| | | | | | FINAL DELIVERY | Jarrett set for final NASCAR Sprint Cup run | Go Dale Go |
|  | | CIA Stock Photo | For the final time in his long career, Dale Jarrett will strap in a NASCAR stock car and take the green flag. | | SceneDaily Staff This is it. For the final time in his long career, Dale Jarrett will strap in a NASCAR stock car and take the green flag. The 1999 Cup champion last competed in a points-paying race at Bristol in March, but this Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will be Jarrett’s final race.
The reality of closing a career that began in 1984 is setting in, Jarrett said. The two months of being out of the car have helped prepare him for the finality.
“When I got out at Bristol, even with all the wonderful tributes and stories, I knew that I had this race left before it was over,” Jarrett said. “I’ve been out of the car for a little while now, so it’s something that I’ve started to adjust to, starting this next chapter in my career.
“The all-star race was just a perfect race to end on for me personally as well as from a sponsor perspective. This is a race for the fans, and it’s a great way for me to say thank you to them for the career they’ve allowed me to have.”
Jarrett will drive Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 44 Toyota in the all-star race, an event he’s never won. While winning his final race might seem far-fetched, Jarrett hasn’t stopped dreaming.
In addition to the 1999 Cup championship, he has won three Daytona 500s and two Brickyard 400s. But he’d still like to win the all-star race.
"It's the one thing that I wish that I had, one of those trophies,” Jarrett said. “It would be the storybook ending to finish our last race with a trip to victory lane. We'll try extremely hard and do everything short of cheating to make that happen."
Jarrett said he considered making a points race his final event, but eventually settled on the all-star race.
“After really looking over the schedule, there are a couple of tracks or races that stand out as ones where you’d like to run your last race,” Jarrett said. “Obviously the Coca-Cola 600 came to mind because it would be here in Charlotte. But as I looked at that, and it was going to take away from somebody trying to run all the races if I go take a spot there, and I didn’t want to do that.
“I looked at Indianapolis, same scenario basically – a great place to end your career, but it is perfect here. This is where it should happen. The all-star race gives me a perfect opportunity to do that with family and friends coming here.”
| | Posted May 16, 2008 , 12:09 am EST
Last Updated May 18, 2008 , 6:15 pm EST | | | | | | | | | | | | |
