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Dale Jr

Dale Earnhardt JR To Retire At The End Of Season

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DALE EARNHARDT JR. TO RETIRE FROM NASCAR CUP SERIES COMPETITION
FOLLOWING THE 2017 SEASON

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25, 2017) – 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.

dale earnhart jr
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 23: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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.

This Week At Bristol Preview

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Are you ready for some short track racing at Bristol? Here is a preview of what to look for and who needs to win to get in the chase. Can we have a new driver in the winners circle? Many questions need to be answered.

Get Up Close With Dale Earnhardt Jr at Martinsville

Fans Can See Earnhardt Up Close, On Track With Special Offer

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Aug. 18, 2014) – Race fans will have the opportunity to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. up close and then cheer him on from great seats on the front stretch with the Dale Jr. Offer for the Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

For $88, fans will have access to a scheduled question and answer session with Earnhardt on the track and a seat in the Blue Ridge Tower for the October 26 race. The Q & A session with Earnhardt is scheduled for 11 a.m. on race day in the Turn 3 area of the track.

“We’re excited about this opportunity for our fans. We believe it is a unique setting … on the track where the drivers will be racing later in the day, listening to one of those drivers talk about the upcoming race,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “We think it’s something special, especially for Dale Jr. fans.”

The Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 has taken on even more importance this fall with the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format. It will be the first race in the Eliminator Round. A Martinsville win guarantees a driver a berth in the Championship Round. A solid finish at Martinsville is critical, while a poor finish will almost guarantee elimination from the Chase.

Earnhardt is in the midst of one of his best seasons ever with three victories, and has already clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Although he doesn’t have a Martinsville win, it historically is one of his best tracks with 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

The Blue Ridge Tower, where seats for the Dale Jr Offer are located, is on the front stretch of the half-mile oval, running from the start-finish line to the first turn. The seats will be located in rows 18-66.

Anyone who has already purchased tickets for the Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 can add the Earnhardt question and answer session for $8 per person.

Tickets to the Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 on October 26, the Kroger 200 on October 25 and the Virginia Lottery Pole Day on October 24 can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.