Josh Wise’s NASCAR journey is a tale of determination, heartbreak, and an unwavering passion for the sport. Imagine a driver, fueled by dreams and raw talent, hurtling around the track at breakneck speeds, only to face the crushing reality that success isn’t always measured by victories. Between 2011 and 2016, Wise’s NASCAR Cup Series career was a relentless pursuit, marked by a solitary Top 10 finish in 156 starts—a statistic that belies the grit and tenacity he displayed on the track.

When the dream of victory began to fade, Wise faced an agonizing decision: to continue chasing elusive glory or to pivot towards a new path. Choosing the latter, he didn’t simply walk away; he forged a new legacy. Establishing a driver program to train the next generation of NASCAR stars, Wise found his true calling off the track, channeling his passion into mentoring young talents.

His journey recently took center stage on the Dale Jr. Download, a podcast where Wise and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rekindled memories of their racing days. Their shared history is a rich tapestry of fierce competition and mutual respect, stretching from their battles in the Cup Series to Wise’s notable 7th place finish at Gateway in 2010 with JR Motorsports. Their conversation was a blend of nostalgia and profound insights, shedding light on the evolution of the sport they both love.

The decision to hang up his racing boots wasn’t easy for Wise. The roar of the engines, the thrill of the race, and the dream of the checkered flag are powerful sirens for any driver. Wise had fought tirelessly to reach the Cup level, making his retirement a deeply painful choice. Yet, his love for NASCAR transcended personal ambition. Through Chevrolet’s driver development program, Wise now plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport, guiding young drivers towards their own dreams of racing glory.

Josh Wise told Dale Jr why he elected to walk away from NASCAR

According to him, he tried his hardest to stay as long as he could. Alas, he could only manage six years at the Cup level, but did run in the Xfinity Series for nine years. In the process, he racked up six Top 10 finishes in his career before calling time on his NASCAR racing stint. From there, he made the difficult decision to move on to a different field.

Wise told the Dale Jr Download, “I don’t know. It’s like this girl you love so much, and she won’t love you back. I wanted to win, wanted to be the best, be successful, but I couldn’t figure it out. Couldn’t get all the right opportunities at the right times. I fell out of love with it and then I was doing it to make a living, I didn’t want to do that. Don’t want to live my life to make a living, I want to live it and make an impact in some way or another.”

“At least enjoy what I’m doing, and I got to a point where I just didn’t enjoy it. Just became fascinated by the idea of what I saw. At the core, when I started with Kyle and McMurray. So it was Kyle, Jamie, Tyler Reddick and Brennan Poole were the first group of drivers that Ganassi had started with. In a weird way, I just saw every one of them as myself. What gaps are there for you, what are you missing, what do you love and don’t love. What are you challenged with, everyone is challenged with something unique. Still today, I’m trying to solve my problem of not developing as a human, as an athlete.”

In a way, even if Josh Wise failed to make it as a driver, he is trying to live his dream through his proteges. Furthermore, any of their success reflected well on him, as it was living proof that his teachings were producing phenomenal results. Assuring his immortality on the track.