Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to announce shock retirement?

NASCAR star created a stir on Saturday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

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Sad news for Earnhardt fans. Speculation had been rife that NASCAR star is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 51, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 11/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a racing driver isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a racing driver just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouDale

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouDale was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was unlike any other racing driver we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouDale”
— @universalObserver, 10 Jan 2026

“Earnhardt wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 10 Jan 2026

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