This is his last year..retiring. Announced last year, yes.
Um, the point is that he has been horrible this year. The flame went out when he had his problems last year. Got married in the off season to a very pretty young lady and he’s done living on the edge each week. Personally, I think the fire started dimming a few years earlier but his talent and a good team kept him competitive. This year he has been mailing it in. Just out for a Sunday drive each race.