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 Greg Sacks’ 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.
Rex White
DRIVING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1960 Nascar Cup champion. 28 Cup Series wins. Scored top-ten race finishes more than two-thirds of the time.
LAST HURRAH: White defended his championship with a second-place points finish in 1961. He then retired from full-time driving.
FINAL YEAR(S): Although he didn’t post any race wins, White was still competing for top-fives for his final two years of 1963 and 64. He then retired for reasons that, to this day, are still not entirely clear.
DID HE HANG ON TOO LONG?: No. White raced the majority of his career in underfunded equipment, which makes his accomplishments throughout his short time in Nascar even more impressive.