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Jarrett set for final NASCAR Sprint Cup run
By SceneDaily Staff
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Rusty Jarrett
Getty Images for NASCAR
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.”
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