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 Bobby Hillin Jr.’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.
Bobby Isaac
DRIVING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1970 Cup Series champion. 37 Cup Series wins. Holds record for most poles in a single season (20).
LAST HURRAH: Isaac’s last win came in 1972, a season where he finished 19th in points despite missing several late-season races. He remained competitive into 1973 until he infamously retired from the fall Talladega race for unconfirmed reasons (rumored to be that “a voice told him to”).
FINAL YEAR(S): Isaac would run a handful of races from 1974 through 1976, showing flashes of his past brilliance with a few top-ten finishes and a runner-up run at Bristol. Sadly, he would die from a heat exhaustion-induced heart attack in 1977.
DID HE HANG ON TOO LONG?: Not really. Isaac showed that he could still run near the front even after his mysterious departure from full-time driving, even though his race totals were in the single-digits per year.