CONCORD — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will retire from NASCAR Cup Series after 2017, Hendrick Motorsports announced Tuesday.
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Earnhardt, who will turn 43 in October, made his first career Cup Series start on May 30, 1999, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hendrick says Earnhardt told his team Tuesday about his plans.
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, has raced 18 seasons and more than 600 races.
Statement from Martinsville Speedway:
“Every driver deserves the right to go out on his terms and I’m happy that Dale’s able to do that. While Dale won’t be on the track next year, I have no doubt that he will continue to serve as a great ambassador for our sport. One of my favorite memories at Martinsville came in 2014, when he finally won here, taking home the grandfather clock. As a historian of the sport, I know what that meant to him and seeing how excited he was is something I will never forget. I look forward to seeing him one more time in a Cup car here in the fall and look forward to continuing to see him around the garage for years to come.” – Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell