Race Weekend Central

Did You Notice?: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Retires On His Terms, Goes His Own Way

2017 hendrick motorsports cup zach catanzareti dale earnhardt jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Did You Notice? … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring at the end of the season? Are you surprised? I think we’re all lying if we say we aren’t. The move, while expected to come in the next couple of years, not this one, was kept nicely under wraps. A well-orchestrated press conference Tuesday afternoon was not sniffed …

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The Frontstretch 5: Reasons to Thank Dale Earnhardt Jr. for a Career Well Spent

2017 Atlanta CUP DAle Earnhardt Jr Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

1. He goes out on his own terms You’d expect nothing less, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the person who ultimately made the call about when to step aside.  He could have done it six months ago, and some will argue that maybe he should have, but that wouldn’t really have been his decision. It …

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NASCAR Mailbox: Who Should Replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports?

2016 Loudon I CUP Alex Bowman Greg Ives Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The news is sinking in. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring. Just like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, the show must go on. And it will. Drivers come and go, but like Gordon and Stewart, Earnhardt is one of NASCAR’s main ambassadors. His face is plastered on advertisements left and right, creating a diverse collection of appreciation that …

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Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: The Jimmie Johnson is Freaky Fast Edition

2017 Bristol I CUP Jimmie Johnson checkered flag Kohn K harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

It took an extra day and some long-awaited, not-so-rainy weather, but for Jimmie Johnson the winning was worth the wait. Not that Johnson needs to do anything to be considered one of the top three or four NASCAR drivers of all time, but now he is just one win short of matching Cale Yarborough’s 83 …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not Done Racing After 2017

22-23 April, 2016, Richmond, Virginia USA Dale Earnhardt Jr © 2016, Nigel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade NKP)

He’s no Tony Stewart, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t be done racing after retirement. While announcing his retirement from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition on Tuesday, Earnhardt made his racing intentions clear for 2018 and beyond. There are a few things still on the table for the two-time Daytona 500 champion. “I don’t see …

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For Dale Earnhardt Jr., It’s Friendships Over Trophies

2017 hendrick motorsports cup zach catanzareti dale earnhardt jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Having announced his retirement from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the end of 2017, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss a few things on the weekly circus of NASCAR racing. After holding one of the quickest cars any time the field takes the green in Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt has earned nine wins for Rick Hendrick, …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Overwhelmed by Support Following Retirement Announcement

2017 hendrick motorsports cup zach catanzareti dale earnhardt jr.

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

When Twitter exploded with well wishes and congratulations on a great career, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was listening. And he was appreciating. After announcing Tuesday (April 25) he will retire from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2017 season, Earnhardt said the support has been special. “The response from the last six hours, from …

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Announces Retirement Following 2017 Season

2017 Las Vegas CUP Dale Earnhardt Jr Russell LaBounty NKP

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 14-time Most Popular Driver, is retiring following the 2017 season. Hendrick Motorsports announced the decision Tuesday morning, shortly after Earnhardt himself addressed his No. 88 team with the news. A press conference will be held later this afternoon with Earnhardt and team principals. Health has become a major question mark for …

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5 Points to Ponder: Should Kyle Larson Feel Good or Bad About 2017?

2017 Texas I CUP Kyle LArson Logan Whitton NKP

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

ONE: Pit Road Speeding During the first 300 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway, not a single Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver got busted for speeding. The pits were so tame, the only major incident was a commitment line violation by rookie Gray Gaulding. If that name’s your front page headline, after answering the obvious question of “Who’s that?” …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NASCAR Fans Needed FOX Sports GO For Bristol

2017 Bristol I CUP Joey Logano pack racing John K Harrelson NKP

(Photo: John K. Harrelson/NKP)

Rain screws up race weekends.  Simple as that.  You should see the e-mail string that goes out when a Cup race gets postponed.  As a result of Sunday’s deluge, Monday’s Food City 500 took place while I was at work.  Naturally, that causes problems. Food City 500 Now, let’s not freak out.  Yes, the race …

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Bad Luck Bites Dale Earnhardt Jr. Again at Bristol

2017 Las Vegas CUP Dale Earnhardt Jr NIgel Kinrade NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade/NKP)

Before halfway way in Monday’s rain-postponed Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the day was done for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Pounding the wall on a lap 218 restart, Earnhardt suffered an oil system issue in his No. 88 Chevrolet. The malfunction came on a day where Earnhardt was struggling from the start. “We broke …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Makes Texas Look Good … Early On

2017 Texas I CUP Dale Earnhardt Jr racing Matthew T Thacker NKP

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

Prior to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series tackled the revamped Texas Motor Speedway.  The race itself turned out to be a little better than everyone thought it would be. Prior to the race starting, Jamie Little conducted a one-on-one interview in the coach lot with Jimmie Johnson. …

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