With Hendrick Motorsports teammate #24-Jeff Gordon ready to call it quits at the end of the upcoming season, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked Thursday about his own eventual retirement. After all, Earnhardt is only three years younger than Gordon. Will the 40-year-old still be racing past the age Gordon is now? “Jeff made his decision based on factors in his life, whether it be his health or his kids,” Earnhardt said. “”¦ I don’t have any back issues and I don’t have any kids on the way. I don’t have any factors.” Right now, Earnhardt said he can’t think about quitting because he’s enjoying his job so much. He said the last five years have been the most fun he’s ever had driving a race car. “I didn’t even know I could have this much fun,” he said with a grin. “Last year, I felt like a kid. I had the same feeling I had when I would drive down to Myrtle Beach with my Late Model. We were just on top of the world having so much fun. That freedom came back in the last couple years to just enjoy it and just release the pressure. So that’s made me really think I can do this a lot longer. I think I’ll stop racing when my health is an issue or I don’t feel like I’m in a competitive car or I feel like I’ve lost a step.”(USA Today)(1-30-2015)
