Dale Earnhardt Jr. did the right thing. By deciding not to return to NASCAR this season, Earnhardt assured he would be clear-headed when he does race again.
The biggest lose in Friday's announcement? Fans won't get to see Sprint Cup's most popular driver until the 2017 season.
MORE: Throwback weekend at Darlington | Junior's biggest lament
This weekend's race, the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C., was to be the last before Earnhardt and his doctors determined whether he could return to racing from concussion-like symptoms. An announcement about Junior's future was due next week, ahead of the Richmond race.