2008 Food City 500 Is Dale Jarrett's Farewell
Wednesday March 12, 2008
1999 Champion Dale Jarrett will race in his final points race this weekend before heading off to the broadcast booth later this season. “There is no better place than Bristol because it's the most special motorsports venue in the world as far as I'm concerned,” Jarrett said. “I hopefully can go out on a good note on Sunday, but when I climb from the car, I'm sure it's going to be pretty emotional.”
Dale Jarrett is one of the nicest guys in the sport. I am glad that he is not leaving NASCAR completely but instead just changing roles. I'm looking forward to hearing him in the booth when ABC/ESPN takes over later this season.
Comments
Good bye Dale. We will miss you… I hate the commercial where he is driving the truck out on the track and the other drivers go out to race him. Then he takes the keychain off hangs up the keys and looks so sad… I really do wish him the best. Go Dale Go
Good Luck Dale!!!! I’ve enjoyed watching you on race day~~ seing you hang up the key was a tear jerker for me!! Be seeing you in the booth!! Go Dale Go !!!
A NASCAR legend & very good choice for the broadcast booth. I will always remember the Dale & Dale shows.
Thanks for a great show Jarret! I’ll miss the ole number 88 and UPS racing. Like him in the booth.
There has been too many holes for the current NASCAR crop to fill. First we lost Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison and then Dale Sr. Then the retirement of Terry, Rusty, Rudd, & Elliot. M. Martin is gonna have to quit someday whether he wants to admit it or not. Kenny Schrader, Geoff Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Bobby Hamilton Sr., Sterling Marlin,…..now Jarret is gone.
More than any other rule change, car change, crappy tires, or crappy cookie cutter tracks, this is what is ailing NASCAR in my opinion. These kind of guys are becoming too few and too far between lately.
Well DJ life is all about change. Some changes are tough and this one I know is tough for you but tough for us too. You are ‘my’ driver. I came to NASCAR as a fan in the 1998 season and I wasn’t all the way hooked until I decided that you would be ‘my’ driver. You always made me so proud that I supported you in the 88 and now in the 44. The championship year was AWESOME and I’ll always miss the ‘Dale and Dale show’. I am so sad to see you go even though I support your decision and understand. My problem is that I’m having a really hard time finding a new driver among the active drivers to root for every race day. I love racing and I love to watch ALL the drivers, I even have many favorites, but having ones own special driver is something very important I think and I feel a bit lost in choosing one. Who can ever top Dale Jarrett…one of the greatest drivers ever known to NASCAR and unequivocably the nicest and most respected by all? I’ll find a new driver because I’m a fan through and through…mostly thanks to you, your awesome attitude and your wonderful successes. I am proud to say I’ve stuck with you through thick and thin and to me you will ALWAYS be ‘MY’ driver…ALWAYS AND FOR EVER! I wish you the greatest success in any endeavor you may choose and really look forward to seeing you in the booth, but first you’ve got a race to run next Sunday… Go get’em Dale!!!
Ireally hope that UPS and MWR put D.J. into a delivery truck paint scheme, driving a TUNDRA at Bristol, and I would like him to run into everyone he can to knock them out, and get out and punch someone(can anyone find Shane HMIEL?) just to vent his frustrations. Istill proudly own and wear a FORD CREDIT racing hat, and a D.J. shirt from Gibbs racing.
A class act, on and off the track. I’m not even a Ford man, but I realize character when I see it. He’ll make a great addition to the broadcast booth.
UPS will still be proudly represented on the track by David Reuttiman, and D.J. will still be a spokesperson for UPS,in commercials,personal appearances,and mentoring at MWR. I am looking forward to the new series of spots that feature D.J. and REUTT,as Dale passes the torch.
Dale will be missed. Although we have not seen him running up front to much lately, we were all pulling for him in the Daytona qualifier races. He is a class act, just like his Dad. Apple does not fall far from the tree.
I had the oppertunity a few years back to attend a chapel service just before the race in the garage area, and Dale was heading up the service, a side most of us do not get to see too often.
Best to you Dale in your next chapter in your life. Thx for the memories.
DJ, Good luck in the race at Bristol, I for one will be watching you(as always). You are the man that got me into watching Nascar and you. You have been MY DRIVER for ALL THESE YEARS. I’ve been mad w/ ya and I’ve been happy w/ ya, whatever you have felt these past years , so have I . I have defended your name everywhere I go and will contine to do so. YOU ARE THE MAN!!!! HAVE BEEN THE MAN and ALWAYS WILL BE in my book. God Bless and Take Care, DaytonaLilbit (Tina)
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU “DALE” TAKE THE BIG BROWN TRUCK AROUND THE TRACK JUST ONE LASST TIME BEFORE YOU RETIRE. THAT WOULD BE A BIG HOOT. YOU ARE ALWAYS A GENTLEMEN AND AN AWSOME DRIVER. YOU WILL BE MISSED AS A DRIVER AND I’M SURE YOU WILL MAKE AN AWSOME ANOUNCER. BEST OF LUSK IN THE FUTURE
The biggest joke of a champion ever. He was a horrible driver and had no balls behind the wheel. The biggest example of nepotism in NASCAR not named Waltrip. Team Toyota had many reasons to suck last year and having two of the worst drivers ever in NASCAR history didn’t help. I am glad to see this loser gone…he was a nice guy but just a freaking horrible driver and must have been castigated years ago, if was ever born with a set, because I never saw an example. The racetrack is better off. I just wish he would take Mikey and leave the whole scene all together…they both suck as drivers.
I believe the word you are searching for is castrated. To castigate is to reprimand.
I will be watching Sundays race with tears in my eyes and sadness in my heart.I have been a Dale Jarrett fan since he took over for an injured Ernie Irvan in the Havoline car way back when. My husband turned me on to racing and boy did I fall in love with it! I actually met Dale in 1997 at Sears Point Raceway and what a gentleman he was. He saw me taking about 100 pictures of him and offered to get out of the car and pose with me so my husband could take our picture! It proudly has a spot in my spare room which is devoted to Dale and Jeff Gordon(my husbands driver). I proudly wear my Dale colors and root very loudly for him on Sundays. I am your BIGGEST fan.God Bless you and your family in your new adventures in the broadcast booth! I will always be known as 88 girl!!
DJ To me you will always be THE Class of Nascar. I have been your Fan since you took over for Earnie: I cannot see a UPS truck without yo coming to mind, that will be forever. You have brought so much to my life and my love of Nascar. I too will have a hard time finding another special driver, Perhaps another Dale with the #88? Look forward to hearing you in the booth
Goodbye DJ Will miss you in a major way. It was a great ride. As much as I hate to see you leave the drivers seat, their are few that deserve to live a bit easier. I hope you get some “MUCH NEEDED” leisure time. I look forward to DJ in the booth.
Saint DJ,we wish you much luck an love from Akon.We cant waite to hear you in the booth,so as DW would say get to the BOOGITY,BOOGITY lets get to the race//
DJ,we hear in Akron shall miss you/We my family and I declare you SAINT DJ forever//Cant waite to hear you in the booth with the guys.
DJ,we are going to miss you and the 88 car i will not forever you// cant waite to hear you in the booth with the guys. you did a good job.
Hope Dale Jarret has a good day but so far it hasn’t been the case.
Good luck dale jarret, we will miss you very much!!
it’s been a good ride, dale!!!! thanks for all the great racing that we saw from you in the past. good luck in all that you do, hope to see you in bristol!!!!!