Dale Earnhardt Jr Pens Heartfelt Message to Dejected Rackley-W.A.R. Star Hours After Truck Series Heartbreak

The most action-packed weekend of the year could not possibly begin without a few false turns. While the racing community awaited the three championship races, the practice race for the Truck Series finale witnessed a dramatic crash at the Phoenix Raceway.

Rackley-Willie Allen Racing team’s #25 driver Stefan Parsons wrecked his Chevrolet Silverado before his third Truck Series race of the season. Upon hearing the news, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr reached out to the promising driver.

Dale Earnhardt Jr claims Rackley W.A.R. driver has what it takes to be a winner

Since his retirement, Dale Earnhardt Jr has invested a lot in mentoring young drivers in his driver development program. Well-versed in the finicky nature of the sport, Dale Jr has been outspoken about the high-pressure environment of competitive NASCAR races. Two of his Xfinity drivers, Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer, have qualified for the Championship 4 race, but Dale Jr is concerned not just with the owner’s championship but also with the happenings in the Truck Series grid. 

The practice session for Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 is over, but it hasn’t been fruitful for some, especially Rackley W.A.R. driver Stefan Parsons. When the JR Motorsports co-owner heard about the demoralizing mishap, his heart went out to the budding racer.

Since his NASCAR debut in 2018, Stefan Parsons raced part-time in both Xfinity and Truck Series. His Top 10 Xfinity performance at the Bristol Motor Speedway last season was particularly noteworthy. This year, Parsons qualified for the Truck Series races in Bristol and Pocono with Young Motorsports. The season-ending race in Phoenix was going to be his first drive with Rackley WAR, which began with a less-than-ideal practice session.

Thankfully, the #25 driver would still make a race appearance despite the damage sustained by his Chevy during practice. When Parsons shared the image of his truck, Junior promptly responded, offering compassion and encouragement in equal abundance. Dale Jr wrote, “Tough luck for someone who I think can quickly become a winner in this series with the right opportunity.” That is indeed high praise from the prolific veteran. 

Although the practice session was not televised, the incident was reported by journalists present on the track.

Brutal collision in final moments mars seamless Truck Series practice at the Phoenix Raceway

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With two minutes left in practice, Stefan Parsons was engaged in a mock qualifying run for a career-high opportunity to drive in the championship race. Unfortunately, the right front tire of his #25 Chevrolet truck split off on Turn 3 and the truck was sent crashing into the wall.

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The resulting damage will force him to use a backup truck in the all-crucial race at the tri-oval in Phoenix. Renowned NASCAR insider Toby Christie provided live updates from the otherwise caution-free practice session. Sharing a close-up shot of the tire cut, Christie wrote on his social media page, “A dream opportunity for @StefanParsons got off to a nightmarish start on Thursday at Phoenix Raceway as a flat tire sent him into the outside wall in the No. 25 @Rackley WAR Chevrolet. Parsons is fine & team is preparing his backup truck.”

Hopefully, the rising star will face no further hinges in the main race in Phoenix so that he can be on course to fulfill the prophetic words of Dale Earnhardt Jr in the future.

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