Athlete retirement
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

FILE - In this July 29, 2017, file photo, Matt Kenseth stands in his garage stall after practice for a NASCAR Cup series auto race in Long Pond, Pa. At 48, Kenseth will be the oldest driver in the field when racing resumes. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Kenseth dusting off firesuit for chance to win races again

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 29, 2020 03:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 14, 2019, file photo, Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy during the presentation after he defeated Switzerland's Roger Federer in the men's singles final match of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. The All England Club says it plans to make a decision next week whether to postpone or cancel Wimbledon because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool Photo via AP, File)
The Latest: Hurricanes ask employees to take time off

By The Associated Press Mar. 25, 2020 02:43 PM EDT

British reigning F1 drivers champion Lewis Hamilton arrives for the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Button urges Hamilton to extend Mercedes contract

By Rob Harris Feb. 25, 2020 12:52 PM EST

FILE - In this July 29, 2016, file photo, racing legend Richard Petty, right, stands with Jimmie Johnson (48) in the garage area of Pocono Raceway during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 auto race in Long Pond, Pa. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson says 2020 will be his final season of full-time racing. The winningest driver of his era will have a 19th season in the No. 48 Chevrolet and once again chase a record eighth championship. Johnson made the announcement in a video posted on social media, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to retire after 2020

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 20, 2019 01:01 PM EST

Driver Paul Menard crew members prepare tires before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Paul Menard retiring, Wood Brothers hires DiBenedetto

Sep. 10, 2019 10:29 AM EDT

Signage for the Darrell Waltrip grandstand is seen at Bristol Motor Speedway before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Darrell Waltrip starts victory lap on his 2nd NASCAR career

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 05, 2019 04:16 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick walks away from the garage after practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, March 29, 2019. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Harvick no plan for 2020 Fox TV booth if Waltrip retires

Mar. 29, 2019 07:25 PM EDT