The sport has had a few days to settle in with the announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement at the end of the 2017 season. For some, maybe it was expected. He is after all recently married has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in the sport as one of its biggest names, and seems to be at a point in his life where he is content with the road his career has traveled. For others, it may have been a much greater shock, as he is still relatively young, and definitely has the ability to compete at the sport’s highest level. Certainly, this had to be a huge decision with many complications, right?
Potentially. However, maybe it wasn’t that complicated at all. In a press conference at the beginning of the week, Earnhardt Jr. addressed the press and the fans in what was undoubtedly a difficult moment in the most popular driver’s career.
“You’re wondering why I reached this decision, Earnhardt began? It’s really simple. I just wanted the opportunity to go out on my own terms. I wanted to honor my commitment to Rick (Hendrick), my sponsors, to my team, and to the fans.”
As most of us know, Earnhardt, Jr. had just returned from an extended absence from his Monster Cup Ride, the result of a concussion suffered in a racing incident that left him with side effects that he felt and his doctors felt was enough to remove him from the car for the remainder of the season. During that time, when Earnhardt was recovering, he had something that most of us take for granted, time.
NASCAR drivers don’t have a tremendous amount of that, as much of theirs is dominated with performing, not just in the race car, but meeting demands of the sport and their sponsors. Given the pace, he has managed to keep up over the course of his career, that had to be a strange phenomenon for him. Difficult, frustrating, yes, as he battled the symptoms of his condition, but it almost certainly gave him time to think and develop a perspective that led him to this decision.
“I’ll admit that having influence over my exit only became meaningful when it started to seem most unlikely, continued Earnhardt. “As you know, I missed a few races last year, and during that time I had to face the realization that my driving career may have already ended without me getting so much as a vote at the table. Of course, in life, we’re not promised a vote and that’s especially true in racing.”
During that time, when Earnhardt was recovering, he had something that most of us take for granted, time. NASCAR drivers don’t have a tremendous amount of that, as much of theirs is dominated with performing, not just in the race car, but meeting demands of the sport and their sponsors. Given the pace, he has managed to keep up over the course of his career, that had to be a strange phenomenon for him. Difficult, frustrating, yes, as he battled the symptoms of his condition, but it almost certainly gave him time to think and develop the perspective that led him to this decision.
“But, during my rehab, Earnhardt continued, ” I was given something else that I was accustomed to, and that was time. Time to understand what was important to me. Time to realize the incredible support system I have in my wife, my team, and my doctors. And time to work like hell to wrestle back some semblance of say so in this whole matter. And so that became my motivation. The opportunity to stand here at this podium to announce my choice, rather than some fate that was decided for me.”
Given the life that Earnhardt has had in this sport and those of the family that has competed at this level that came before him, it seems that few may have the ability to speak in the terms he did with the amount of credibility and authority that he has. He has endured 10 times over every single emotion this sport has to offer, both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Certainly, it isn’t hard to understand why having the choice to have a say so in how this began, but maybe most importantly, how it ends was so vitally important to him.
Additionally, in listening to him deliver a speech that allowed him to describe what led him to his decision, it became crystal clear how much Earnhardt, Jr. values the relationships he has with those close to him. He described how difficult it was to share his decision with Rick Hendrick, and how Rick supported him with simply offering an, “I love you.” It is obvious that they share a very special bond that will carry over long after Earnhardt’s career officially ends.
He also gives offered a bit of insight into just how difficult his recovery may have been. He thanked his wife Amy, for standing beside him through what had to have been a very trying time. He credits her with his return to the driver’s seat and allows for an understanding of just how important his support system is. He paid tribute to his sister, Kelly Earnhardt Miller, who he believed sacrificed of herself, over and over again to look after him.
He also thanked his father, for believing in him, and giving him an opportunity to prove himself in one of the most dangerous, trying, but most thrilling occupations one can achieve.
Listening to him speak of the impact of those in his support system provide, it brings the realization that this isn’t unlike the way most of us view our own. In times of triumph, we want to share and celebrate with those we love, and in times of despair, we seek those out that we know will offer us uplifting words, strength and understanding, even when we don’t understand ourselves.
However, it’s also very clear, that Earnhardt has grown, both in his private life as well as in his public one. The man standing at that podium on that day showed immense strength, humility, and grace. He realized that the decision he made would impact not just his own life, but countless others that relied upon him for a seemingly infinite number of different reasons. He took the time to not only recognize and acknowledge that fact but also to thank everyone from each team he worked with, acknowledge and thank Jr. Nation, and let everyone know that he won’t stray too far from the sport he holds dear.
“I want to be a part of the future of this sport, for many, many years to come.”
Given the admiration and love that the sport and the fans have for the young man that grew into a great ambassador for this sport, I can’t imagine he will have any shortage of opportunities to participate in any way he sees fit in the sport’s future. But, perhaps most importantly, he can do so on his terms.
Email Lori Tyler: [email protected].
Senior writer Chris Knight contributed to this feature.
