Tag: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser to reunite in Late Models

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser are reuniting to bring back one of the most recognizable paint schemes in racing history. The NASCAR Hall of Famer will drive a No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the iconic “Bud King of Beers” livery once again for a …

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser are reuniting to bring back one of the most recognizable paint schemes in racing history. The NASCAR Hall of Famer will drive a No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the iconic “Bud King of Beers” livery once again for a limited series of Late Model Stock Car races, starting next month and continuing in 2025. The paint scheme will make its return to the track for the first time in 17 years on Nov. 23 when Earnhardt Jr. competes in the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway.

In addition to the red-and-black paint scheme, Earnhardt Jr. will return to his stylized No. 8, made famous during his tenure behind the wheel from 1999 through 2007.

“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

This return for Budweiser continues Anheuser-Busch’s long-standing commitment to stock car racing. With driver partnerships, key event sponsorships and media investments in the sport, Anheuser-Busch has supported NASCAR through its Budweiser, Busch and Busch Light beer brands for more than 40 years.

“There are names that when mentioned, draw on the significance of their place in American history. Among them, Budweiser, and Earnhardt,” said Matt Davis, Vice President of Partnerships at Anheuser-Busch. “This return to the racetrack alongside Dale with the Bud King of Beers paint scheme is another chapter in Anheuser-Busch’s long and storied sports history.”

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Budweiser reunite for special late model return in 2024

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser have reunited for a special return of the No. 8 car for select Late Model Stock Car races in 2024 and 2025.

[autotag]Dale Earnhardt Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Budweiser[/autotag] are reuniting for what feels like one of racing’s most significant stories of 2024. On Tuesday morning, it was announced that Earnhardt and Budweiser will reunite to “bring back one of the most recognizable paint schemes in racing history.” Earnhardt will drive the historic No. 8 car in select Late Model races in 2024 and 2025.

Budweiser will sponsor the effort as the paint scheme resembles the one Earnhardt drove from 1999 through 2007. Also, the No. 8 on the car will be the style he made famous in the younger years of his career. The paint scheme will make its official return when Earnhardt competes in the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway on November 23, 2024.

This is a massive day for NASCAR and Earnhardt fans, as many have waited patiently for a time when he could run this paint scheme again. It has been a long journey for Earnahrdt, and while his NASCAR career might be over, this throwback will bring back memories of those days. It’s a historic day in racing and one that many won’t forget for a long time.

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Panthers great Luke Kuechly looks back on his emotional reaction to concussion in 2016

Panthers great Luke Kuechly sobbed uncontrollably after sustaining a concussion in 2016. He looked back on that moment this week.

To some, it may have been before his time—but the retirement of Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly actually came right on time.

The former linebacker joined this past week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, hosted by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. When touching on the difficult conversation about concussions, which had an impact on the careers of both Kuechly and Earnhardt Jr., Kuechly talked about when he knew it was time to walk away from the game.

“I love everything about football,” he said. “I love the offseason, I love training camp, I love OTAs, I love being around the guys, I like flying to games, I love playing football, I love to practice. I get to wake up every day and put sweats on and go hang out with 120 of my boys and play football and lift weights and hang out.

“But I knew . . . I got hit a few times the previous couple of years. I got hit a couple times that year, I had some other stuff that was bugging me and I just remember after one game, late in that season, I was like, ‘Man . . . I just can’t do it anymore.’ I can’t play how I want to, I can’t be as physical as I want to because stuff was starting to happen and I just remember I got home that night and I’m like, ‘Can’t do it.'”

Kuechly retired at the age of 28 due to the effects of his concussions. His career ended up spanning eight seasons—a Hall of Fame-worthy tenure decorated by a Defensive Player of the Year award, five First-team All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowl selections.

While continuing to navigate through the topic, Kuechly then recalled the very emotional (and nationally-televised) reaction he had to a concussion back in 2016 . . .

He’d call it a career three years later.

