Earnhardt might retire if he wins NASCAR championship

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Associated Press

If he wins his first NASCAR championship this season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would consider retiring.

Earnhardt, who missed half of last year because of a concussion, said he might walk away if he won a championship in his comeback season. Earnhardt reiterated at Daytona 500 media day Wednesday what he said a day earlier on the “Dan Patrick Show” on NBC Sports.

“I would definitely not want to come back and try to race anymore if I won the championship,” he said. “I would be outta here. I’ve always wanted to win a championship so badly, and coming back from this injury, we worked so hard, so to come back this year and win a championship, it would be hard not to hang it up.”

Earnhardt added that this is the last year of his contract with Hendrick Motorsports. He is putting off negotiations while he completes his return.

“I would like to race more, but if I win the championship, I’d have to consider going out on top,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know, it just really depends on a lot of different things. I said that a little tongue and cheek yesterday, but I would definitely consider it. That’s the last box I don’t have checked really. There’s a few races I’d like to win, but the championship would definitely be the icing on the cake for my career.”