John Darby and NASCAR are parting ways, NASCAR announced on Wednesday.
Darby, who had served as Sprint Cup Series director for 12 seasons, stepped aside from that role in 2014 and oversaw special projects for the sanctioning body.
Darby also served as Xfinity Series director from 1999-2001.
He said in an interview with ESPN that he does not have a new job lined up. “I think I’m going to take a month and sit on a beach and figure out what I really want to do next,” he said.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunities that I’ve had – and also thankful that I took them and did something with them instead of dropping the ball,” Darby said. “When my grandkids start reading the history books, they’ll be able to see a few chapters where grandpa was involved pretty heavily. That means more to me than anything.”
One of Darby’s accomplishments was helping oversee the safer cars that NASCAR is currently using. His most recent projects included working on the electronic rulebook and the new pit road camera technology.
It is unclear whether Darby and NASCAR parted ways amicably.
“As I do leave the company, I will never leave the sport,” Darby said. “It’s in my heart and my veins and it will always be there.