Dale Earnhardt Jr. has surprised the world of Nascar this week after announcing his retirement from the sport. For years, he has been a beloved fan favorite and also enjoyed popularity with sports bettors in the United States.
Dale Earnhardt top pick to win Daytona 500
Dale Earnhardt has been a top contender in Nascar for years having developed a large fanbase. His skills on track have also made him popular with sports bettors and he had the best odds by several sports books to stand on the top step of the podium at the 2017 Daytona 500. In a recent press conference, he informed the world that he had met with the management team at Hendrick Motorsports at the end of March and informed his bosses of his decision.
During the press conference, he said, “I’ve accomplished way more than I ever dreamed. So, I’m good on that front. My heart loves being in the car. I love driving. I enjoy it as much as I ever have. It’s really emotional.”
Earnhardt Struggles in Recent Races
While Dale Earnhardt may have been the favorite, 3-1 odds, to win the Daytona, he was unfortunately involved in a crash, 106 laps into the race. In the end, he only managed to finish 37th. For the following five races, Earnhardt was struggling to finish in the top 10, which saw him dropping on the betting sheets at top American sports bettors. For the last few races, the odds of him winning have been sitting at 25-1, even after he managed to finish fifth, which was his highest finishing position of the year.
The odds aren’t looking good for him to win the season series either. Before the 2017 season began, the odds were 12-1. However, he now sits 24th in the driver standings, with 47 drivers competing and bookmakers are offering 25-1 odds on him winning the series.
