Dale Earnhardt Jr. and wife Amy expecting 1st child

There will soon be a new addition to the Dale Earnhardt Jr. household as he and his wife, Amy, are expecting their first child.

NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver made the announcement in an Instagram post Monday. He did not disclose Amy’s due date, though he did reveal the gender -- a girl. In a tweet later in the afternoon, he said the couple learned the news Sept. 1.

Earnhardt, 43, is retiring from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of the current season, which has five races remaining. He finished seventh Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

Earnhardt and Amy were engaged on June 17, 2015, and married on New Year’s Eve the following year. The couple has spoken openly about wanting to start a family.