Unlike other sports, Nascar can see drivers compete well into their 50’s. While this allows for some pretty cool stories and added fan memories, it also can lend itself to some drivers staying active well past their prime.
With Jimmie Johnson being just the latest driver to announce his retirement from Nascar (effective the end of the 2020 season), I wanted to take a look at drivers who voluntarily retired from the sport to see if they hung on too long or left at just the right time (or maybe even a little too soon). By “voluntary retirement” that means I’m not including anyone who was killed or seriously injured while driving.
Instead of looking at EVERY driver (even though interest in an analysis of Jeff Green’s latter years could be quite high) I’m limiting it to Hall of Fame inductees—for now.
(Drivers listed in order of their Hall of Fame induction)
NOTE: Those inducted primarily or exclusively for achievements outside of driving (team ownership, crew chiefing, etc.) will not be considered. Cup performance is all that’s considered for this piece. Also, the more modern term “Cup Series” will be used instead of Grand National, Winston Cup, etc.
Rusty Wallace
DRIVING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1989 Nascar Cup champion. 55 Cup wins. “King of the Short Tracks”. Runner-up finish in his first Cup start. Legendary rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr.
LAST HURRAH: Wallace went winless for two years (although still contending) before revisiting victory lane at Martinsville
in 2004. Later that year he’d announce his retirement effective the end of the 2005 season.
FINAL YEAR(S): Although Wallace went winless in his final season, he would still manage to finish eighth in the final points standings. Rusty then went immediately into broadcasting, where his contract forbid him from racing any sort of part-time schedule.
DID HE HANG ON TOO LONG?: Obviously not. While Wallace was getting up in age, he was still a contender despite the sport entering arguably its most talent-rich era of the mid-00’s. Wallace has since said that he regrets retiring so early and wished he had raced at least two more years.