Dale Earnhardt Jr. will retire from NASCAR racing at the end of the 2017 season, it was announced on Tuesday, April 25th.
The two-time Daytona 500 winner has spent 18 seasons racing in the top NASCAR series, racking up 26 wins along the way.
Earnhardt missed the second half of the 2016 season due to complications from a concussion, and is currently 24th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup standings.
The 42-year-old has been voted the sport’s most popular driver 14 times over his carreer. He made is first Cup start in 1999 and picked up his first win the following season during his official rookie year. His best finish in the full season standings was third in 2003. His father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., won seven Cup championships before his death during the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Watch his full press conference in the video clip above.