“Jennie is doing great, she still has a few months left of treatment but she’s doing really well and things are looking positive at the minute.
“Of course her situation made me re-evaluate things, you realise racing isn’t important in the grand scheme of things. I have had to be there for her, there for my kids and to be around to do all the normal family stuff and that is the most important thing to me.
“Now I can be there all the time, I can give them the attention and the time that I haven’t been able to give them before and I can’t wait for it. I have loved spending so much time with them this last year, I can go to every soccer game or junior race, do all that stuff I’ve missed.
“I actually feel a little bit like I have a weight off my shoulders. For years I’ve carried this weight of always trying to find an advantage, always trying to get ahead and to be the best, but now it’s gone and I feel a little lighter. Now it’s time for the next chapter.”
So what of the next chapter? When all you’ve known is racing, stepping into a new career approaching your 50th birthday is surely a little daunting, no?
“You know what, I’m nervous but more than that I’m excited. I have so many ideas in my head and just like in my racing, I will work my butt off to make them happen. I have to make a new path for myself now and I need to strike while the iron is hot, so that’s what I’m going to do and I am really excited for it.”
What They Said
You don’t enjoy a career spanning over 30 years without making a few friends along the way and Greg is a hugely popular figure within the sport.
Friends, team-mates, officials, even rivals, they all lined up to pay tribute to the Californian…
“Greg Hancock is among the most successful competitors in all of motorsports. His four world titles rank him among the greatest riders of all time, a feat amplified by the fact is world championship-calibre performances spanned four decades.” – AMA President Rob Dingman
“Greg has been an incredible servant and a wonderful ambassador for the sport of speedway on and off the track over many years. He leaves a massive legacy for speedway globally.” – Senior VP of Motorsports for IMG, Paul Bellamy
“To have a career like you would be something I could only dream of. Someone I learned from, I studied your gating more than you’ll ever know. Thankful for what you taught me. All the best champ!” – former team-mate and two-time World U21 Champion Darcy Ward