Dale Earnhardt, Jr. shocked the racing world last week when he abruptly announced his retirement from NASCAR at the end of the 2017 season.

"Dale Jr.," is in the prime of his career and a 26-time race winner on NASCAR's top circuit, including 2 Daytona 500 victories. Many drivers have raced well into their 50s, but few have matched the overall career success of the 42-year-old Dale Jr. In 2016, despite being injured for much of the season, he earned over $23 million, more than any other driver. He has been voted NASCAR's most-popular driver 14 times and once even had a rock band named after him (Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jr. k/n/a Jr. Jr.).

So, why walk away from the sport now, at this young age, when he's on top of NASCAR? The answer is simple: workplace safety.

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