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No Xfinity for Earnhardt Jr. in 2025, but no plans to retire, either

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reiterated this week he is not planning to make a NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 2025, but is not ruling out ever racing again. “I don’t have any plans,” Earnhardt said on his Dale Jr. Download podcast. “I like it that way. If I …

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reiterated this week he is not planning to make a NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 2025, but is not ruling out ever racing again.

“I don’t have any plans,” Earnhardt said on his Dale Jr. Download podcast. “I like it that way. If I want to run one, I will. If I don’t, I won’t. Right now, there is nothing on the schedule for next year.”

Earnhardt finished seventh in Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. There were some who treated it as a potential final NASCAR start for Earnhardt after he went into the weekend saying that that he will put complete focus on his new broadcast role with Amazon and TNT Sports in 2025.

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Amazon will broadcast five NASCAR Cup Series beginning with the Coca-Cola 600. TNT Sports will carry the following five races starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Earnhardt will be on the broadcast team for both partners, doing on-air analysis and commentary.

“But knowing me, I’m probably going to go, ‘Man, I missed running,’” Earnhardt said. “When ’25 is over with — actually when I’m done broadcasting and NBC finishes out the year — I’ll probably be sitting there going, ‘I should have run that race. I should have run one of these. Darn it.’

“Then I’ll probably go to Kelley [Earnhardt Miller] and L.W. [Miller] and go, hey, let’s find one for 2026 and I’ll get nervous all over again.”

Since retiring from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2017 season, Earnhardt has competed in the Xfinity Series in one-off starts with the team he co-owns, JR Motorsports. He made two starts last year. The tracks have varied based on Earnhardt’s interest and Hellmann’s sponsorship.

Should he get back behind the wheel in 2026, Earnhardt said he would look at a place like Kansas Speedway to compete, noting that it looks fun as a viewer and that he enjoys tracks where a driver can run against the wall.

Earnhardt has made 147 starts in the Xfinity Series and has 24 career wins.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wild return to NASCAR ends with top-10 finish and 2 a.m. beers on pit road

Dale Jr. couldn’t see his dash but finished seventh anyways at Bristol in his first NASCAR race in nearly a year.

For the first time in nearly a year, one of the most popular drivers in the history of motorsports was back in the driver’s seat for a NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. jumped behind the wheel of the No. 88 Hellman’s Mayonnaise Chevrolet Camaro as part of a deal with the sponsor. Essentially, Earnhardt runs this race in the Hellman’s car and then the company sponsors other drivers on Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports team throughout the season. Junior retired from racing full-time after the 2017 Cup Series season, but the 49-year-old still likes to jump behind the wheel in a Xfinity race or two each year in addition to some on-and-off racing in the late model CARS Tour.

But impressively, despite a chaotic and wild night, Earnhardt finished seventh in his return to one of the highest tiers of NASCAR.

And he did that battling a flurry of problems, errors, fumbles and issues at the Food City 300.

His radio went out. He replaced his helmet. He replaced his wiring harness. He lost his glasses. His radio fell on the floor. His water bottle fell on the floor. He couldn’t read the numbers on the dash. The radio volume turned up way too loud. He ran part of the race without a spotter.

On and on and on.

Just about everything that could go wrong for Dale Jr. did. And he still finished in the top-10 in his first Xfinity race since last October.

After losing his glasses early in the race, Earnhardt just did the rest of the race without them.

“I just can’t see the dash, can’t read like the little numbers. They were like, ‘how hot is it?’ And I’m like, ‘It’s 200-something.’ I can see out the windshield just fine.”

After the race, which marked Dale Jr.’s 356th top-10 finish of his career, he celebrated the way everyone expected him to, with beers on pit road with friends and fellow drivers long into the night.

According to NASCAR, Earnhardt currently holds the longest active streak of consecutive seasons with at least one national series start. The 1998 and 1999 Xfinity champion currently doesn’t have a deal in place to race at Bristol next year, but he hasn’t ruled out a return to the series for 2025 or 2026.

