Craig Lowndes has backed his decision to bow out of Supercars despite claims the Holden legend has been forced into retirement.
The 44-year-old announced his decision earlier this month to call time on full-time racing at the end of the 2018 season, despite having a year left on his contract.
Outspoken Erebus driver David Reynolds, who sits third in the Supercars championship, made his thoughts clear about how the decision had played out.
"When you watch (his retirement press conference) it's so clear he is being half-pushed out, or pushed out entirely," Reynolds told the Fox Sports Supercars podcast.
"I'm actually a little bit disappointed because I love Lowndesy.
"I think he's great for the sport and to see him go in this way, it's a bit weird, cause he had 18 months left on his deal.
"Honestly, I don't know why it's happening, it's kind of a real head-scratcher for me and a lot of people."
Three-times Supercars champion Lowndes responded to Reynolds' comments through Twitter on Sunday.
"Ok let's set the record straight," Lowndes wrote.
"I told you when the time would come you'd hear it from me direct.
"As I said, it was a hard decision to make but it was MY decision.
"Let's get on with it, to celebrate and finish the year on a high."
Lowndes heads to the Ipswich Supersprint this week placed fifth in the championship after some solid results this season.
Triple Eight Racing manager Mark Dutton says the team is determined to send Lowndes off on a high.
"It would be a dream come true to give him a championship in his final full-time drive," Dutton told supercars.com
"That's the only thing we haven't been able to give him in his time with Triple Eight and it tears me apart that we haven't been able to give him that."
