Athlete retirement
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, and Red Bull driver Sergio Perez of Mexico lead at the start during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Champion Max Verstappen ends F1 season with 15th win

Nov. 20, 2022 09:36 AM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain leaves the pit lane during practice for thethe Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Perez, Leclerc battle for 2nd in F1, Vettel in last race

Nov. 18, 2022 03:07 AM EST

Fans take selfies with Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel, of Germany, at the paddock of the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Hamilton opens talks with Mercedes on multiyear extension

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 28, 2022 06:17 PM EDT

FILE - Jimmie Johnson speaks about joining the team of Chip Ganassi for the IndyCar series at a press conference during the IndyCar race weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., in this Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, file photo. The Seven-time NASCAR champion is retiring from full-time racing and will turn his focus toward spending time with family. He figures his future schedule will include no more than 10 bucket list events and has his sights set on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
Column: Johnson will chase challenges long into retirement

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 26, 2022 03:34 PM EDT

FILE - Jimmie Johnson drives during the IndyCar Series auto race Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Jimmie Johnson announced Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, that sponsor Carvana has agreed to fund next year's racing endeavors and the seven-time NASCAR champion will use the next few weeks to determine his 2023 schedule. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
AP Exclusive: Jimmie Johnson to retire from full-time racing

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 26, 2022 09:52 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives at the Monza racetrack, in Monza, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. The Formula one race will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton wants to stay at Mercedes 'until the day I die'

By Daniella Matar Sep. 08, 2022 01:12 PM EDT

FILE - Kimi Raikkonen, of Finland, pauses during a news conference in Concord, N.C., May 20, 2011. Raikkonen will take a break from his retirement to return to racing this weekend in the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)
Kimi Raikkonen hits pause on retirement to race NASCAR

Jenna Fryer Aug. 18, 2022 03:16 AM EDT

Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany runs at pit line during the qualifying session for the French Formula One Grand Prix at Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet, southern France, Saturday, July 23, 2022. The French Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (Eric Gaillard, Pool via AP)
4-time F1 champion Vettel felt like retiring for a long time

By Jerome Pugmire Jul. 28, 2022 06:33 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands crosses the finish line to win the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at the Baku circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sunday, June 12, 2022. (Hamad Mohammed, Pool Via AP)
Verstappen wins in Azerbaijan after Leclerc engine failure

Jun. 12, 2022 08:44 AM EDT

Brad Keselowski holds an American flag after winning the first of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Keselowski leads Jack Roush back to Daytona's victory lane

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 17, 2022 08:38 PM EST

FILE - Aric Almirola celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the first of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR veteran Almirola will retire from competition at the end of the 2022 season to spend more time with his young family. Almirola revealed his plans Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, to the employees at Stewart-Haas Racing at the same time Smithfield Foods announced its 11th season sponsoring the driver. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
NASCAR veteran Aric Almirola to retire at end of 2022 season

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 10, 2022 09:55 AM EST

Williams driver George Russell of Britain steers his car during the third free practice session ahead of Sunday's Formula One Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort racetrack, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Bottas leaving Mercedes F1 team to join Alfa Romeo

By Jerome Pugmire Sep. 06, 2021 08:18 AM EDT

Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland steers his car during the third practice session ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Kimi Raikkonen to retire at end of Formula One season

Sep. 01, 2021 02:11 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod, Hungary, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Ocon wins in Hungary, Hamilton 8-point lead after Vettel DQ

By Jerome Pugmire Aug. 01, 2021 11:26 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the third free practice session for the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Saturday, July 3, 2021. The Austrian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
New 2-year deal gives Hamilton chance to win 10 titles in F1

By Jerome Pugmire Jul. 03, 2021 05:42 AM EDT

Kurt Busch, left, and Kaz Grala, talk on pit road before the second of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Ready to retire? Kurt Busch leaves NASCAR fans guessing

By Dan Gelston Feb. 13, 2021 02:02 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson gets into his car during Daytona 500 auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Reinstated last week by NASCAR, Larson on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet next season. Hendrick has sold no sponsorship as of yet for Larson and only needed the blessing of Chevrolet, one of the partners that originally dropped Larson for using the n-word, to finalize the deal. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Rick Hendrick eyeing balanced, stronger 2021 NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

Aric Almirola, left, and Clint Bowyer, center, talks to a crew member prior to the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bowyer to retire and move to Fox NASCAR coverage in 2021

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 08, 2020 07:40 PM EDT

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the Formula One Grand Prix at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept.6 , 2020. (Jennifer Lorenzini, Pool via AP)
Vettel close to retiring from F1 before Racing Point move

Sep. 10, 2020 03:45 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2016, file photo, empty grandstands are shown at Darlington Raceway after bad weather forced NSACAR to call off Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Darlington, S.C. Bad weather forced NASCAR to call off qualifying for the Sprint Cup and XFinity series auto races. NASCAR will have a much different feel when it resumes this weekend as the two-man broadcast team for Fox will not travel to Darlington Raceway and instead call the race from a studio in Charlotte.(AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatus

By Jenna Fryer May. 16, 2020 02:08 PM EDT