Longtime NHRA Pro Stock racer Vieri Gaines unexpectedly announced his retirement from racing on Thursday, effective immediately. The departure of the popular driver, who will be long remembered for the signature cigars he could always be seen smoking, comes at a particularly interesting time in the history of the NHRA’s factory hot rod division, as offseason rules changes have left many teams with an uphill battle to return to their former level of competitiveness.

Gaines issues the following statement via social media on Thursday afternoon, announcing the decision to his fans:

Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster

To all our friends, fans, and supporters: Well over 20 years ago we started this racing adventure. We have made some amazing friends along the way, met some of the most loyal fans a race team could ever want to have, we have formed a partnership with Kendall Motor Oil that will never be forgotten….We have always taken our racing serious but more important we have always raced to enjoy weekends and have some fun. 

Today we announce our retirement from NHRA Pro Stock racing. This decision is purely based on the fact the fun has left this chapter in life.

We are thankful for all the support from our friends, fans, and family, and most of all from Kendall Motor Oil.

The 69-year old native of Lakewood, Colorado debuted in Pro Stock in 1994 after a career in the NHRA sportsman ranks, immediately capturing the attention of the fans with a series of wildly-painted race cars and haulers under his Western Motorsports banner. Gaines advanced to his first career final at, of all places, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, in 1997, and recorded his first victory in the class three years later in Dallas. He would go on to win three more times over the next 16 years, finishing a career-best seventh in the points in 2012 and 2013.

Gaines owns 17 different business located in and around Colorado, many of them related to racing, including GRP Connecting Rods, Winberg Crankshafts, MadCap Racing Engines, and FineLine Graphics, along with Western Distributing Transportation Corp., and others.

Gaines, until his retirement, was the longest-running active full-time competitor in Pro Stock.