Dale Earnhardt Jr, NASCAR's most popular driver, will retire after the 2017 season, a major loss to a sport already suffering from diminished star power and waning popularity.
Earnhardt's career includes a record 14 consecutive NASCAR Most Popular Driver Awards in addition to two Daytona 500 victories and 26 overall Cup points-paying victories.
But a severe concussion kept the 42-year-old out of the driver's seat for the last half of the 2016 campaign and he told reporters on Tuesday that he had time during his rehab to consider how and when to end his storied career.
"I just wanted to opportunity to go out on my own terms," he said.
He stressed that he would not be detaching himself from the sport completely.
"I want to be part of the future of this sport for many, many years to come," said Earnhardt, the son of Hall of Fame NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr, who died in a crash at Daytona in 2001.
Earnhardt is the latest in a string of NASCAR stars to call it quits, including Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart.
Earnhardt's retirement comes as NASCAR struggles to attract new fans to a sport with an ageing supporter base and declining attendance and television ratings.
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