Press Releases - Goble announces retirement, farewell tours

Goble announces retirement, farewell tours

SEPANG, MALAYSIA – Jonathan Goble will be hanging up the helmet after an impressive 18-year career. The former #1 and current #2 ranked driver in the United States announced at a press conference at his final race of the season at Sepang that the upcoming Season 35 would be his last before retirement.

"I'm getting older and it's getting harder to maintain my skills," Goble said in a prepared statement. "I don't want to go out with a whimper as some have done. I want to go out at the top of my game." Goble hesitated before admitting there was another reason. "I have kids now," he said, referring to his two-year-old daughter Jenna and newborn son Jason. "I don't want to be the absent parent who's too busy focusing on his career to spend time with his kids. I want to be there for them as they grow up."

As Season 34 approaches its close, with only the Sepang event remaining for him, Goble's career resume includes triple digits in both pole positions and race wins, with 16 poles and 5 wins coming in the Indy Junior USA and NASC Gold Cup series. Goble is also rapidly closing in on 500 career podiums, with just under 2,000 career race starts. He holds 6 custom series titles and finished 2nd in Indy Junior USA in season 27 and 3rd in NASC Gold Cup in season 29.

More recently, Goble completed his fifth season at the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1. After spending time at the back of the pack with LKR for three seasons, Goble landed a ride with Sempre Senna, becoming the first non-Polish driver for that team in season 33 and claiming two podium finishes that season. Goble's final season behind the wheel will be his third with Sempre Senna, and his goal is simple: win. "Anything can happen with new engine rules," he said. "A lot of teams have elected to purchase their engine from a supplier this time. My hope is that we will benefit by building our own."

To coincide with his final season, Goble announced a pair of farewell tours. The two private series, which will be created a few weeks into Season 35, will be open to all American drivers and will travel to each track where Goble has won a pole or a race in a season series event during his career. The first series will cover his Rookie Series and Indy Junior poles and wins, while the second will cover his NASC Gold Cup successes. Both series will be free to enter, and Goble will donate 250 coins to the prize pool for each series to raise the stakes.

Asked what his biggest regret was, Goble had a quick answer: "Not spending another season in Gold Cup. The F1 experience was valuable, but I just wasn't ready for it yet. With one more season in Gold Cup, I feel like I would have had a legitimate shot to win the championship and been better prepared for F1 at the same time."

The last question asked of Goble at the press conference was what he planned to do with his helmet and gloves after retiring. Goble merely flashed a mischievous grin and said he had plans for them, but he wouldn't reveal what those plans were. "You'll see in due time."

A representative from Goble's management team, Speed Incorporated, stated that Goble informed them of his decision around the midpoint of this season, and that they were already evaluating potential replacement drivers from the youth ranks and had reached out to at least one candidate.