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 Hut Stricklin’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 Labonte
DRIVING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2000 Cup Series champion. 21 Cup Series wins. 2000 Southern 500 winner. 2000 Brickyard 400 winner.
LAST HURRAH: Labonte’s last year with Joe Gibbs Racing (2005) was arguably his last year contending for wins, as despite a 24th-place finish in points he posted a number of top-fives including a heartbreaking last-second runner-up finish at Charlotte. His declining performance would see him depart for Petty Enterprises for 2006.
FINAL YEAR(S): The move to Petty Enterprises did not revitalize his career as Labonte had hoped, and he would spend the last eleven years of his Cup career driving for middling-to-low-level teams, most notably JTG-Daugherty Racing.
DID HE HANG ON TOO LONG?: Yes. A model of consistency with JGR, Labonte did little to nothing of note upon leaving the team.