Earnhardt will retire after Cup season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Tuesday announced his retirement effective at the end of the season, a decision that will cost NASCAR its most popular driver as the series scrambles to rebuild its connection with fans.

At a news conference, Earnhardt said he “wanted the opportunity to go out on his own terms.” After missing much of the 2016 season because of concussion-like symptoms, he said that time off played a role in his decision. He wanted retirement to be his choice rather than something that was decided for him.

“Having influence over my exit only became meaningful when it started to seem most unlikely,” Earnhardt said. “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 so much as getting a vote on the table. Of course, in life, we’re not promised a vote, and that’s especially true in racing.”

He informed Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick on March 29 of his plan to retire. Earnhardt said telling his boss of nearly 10 years was the toughest part of his decision.

Colorful and candid, Earnhardt has been plagued by concussions the past several years, and he missed half of last season recovering from a head injury. He had delayed contract talks on an extension to drive the No. 88 Chevrolet, and the two-time Daytona 500 winner will call it quits when the season ends in November.

Earnhardt turns 43 in October, is newly married and has said he wants to start a family. He has become a vocal advocate for research into sports-related brain injuries, and the hit he took in June led to months of rehabilitation that gave him a new perspective on his life. The concussions left him with nausea, double vision, anxiety and other symptoms.