Photo by Sam Greenwood of Getty Images for NASCAR / Dale Jarrett prepares to practice for the Food City 500, his final career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
By Rick Sheek (rsheek@starhq.com)
BRISTOL – The journey is coming to an end for Dale Jarrett. Showers canceled qualifying for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 1999 champion of NASCAR’s top series has turned his last qualifying lap, although he did land a provisional spot for Sunday.
“The sport’s obviously done a lot for myself and my family,” Jarrett, 51, said after rain had closed the track on Friday evening. “The week’s been a whole lot different than what I’ve thought about all season, because I’ve been able to say I’ve got a few more weeks before that comes. That’s been easy to say, but we’re here. This is it.
“I’ve found myself thinking about a lot of things that have happened over the last 20-some years. It’s been fun thinking about it, but it’s also kind of difficult now that it is coming to an end.”
Jarrett has won 32 races over his Cup career, which spanned from 1984. His winningest campaign was ’97 when he reached Victory Lane seven times and was runner-up for the championship.
“It’s been great,” Jarrett said. “I’ve had a wonderful time. It’s been a priveledge and honor to drive for the car owners I have had.
“I couldn’t have asked for better scenario. “If you gave me a chance to go back and do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”
His last victory was 2005, at Talladega.
“There were times I was wondering what was going to happen the next week,” Jarrett said. “That’s no different than what a lot of others have been through, but definitely hit or miss early. It was a struggle.
“This week I’ve thought a lot about at different times, I had my own team trying to make ends meet. It was literally working day and night. It wasn’t uncommon for me to work 18-hour days. That was what it took.”
His lone win at BMS was the August event in ’97. Jarrett pointed out landing the Wood Brothers ride in ’90, replacing the injured Neil Bonnett, at BMS was his biggest break.
“That was really what kind of set my career forward,” Jarrett said. “There were a lot of days that were was no idea this kind of success that I’ve had would come along.”
He’ll now follow in the footsteps of his father, two-time series champ Ned Jarrett, in the broadcast booth.
“It’s something that I am looking forward to,” Jarrett said. “That’s going to be just as time consuming as what I’ve been doing. I am looking forward to that side of it, because I know there are areas I need to improve in.
“That’s going to give me something to work with, and go forward with.”
Jarrett captured his first Cup victory in ’91 and two years later grabbed the Daytona 500 checkered flag. He will participate in the Sprint Cup All-Star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May.
“There’s nobody that I need to do anything to, to make any paybacks,” Jarrett said. “That’s not saying in 500 laps somebody won’t aggravate me enough. I’ve done some crazy things here in the past.”
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