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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – APRIL 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250 powered by Call 811.com at Martinsville Speedway on April 07, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – APRIL 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250 powered by Call 811.com at Martinsville Speedway on April 07, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
When Kyle Busch finally announced his 2023 plans, it pretty much triggered the NASCAR driver market. Among the latest shifts was Brandon Jones, who is expected to jump ship from Joe Gibbs Racing to JR Motorsports. Admittedly, it will be a big loss for JGR, but it will also be a massive signing for JR M0torsports. In a recent Ask Dale Jr segment, Dale Earnhardt Jr spoke about Jones’ recruitment.
He said, “I know that there was a lot of positive comments on social media about it. But also some people questioning the move. Then he goes out there and almost get around Noah to win the race this past weekend at Bristol. That was so fitting for me, standing there watching that race going. Our current driver and right behind him putting the pressure on is our new driver. This couldn’t be any better, having made the announcement that week.”
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What else did Dale Earnhardt Jr say about his new driver?
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Dale Jr confessed that he was secretly hoping to see Jones get a little aggressive with Noah Gragson for the win. However, he did acknowledge that being aggressive was not really Jones’ style. This trait evidently impressed Hendrick Motorsports legend, Steve Letarte, but it was quite fitting.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – JANUARY 12: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, speaks to the Media during the NASCAR Next Gen Test at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Dale Earnhardt Jr knew that everyone was going to have an opinion on signing Brandon Jones. So to see him on the track, keeping Gragson honest, was amazing for the JR Motorsports boss. According to Dale Jr, when he has to make a change in his organization, he consults his outgoing employees about their successors.
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When it comes to drivers, he has a desire to make them improve themselves. He noted that Brandon Jones raced in the Xfinity Series for a while, and Dale Jr wants to extract as much potential from him.
