[naviga:h2]Earnhardt Jr. retiring from NASCAR[/naviga:h2]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. abruptly announced his retirement at the end of the season, a decision that will cost NASCAR its most popular driver as the series scrambles to rebuild its fan base.

At a news conference, Earnhardt said he “wanted the opportunity to go out on his own terms.” After missing much of the 2016 season due to concussion-like symptoms, he acknowledged that time off played a role in his decision. He wanted retirement to be his choice rather than something that was decided for him.

He informed Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick on March 29 of his plan to retire. Earnhardt said telling his boss of nearly 10 years was the toughest part of his decision.

Colorful, candid and talented, Earnhardt has been plagued by concussions the last several years and he missed half of last season recovering from a head injury. He had delayed contract talks on an extension to drive the No. 88 Chevrolet, and the two-time Daytona 500 winner will now call it quits when the season ends in November.

[naviga:h2]Jeter, Bush group still pursuing Marlins[/naviga:h2]

MIAMI — Derek Jeter and Jeb Bush still haven’t touched all the bases in their bid to buy the Miami Marlins. Far from it.

Multiple groups have submitted bids to buy the team, and none has yet been accepted, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said. His comments came after Bloomberg reported a group led by former New York Yankees captain Jeter and former Florida Gov. Bush won an auction for the team with a $1.3 billion bid.

[naviga:h2]Hernandez lawyers ask for dismissal[/naviga:h2]

BOSTON — Lawyers for former NFL star Aaron Hernandez formally asked a court to dismiss his first-degree murder conviction now that he has died.

Under a long-standing Massachusetts legal principle, courts customarily vacate the convictions of defendants who die before their appeals are heard.

Hernandez hanged himself at a maximum-security state prison last week.