Heather Tucker

USA TODAY Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One of the hot topics at Daytona 500 media day is when Dale Earnhardt Jr. might retire.

Yes, he just returned to NASCAR after missing half of last season with a concussion. But at 42 and a newlywed, Earnhardt has said there are other things he wants to do in his life.

Well, what if he wins the Monster Energy Cup Series title this season?

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That topic was broached Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show, and Earnhardt reiterated Wednesday that could be a deciding factor.

“Hell, yeah, man,” he said. “I would definitely not want to come back and try to race anymore if I won the championship. I would be outta here. I’ve always wanted to win a championship so badly, and coming back from this injury, we worked so hard, so to come back this year and win a championship, it would be hard not to hang it up.”

This is the last year of his current deal with Hendrick Motorsports, but Earnhardt has repeatedly said he will race until he knows it’s time to step away.

“I’d have to consider going out on top,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know. It just really depends on a lot of different things. … That’s the last box I don’t have checked really. There’s a few races I’d like to win, but the championship would definitely be the icing on the cake for my career.”

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PHOTOS: Behind the wheel with Dale Earnhardt Jr.