“I’m not planning on racing next year, (but) I’d be foolish to say I’m never going to run again because I don’t know well enough to stay away from it, and I’ll probably miss it next year and be absolutely willing to sign up for anything that might be beneficial to JR Motorsports,” Earnhardt said. “Right now, I don’t have any plans, but that’s the way I like it.”

In the meantime, fans will have to catch Dale Jr. in the broadcast booth, on his podcast or on the CARS Tour.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. says Bristol is ‘probably’ his last NASCAR Xfinity start

Dale Earnhardt Jr. says Bristol Motor Speedway in two weeks will “probably” be his last NASCAR Xfinity Series start.

[autotag]Dale Earnhardt Jr.[/autotag] retired from full-time racing in NASCAR after the 2017 season but has made his yearly Xfinity Series start since then. Earnhardt will compete in the Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 20; however, could this be the final one? Based on Earnhardt’s comments, it wouldn’t be shocking.

According to Earnhardt on his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, the race at Bristol in two weeks will “probably” be his final Xfinity Series start. Earnhardt said that is his response when people ask if it will be his final race. The former Hendrick Motorsports driver also said he’s “pretty sure” this will be it; however, he will still run his late model for a “little while.”

NASCAR is a better place when Earnhardt is a part of it, but it doesn’t mean he will be gone just because he may stop racing. Earnhardt still has JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and will be in the broadcast booths for TNT and Prime starting in 2025. The NASCAR Hall-of-Fame member won’t drive for much longer, but he won’t disappear into the shadows.

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Bubba Wallace shared Michael Jordan’s advice ahead of his last chance to make NASCAR playoffs

Bubba Wallace shared what team owner MJ told him and how it’s helped his approach to Darlington.

The NASCAR Cup Series regular season all comes down to Sunday at Darlington Raceway, where drivers not already qualified for the playoffs will have one last opportunity to contend for a title this season.

The top-16 drivers in the standings make the playoffs, and they’re automatically guaranteed a berth with a win during the regular season. If they don’t win a regular-season race and there are fewer than 16 different winners, the remaining playoff spots are filled based on who’s where in the standings.

With one more race to go before the 10-race playoffs, Bubba Wallace and his No. 23 23XI Racing team are sitting in 13th. But with a few drivers with wins this season, the playoff picture projects him as 17th and the first driver excluded from the postseason if it started today. His sixth-place finish Saturday at Daytona International Speedway helped, but he’s not there yet.

While a guest on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, Wallace shared his approach to his last playoff-qualifying opportunity, along with the advice he received from 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan.

Wallace told Earnhardt:

“There’s two sides of it coming out of Daytona: You’re bummed. You’re pissed off. You did what you’re supposed to do. We out-raced [Ross Chastain in] the 1 car, and we have a six-point, seven-point cushion to him. But we had a new winner [with Harrison Burton], so it’s like the goalpost moved again. …

“I had MJ text me, and he says, ‘The things you want more cost more.’ All day yesterday and all day, in the middle of the night, I’m telling myself, ‘Just try to go out and have the best race you’ve ever had of your life.’ It’s just showing up, me doing all that I can. Take out the outside factors. That’s how I’m approaching it. I woke up in a much better mood this morning.”

Wallace added why he needs to emphasize de-stressing before races, saying:

“Last year, I went into Daytona really stressed out. … I think for Daytona, you can get by with that. But I think if it was Darlington, I would have crashed Lap 2. Taking a deep breath, understanding where we’re at — we’re not out of it by any means. If you out-run the guys you’re racing, then you should beat them. But we have to do a little bit extra work, and I’m excited to roll the sleeves up and do that.”

The NASCAR Cup Series’ regular-season finale is the Southern 500 on Sunday at Darlington Raceway (6 p.m. ET, USA Network).

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. may attempt his last NASCAR Xfinity Series race in 2024

Dale Earnhardt Jr. may run his last NASCAR Xfinity Series race in 2024. Find out what JR Motorsports said about Earnhardt’s racing future!

