BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Dale Jarrett finished his career the same way he started it — by getting the job done.

True, we failed to get the storybook ending, with Jarrett driving into victory lane this past Sunday to a standing ovation from 170,000 fans at Bristol Motor Speedway. Instead, Jarrett finished 37th at the Food City 500, well behind champion Jeff Burton.

Jarrett’s team, however, did not need him to win: it needed him to keep the No.44 team in the top 35 in the points standings. And that’s exactly what Jarrett did — fighting through an unscheduled pit stop to preserve one of those 35 guaranteed starting spots for teammate David Reutimann, who takes over the car when the Sprint Cups series resumes on March 30 in the Good’s Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

That kind of blue-collar attitude was not just the key to Jarrett’s success, it’s been the trademark of his career.

“I think Dale is one of the most under-appreciated drivers in the sport, honestly,” Burton said. “When somebody says ‘Who are the best 20 drivers,’ you don’t hear his name, and I don’t think that’s fair.”

That may be because Jarrett only has won 32 races in his career — a number that pales in comparison to drivers like Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr., but Jarrett’s career was about more than just wins.

It was about how his hard work and determination earned him respect from his peers and made him a leader in the garage.

“When Dale Jarrett spoke about something, everybody listened and took to heart what he said,” Tony Stewart said. “He was a great champion, he was a great winner and he was a great ambassador for this sport.”

Unlike young drivers today who are immediately given the best equipment and race for the sport’s top teams, Jarrett took a different path to success, and along the way forged the identities of several organizations.

Jarrett, who was never afraid to take a risk, left the legendary Wood Brothers to join newcomer Joe Gibbs Racing, establishing it as a legitimate team by getting the first of his three Daytona 500 wins in the No.18 car.

Jarrett was then off to Yates Racing, winning the organization’s first Cup series championship in 1999. He closed out his career with the difficult task of driving not just for a new team, but also for a new manufacturer with Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota.

“It’s been a privilege and an honor to drive for the car owners that I have,” Jarrett said. “I couldn’t ask for a better scenario. If you gave me a chance to go back and do it all over again. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

It is that kind of attitude that made him not just a fan favorite, but a respected member of the NASCAR community.

Whether he was coming up big with wins at Daytona or Indianapolis, celebrating a championship or just simply holding onto his spot in the top 35 with a 37th place finish, Jarrett’s focus always was on getting the job done and doing it with class.

And that is why he should be remembered as one of NASCAR’s best.

Thanks, Dale.

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