Dale Earnhardt Jr. is probably the most popular American motorsports icon. So every time he announces his exit from a series or an organization, pangs of sadness hit the NASCAR community. It happened in 2017 when Junior suddenly dropped the bomb that year would be his last in the Cup Series. Then it happened early this year when the veteran driver announced his exit from NBC Sports as a broadcaster.

Now another departure is in the works, incidentally coinciding with young prodigy Connor Zilisch‘s NASCAR growth. After his official retirement, Dale Jr. continued to dabble in NASCAR races. Even that limited presence may be slated to end soon, and the 15-time Most Popular Driver’s impending decision is sending ripples of regret in the fandom.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s decision coincides with young stud’s dreams 

Winner of the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the Trans Am Series TA2, Connor Zilisch is an upcoming legend. He won the pole position in his debut NASCAR Craftsman Truck race in March and holds four wins in the ARCA Menards Series this year. Zilisch has already carved out a path for himself in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as well. Zilisch is fixed to drive the No. 88 Chevrolet in races at Watkins Glen, Kansas, Homestead-Miami, and Phoenix. This lays down the strong possibility of Zilisch entering Xfinity in a full-time JRM ride next season.

But as Zilisch’s career takes a golden turn, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s long career is set to end. The two-time Daytona 500 winner left a cryptic message in a video posted on the JR Motorsports Twitter page. The video features the driver entering his studio while the camera focuses on his Xfinity achievements. The caption says: “The first chapter of 2025 starts tomorrow on the Dale Jr. Download.” A NASCAR expert shared the video on his page with a tearful yet very meaningful caption: “No more Dale Jr racing in the Xfinity Series 😭😭😭😭”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has indeed been hinting at hanging up his firesuit once and for all. After he left the Cup Series in 2017, the veteran driver had been fiddling with Late Model and Xfinity racing. Last year, he competed in Bristol and Homestead-Miami. This year, even that schedule has been stripped down to one race—as Dale Earnhardt Jr. prepares to race at Bristol. This contrasts with his lively Xfinity career, where he won back-to-back Xfinity Series titles and 13 races in two full-time seasons.

Compared to the quiet wrapping up of operations in Xfinity, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s exit from the Cup Series was trumpeted loudly. Especially because of his severe health problems—he was plagued with concussions the past seasons, and he missed half of the 2016 season recovering from the latest head injury. The wounds left him crippled with nausea, double vision, anxiety, and a multitude of other symptoms.

In contrast to these dangerous mishaps, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement from Xfinity may just be a matter of seniority. However, NASCAR fans may not be ready to bid adieu to the veteran driver so soon.

Waves of sadness hit the NASCAR community

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After his father’s tragic death in 2001, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to carve out his own path in the NASCAR world. But the driver’s heartwarming personality and magnetic track presence soon made him a crowd favorite. No wonder he won the Most Popular Driver award 15 times. As fans had recoiled in horror to learn about his departure in 2017, now the community is sad again. Although the message was cryptic, fans were quick to catch the underlying information. “He has been hinting that Bristol is gonna be last Xfinity race too ☹️☹️” Another fan echoed the sentiment: “Noooooo 😭😭😭😭”

Others also opined that Connor Zilisch’s arrival would coincide with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s exit. One fan quickly caught the hint: “Or it’s Connor Zilisch.” Zilisch would be driving the No. 88 Chevy, which is even more evidence that it is Dale Jr.’s time to leave. “Trackhouse and Jrm was on a deal to get Zllish in Xfinity car.” Another fan offered a suggestion: “they signed zillich full time me thinks.”

But overall, the fans were engulfed with misery to learn about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s imminent departure. Some heaved a sigh of relief that they would at least be able to see his last act. One fan commented: “I have tickets to go that weekend so I am glad that I get to have closure that this is really it.” Somebody else crossed their fingers that no untoward incident should afflict their plans. “I better be able to watch bristol😥”

Evidently, the NASCAR fanbase is in pieces to see even the slightest hint about Dale Jr.’s exit from racing. Yet all good things come to an end, as he would be leaving behind a trailblazing story of success.