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 Scott Wimmer’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.
Buddy Baker
DRIVING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 19 Cup Series wins. 1980 Daytona 500 champion. 1970 Southern 500 winner. Fastest average speed for a Daytona 500 champion (1980). First driver to exceed 200 mph on a closed course.
LAST HURRAH: Baker, who rarely ran the full schedule, had two successful part-time seasons with the Wood Brothers in 1983 and 84. He then left to run his own co-owned equipment over the next four years, posting occasional top-fives and top-tens.
FINAL YEAR(S): After stepping out of the drivers’ seat of his own team midway through 1988, Baker would return on a very limited basis from 1990-92, posting middling results when he managed to qualify. Baker would close out his driving career with three Did Not Qualify’s over his final two years before focusing full-time on his broadcasting career.
DID HE HANG ON TOO LONG?: Yes. Baker likely would have done better to retire after his 1988 partial-season, one that saw him post seven top-tens in only about half the number of races.