[autotag]Dale Earnhardt Jr.[/autotag] will run the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 20, looking for redemption after last year. In 2023, Earnhardt led 47 laps at Bristol but was forced to retire after a fire on his No. 88 car. The NASCAR Hall-of-Famer has competed in the Xfinity Series at least once per season since retiring from full-time racing, but could 2024 be his last year?

According to JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, she didn’t want to say that Earnhardt is done racing in the Xfinity Series; however, the team doesn’t have anything on the map for him right now. Earnhardt’s start at Bristol is his only scheduled appearance in 2024, which could end up being his last in the Xfinity Series.

Earnhardt Miller said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that plans can change, so it’s far from definite that it will be his final Xfinity Series event. Yet, with JR Motorsports not having anything on the map, Earnhardt could be running the No. 88 Xfinity car for the final time. Hopefully, Earnhardt can return for another Xfinity Series event if he desires to move forward with racing.

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Rapper and Commanders’ fan Wale on the 2024 team: ‘It’s a new day’

The rap superstar is excited about the Commanders’ future.

When it comes to celebrity Washington Commanders’ fans, a few names come to mind. Matthew McConaughey, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Durant and Wale come to mind first.

Wale was in attendance for Friday’s practice at Commanders Park and spoke on all of the changes with the franchise and the excitement surrounding the team.

“You can’t help but to be excited, you can feel the excitement of the fans,” Wale said. “Even talking to a lot of my friends on the team, you can feel it. It’s a new day.”

Wale was then asked how they looked on the practice field Friday: “Fast, we looked fast. We looked excited, inspired.”

What about Jayden Daniels?

“Of course, that’s the pick I wanted……we love to have him here.”

Wale praised the front office, particularly the new ownership group.

So, what does he happening this season?

“I don’t want to put any expectations on our guys right now, but I think we’re going to win some games, shock a lot of people and play with intensity and passion. I can guarantee that.”

Even during the franchise’s struggles over the years, Wale has always maintained his support for the team.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. admits his final NASCAR start could come in 2024

Dale Earnhardt Jr. admits that his final NASCAR Xfinity Series start could come in 2024? What did Earnhardt say about the possibility?

[autotag]Dale Earnhardt Jr.[/autotag] retired from the NASCAR Cup Series after the 2017 season, but it doesn’t mean his racing career is over. Earnhardt still runs in his late models and typically drives in one to two NASCAR Xfinity Series races yearly. In 2024, Earnhardt will run the Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 20.

Ahead of the Xfinity Series event and summer months, Earnhardt spoke to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass about various topics, including his racing future in NASCAR and other series. The 2024 season could be Earnhardt’s last in the Xfinity Series.

“I want to run my late model for a really long time,” Earnhardt said. “I imagine when I get to around 60, I’ll be probably considering that that’s probably too old to be out there battling with some of these younger guys. So I’ve got about a 10-year runway to do everything I want to do with my late model. The [NASCAR Xfinity Series] car? Every year, I say that — personally, but I don’t really share this publicly — but every year, I pretty much feel like it could be my last. I’m going into this race at Bristol this year knowing that it might be the last one I run.”

“There’s nothing that really makes that decision. It’s just last year was a lot of fun, led some laps. But it is a big commitment…And so it’s not just show up and race and, “Oh man, that was great. We’ll do it again next year.” There’s a lot of work that goes into it months ahead of time. But as long as we’re running good like we did — we ran so much better than I thought we would at Bristol last year — and as long as that’s happening, I think I’ll always want to keep coming back. When you go out there and you know the car is good and you just aren’t able to produce the result, then it’s probably time to let somebody else try it.”

Earnhardt is taking his NASCAR driving future year-by-year, but the 2024 season could be his last. Hopefully, the JR Motorsports co-owner keeps making one-off starts in the Xfinity Series moving forward, but no one would blame him for stepping away. NASCAR is better with Earnhardt racing, and Bristol will be especially fun because of his presence.

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