at lap 55, they went green again at lap 63 losing 8 potential green flag laps on a 2.66 mile track. Stage 2 ended at lap 110 and they went green at lap 117. So, if the race had been run under last year's rules and if there was not a caution that would've otherwise put the race under yellow, we lost a potential of combined 15 laps of green flag racing. I don't mind the stage concept really, but still hate losing laps of actual racing.
I think in the interview I heard he says he was told they sell hemp oil that was legal in 50 states. Also said his wife handles that stuff. NASCAR no approve.
NASCAR Marijuana Sponsor Force Removed from Car by Series
Colorado-based Veedverks removed from NASCAR carMay 12, 2017 by Racing News
Colorado-based Veedverks removed from NASCAR car driven by Carl Long – NASCAR didn’t approve Marijuana vaping companyCarl Long has been banned from the NASCAR Cup Series garage since 2009. He walked into the MENCS garage for the first time in nearly a decade. Instantly, he’s was already in trouble, on his first weekend back. Before he could even get to tech inspection.
NASCAR sponsorship is hard to come by, especially for the mid-pack runners. Carl Long and MBM Motorsports signed a new sponsor. A NASCAR Marijuana sponsor had finally made it’s way onto the grid. Making history, the team scrambled to put the car together and get to the track.
Carl Long NASCAR Weed SponsorThey made it there, at the last minute. But it turns out, that Colorado-based marijuana vaping company isn’t allowed in NASCAR. Series officials weren’t happy with Carl Long and the new branding, at all. At tech, they forced the team to remove the new sponsor logos from the car.
NASCAR said it violated rules governing sponsorship and paint schemes.
A silly move by NASCAR. We are at a point where Marijuana is widely accepted. It’s legal in many states across the US. Any sponsor can make or break a weekend for these little teams.
Until this weekend, Carl Long was prohibited from owning a NASCAR racecar or stepping foot in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage area. A ban that’s been in place since 2009. He had an unpaid fine, totaling $200,000 for an oversized engine.
He appealed that ruling, lost. Though, that was a very steep fine for such a low-budget NASCAR team. So. despite the appeal loss, Carl Long just refused to pay the fine. Time has gone by since that ruling, a lot of time.
This weekend, Carl Long was suddenly allowed back into the NASCAR garage. This weekend at Kansas Speedway was his first return, since 2009. On how he was allowed to come back, Long keeps it short and vague, stating the sanctioning body reached an “agreement” on the matter.
Carl Long returned for the first time this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Unfortunately, before he could even make it through the NASCAR tech line, NASCAR had an issue. The new NASCAR Marijuana sponsor logo had to be removed from the car.
Ahead of the weekend Carl Long thanked his new sponsor, “Thru social media we have a new company based in Colorado stepping up to take the hood. Veedverks. They produce vape cartridges.”
The Marijuana company was prepped for weekend promotion, “In support of #66 Carl Long and his return to Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series, we are having a sale! Shop now at www.veedverks.com and when you use Coupon Code ” LONGSHOT” receive $66 off each Start Kit. Don’t wait! This sale will be gone faster than a race car!”
NASCAR officials stated it will not adorn the car the rest of the weekend.
New leader.
Way to go all and the new leader !
Danica's inteview out of the Care Center bothered me about her. She launched into "me, me, me" and her woes on the track, practically predicted herself getting injured in an upcoming wreck - oh - then towards the end, mentioned Almirola - told me a lot about her.
Brutal Kansas race for me and my lofty position, ha.
Big 600 this weekend.
I was kind of excited for the All Star race format last weekend, but the actual race wasn;t that great and neither was the optional soft tire. The race of the non-all stars beforehand had some pretty good moments.
They added some VHT to the high line at Charlotte to encourage a second line to be able to pass. Something is off on this track, once you get out front it is like nobody can catch you.
At least I'm beating danb and woods so far................ 😛 😮
At least I'm beating danb and woods so far................ 😛 😮
I'm next to last. I couldn't pick any worse!
I got a spam email from DanB the other day, maybe somebody hacked his fantasy team!
600 was painful too watch. Watching the end of race cheering for teams to run out of gas seems to goofy to me.
Why not have longer races on exciting courses and short races w cars going backwards on boring tracks?
I sort of agree there, winning by someone in front of you running out of gas always seemed, well, sort of like winning during a red flag for rain.
Anyhow, I generally like most drivers, but there is just something about Austin Dillon that rubs me wrong.
I won't complain if I never see that belly flop and whatever sort of twerking thing he does, again.
Edit: but then again, I am getting old and cranky, so it is probably just me.
[Edited on 6/1/2017 by heineken515]
At least I'm beating danb and woods so far................ 😛 😮
I'm next to last. I couldn't pick any worse!
Hate to mention this Alan, but my buddy, the guy in last, hasn't updated his picks in weeks and has been getting zero points for awhile due to the max start thing.
Well if nothing else, it is always see a poor loser like Kyle Busch have a melt down after a race. Screaming on his in car communications, walking out of a press conference...always the good sport that 18.
I've had mixed results on a fuel mileage wins. On one hand there is something about having the most deserving or the best cars win the race. Then on the other hand I like to see crew chiefs and drivers come up with different strategies that can capture a win even though they were not maybe one of the top cars out there. We all know the best team doesn't always win the game, or the best athlete doesn't always win the match, so it goes in auto racing too sometimes.
There were atleast 4 cars on somewhat of the same strategy, the 48, 3, 31, 22. The RCR cars made it work got to give them some credit for planning and executing.
Last stage for our fantasy league is Dover. Catch me if you can 😉
Sang slingshots from 4th to take the top spot to close the spring segment with 380 pts!
Strange race.
Sang slingshots from 4th to take the top spot to close the spring segment with 380 pts!
Holy cow what a move, slingshot, crossover, pass in the grass - not sure what that was, way to go Sang !
I was sort of pulling for Larson. I am not sure what happened between him and Truex but I didn't think Larson was at fault on either of the incidents.
Last stage for our fantasy league is Dover. Catch me if you can 😉
😮 😛
Last stage for our fantasy league is Dover. Catch me if you can 😉
😮 😛
I think I said the same thing about this time last year, you win the league and I'm back to Chicago to buy you a pizza!
380 pts is a hell of a total. Somehow you pulled off such a feat last year as well. But it's a marathon not a sprint!
