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Steve Francis of Bowling Green, Ky., has announced his retirement from driving, concluding a Hall of Fame Dirt Late Model career that spanned 35 years and established him as one of the division’s all-time greats. | Full story | Slideshow

But while Francis, 50, is hanging up his helmet without the fanfare of making a planned final start, he won’t be saying goodbye. He'll remain visible by filling the position of technical director for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, replacing the departed Jason Durham.

“It wasn’t like I just wanted to walk away and say, ‘I’m out of here,’ ” said Francis, who ended a frustrating 2017 campaign (11th in the Lucas Oil points) at the Nov. 2-4 World Finals (during which the Lucas Oil tech job opened up). “When I was 30 years old, I said I’d race till I was 45 and then you would probably never see me at another one again. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how much I enjoy the people, the travel and just being around the sport itself.

“I still love the sport, and that’s kind of why I’ve decided to (work as an official). This gave me the opportunity to stay in it.”

Francis began driving a Dirt Late Model in 1982. He went on to record nearly 300 victories — including triumphs in the World 100, Dirt Track World Championship, Topless 100, Knoxville Nationals and Colossal 100 — and capture three STARS title (1996-98) and one World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series championship (2007) during a distinguished career that saw him faithfully chase a points series for most of it.

While noting that he’s “very proud of what I’ve accomplished,” Francis said he’s ready to move on.

“I do feel like I can contribute to the betterment of the sport because I have been from the brokest racer at the racetrack to the most well-financed racer at the racetrack,” said Francis, whose last win on American soil came in April 2014. “I’ve been the guy who’s been Driver of the Year two or three times in my career, and I’ve been the guy who ain’t in the top 50 this year. I’ve kind of been there, done this, seen it all, and I can bring that to this job.”

“I hope our pit area respects the fact that this man has owned a race car, he’s been on our tour, he knows what the tire bill looks like, he knows what the engine bills looks like,” Lucas Oil Series director Rick Schwallie said. “And when he techs our race cars, I hope that our race teams have an appreciation that we have a guy there in the trenches who has been there with them and done what they’ve done. I think it’s a perfect fit.”