Whether you're a die-hard NASCAR fan, or not so much... there's a good chance you've heard of Dale Earnhardt Jr. And even if you are a fan of the NASCAR racing series and he isn't your driver, there's this sense of respect you just seem to always have for Jr.
Not only is he the son of the late legend and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Dale Earnhardt Sr., and run over 605 races in the last nineteen years, but is also the reigning f-time winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver consecutively since 2003. His statistics make him seem unstoppable, all up until his 2016 season. A severe concussion caused him to take a step back from the track.
However, when he returned in the 2017 season, NASCAR returned back to normal; and we once again had an Earnhardt on the track. But, recently this season, the NASCAR world learned that Jr. had decided to back away from the sport as a driver, and just remain an owner and that the 2016-2017 season will be his last time driving the Nationwide Chevy #88 for Hendrick Motorsports.
Now, I may not have always been a fan of Jr. as a person, but I've always respected him as a driver. In his prime, he knew how to get the job done and get his car into victory lane. However, I also respect his decision as a person to step away before any more serious injuries or accidents end his career for him. And I am eager to watch him race his final Memorial Day race in person.
When I truly started watching NASCAR, I was 8. So, I had obviously begun watching after the Dale Sr. era. But just a little bit of time after, Jr. had already begun to create a name for himself and continued to show pride to the Earnhardt name. Thus, saying goodbye to him as a driver is a somewhat bittersweet moment for me. As long as I can remember, Jr was racing and setting a new pathway for the world of NASCAR. So, with him retiring at the end of this season, there really is a true end to the Earnhardt era. Yes, he stated that he will still be around the track and this won't be the last that we see of him, but it will be the last time we see him in his #88 Chevy Camaro and that alone is enough to say that this is the end of having an Earnhardt on the track.
Though Jr. has never won a championship himself, he's created a name and respect for himself as a driver, and truly won over the hearts of NASCAR fans everywhere; and is obviously making his father proud for continuing the legacy. His records, statistics and wins are something no other driver can ever take away from him, and it was truly an honor to be able to watch him race for the past twelve years. Though I walk into this final racetrack with a heavy heart knowing that I will never see Jr. race live on-track again, I wish him nothing but the best and hope he continues to inspire the world of NASCAR. It's been a great ride, Jr. Thank you for paving the way for NASCAR.
