
via Getty
RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 21: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Camaro Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway on September 21, 2018 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

via Getty
RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 21: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Camaro Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway on September 21, 2018 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
It’s impossible to race in the top-tier NASCAR series and not be in love with the sport. The entire lives of the drivers revolve around race cars and race tracks. And once someone falls prey to the thrill of speed, it never really leaves them. You could take a driver out of racing, but you can’t take racing out of a driver. Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s situation is not anything different.
The two-time Xfinity Series champion picked up a white firesuit and sat behind the steering wheel of the number 88 JR Motorsports machine a few weeks back at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was his first start at the track since he retired in 2017. To everyone’s surprise, the 49-year-old NASCAR veteran posed a serious threat to everyone on the grid, including his own driver Justin Allgaier. Come Homestead-Miami, where the legend got his 1999 Xfinity title, he’s about to do it again. But this time it’ll be a little different.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr has a fierce and yet heartwarming message for the Xfinity drivers
Last time at the Food City 300 in Bristol, the young contenders faced tough competition from a retired driver named Dale Earnhardt Jr. The JR Motorsports owner led 47 laps of the race and flaunted a race-winning car that could have easily secured a top-10 or even a top-5 finish. But it didn’t happen. And all because of a fiery accident.
However, that doesn’t seem to have disheartened Junior. He’s all set to rev the engine of his Chevrolet again at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. In a recent episode of his podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr admitted that this 1.5-mile track is one of his favorites solely for the way a good car can run on the high groove, due to the high baking in the turns.
Although he doesn’t have high expectations, Junior stated that he would try to qualify well and at least come top-10 in the final race. “We’re not guaranteed anything,” Junior said. “We’ll go face those same nerves we had at Bristol, but try to put down a great lap. But how is it going to be any different that Bristol then?”
Right after sending a subtle warning to the grid, he proved why he is one of the respected veterans of the sport. He expressed how he is mindful of other drivers and their playoff runs.
The 15-time most popular driver said, “I measure my expectations; there’s a competitive field, there’s also the playoffs, and people trying to move themselves into that final round. Kind of being respectful of that. Don’t wanna do anything that’s going to give anybody any trouble or hurt their opportunity of having a great run at Homestead,” he added.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr doesn’t know what quitting is!
Even after several years of retirement, Dale Earnhardt Jr showed everyone that he still belongs in the car. How often he will make these appearances behind the #88 car still remains to be determined, but from what Dale Earnhardt Jr. told NASCAR, it seems like he isn’t stopping anytime soon.
Junior exclaimed, “I’ll run as long as I can. I like running one here and one there. I mean, certainly not until I’m 60 years old. But I think I still feel young.”
We have a feeling @DaleJr had fun. 😂 pic.twitter.com/nWqMA0YYqQ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2023
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“I overachieved tonight in my eyes in terms of how I ran, so I guess that gave me some confidence to try to do one here and one there for a couple more years,” he added cheerfully.
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Perhaps this is a caution call for every driver out there that Dale Earnhardt Jr is going to race for another decade. We can’t wait to see what else the NASCAR Hall of Famer achieves as a driver.
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