Surprise retirement for Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. abruptly announced his retirement at the end of the season Tuesday, a decision that will cost NASCAR its most popular driver as the series scrambles to rebuild its fan base. Colourful, candid and talented, Earnhardt has been plagued by concussions the last several years and missed half of last season recovering from his latest head injury. It caused him to delay contract talks on an extension and the two-time Daytona 500 winner opted to call it quits. A third-generation racer, Earnhardt turns 43 in October, is newly married and has said he wants to start a family.