HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. threw his own retirement party on pit road.
Earnhardt popped out of his race car Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, flashed a thumb's-up sign and chugged a Budweiser. Drenched in sweat and suds, he grabbed another cold one. It was easy enough to keep happy hour rolling because the beer cooler was stashed on the trunk of his Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet.
Earnhardt passed the brews around to his crew members. One by one, they huddled like frat brothers around the car and raised - and sprayed - their Buds in a career toast to NASCAR's most popular driver.
With his final full-time season complete, Junior was more like the most popular party boy. Earnhardt cut loose as if he had won the series championship that eluded him in an 18-year-career, starting a bash that seemed poised to stretch into Monday morning.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. hugs his wife, Amy, after the end of Sunday's race."We're going to miss you, Junior!" a fan screamed at Earnhardt.
He finished 25th in his final Cup Series race, the result a mere footnote in a career that counts two Daytona 500 victories, 14 straight most popular driver awards and a universal respect in the garage.
One example why he has earned the love: Earnhardt left his party to seek out hunting buddy and best friend - and new NASCAR champion - Martin Truex Jr. on the stage.
Earnhardt still left with some hardware. He gets to keep the weathered Chevy as a parting gift from team owner Rick Hendrick, who in exchange received Earnhardt's race-worn helmet. Earnhardt planted a kiss on Hendrick's cheek after the race, and they smothered each other in a bear hug that neither man seemed to want to let go.
"He's like a daddy," Earnhardt said. "Trying to tell him how much he means to me is really hard."
Earnhardt, whose famous father died in a last-lap accident in the 2001 Daytona 500, surrounded himself with family Sunday. Before the race, he embraced his pregnant wife as fireworks crackled in the sky and fighter jets roared over the track.
Earnhardt kissed Amy three times on the lips, then pulled on his helmet and slid into his car as dozens of cameras clicked in unison.
All the video tributes, gifts and heartfelt gratitude Earnhardt received in the months since he announced his retirement seemed to fade as he pulled onto pit road. He stuck his left arm outside the window and slapped hands with all pit crews from the entire series as he prepared to take off for a ceremonial pace lap.
Driving the car must have been a relief to the 43-year-old. He spent Sunday morning doing his final rounds of interviews and earned a standing ovation from his peers at the drivers' meeting.
He will compete in two or three Xfinity Series races next season, continue his ownership of a team in that series and work as a broadcaster for NBC Sports.
"We're going to miss him for obvious reasons," NASCAR chairman Brian France said. "He's not going to be that far away. He's going to be glued to the sport, and that's going to be good for us."