Dale Earnhardt Jr Turns Attention to Team Penske Insider as He Details Aspiring Drivers’ Path to a Racing Career

NASCAR’s got a bunch of heartwarming tales that haven’t hit the spotlight yet, mainly because they’re not about the drivers. While it’s the combined effort of the entire crew and staff that brings the magic to the tracks, these key players often remain behind the scenes. But Dale Earnhardt Jr is on a mission to change that with his podcast, aiming to shine a light on those unsung heroes and motivate folks dreaming of a future in motorsports.

Kicking things off, Junior’s sharing the journey of a well-known NASCAR figure—the current team manager at Team Penske. It looks like he is setting a new trend, giving props to those who make the races and racing teams happen.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is all about firing up the next-gen with real-deal NASCAR stories

Dale Jr hit up Twitter with a sneak peek at his next podcast episode, presented by Lionel Racing, spotlighting Jefferson Hodges, a big deal in the NASCAR world. He threw out an invitation to all those dreamers wondering how to break into racing, saying this episode is a must-listen. Dale Jr said, “I get asked all the time, How do I get in racing? There’s never really an easy answer on how to help people get involved in racing. Jefferson Hodges’s story is the answer.”

“If you want to know how to get into racing, you need to tune in tomorrow to listen the Jefferson tell us his path. He has worked for JR Motorsports for some time, but he’s been working for a lot of different companies as well,” added further.

He got real about Jefferson Hodges, the guy who was instrumental in getting JR Motorsports off the ground. “He’s got some great stories to help us start our Xfinity program here at Junior Motorsports many, many years ago. I want to hear all these stories about how he got Junior Motorsports started, but also I want you to tell people your path. Because it’s really, this is how you get involved in racing- exactly the way he did it. He’ll tell you the level of commitment and dedication and determination, and sacrifice that it’s going to take. This is a great story, so I hope you’ll give it a shot. I think you’ll enjoy it,” Dale Jr said.

Here’s what you may expect to know during the podcast, in addition to all the inside stories: Hodges is no newbie to racing; he’s been in the game for 19 years, hitting his first race at two at Martinsville Speedway. Growing up tinkering on racecars and landing his first motorsport gig in ’95 in Richmond, VA, Jefferson Hodges learned the ropes from Rick Townsend.

Working alongside racing legends like Junie Donlevy and Dick Trickle and clinching a win as a crew chief by 2001, he knows his stuff. Jefferson Hodges made history with Morty Buckles, scoring the Drive for Diversity program’s first victory. 2003 saw him win big with Mark McFarland, and then he leaped, moving to Charlotte to steer Dale Jr’s Late Model program. That success paved the way for him to lead JR Motorsports’ Xfinity team as its first crew chief.

Since then, Hodges has climbed the professional ranks as a crew chief in ARCA, Xfinity, and Trucks with drivers Steve Parks, Mike Skinner, Steve Arpin, Kevin Swindell, and Kevin Conway. His combined on-track success includes a K&N Pro Series East Championship, a National Championship, two Regional Championships in Late Model Stocks, 3 track championships, as well as poles and wins as a car chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Currently, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s latest guest, Jefferson Hodges, serves as the team manager of Team Penske. Back in 2019, Roger Penske‘s team announced that Jefferson Hodges, who had last served as General Manager and Director of Competition for Rev Racing, would join the organization as NASCAR Team Manager beginning with the 2019 season.

However, Dale Earnhardt Jr is not just adding value to his podcast audience by bringing in such unsung heroes; he is also focusing on his JR Motorsports Racing team. A while ago, when JR Motorsports posted a video introducing a new #88 driver, everyone speculated that it could be Rajah Caruth. But the team later released the name, and it’s not him.

It’s not Rajah Caruth who will drive behind #88 for JR Motorsports

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JR Motorsports just dropped the news that Connor Zilisch is set to shake things up in the NASCAR Xfinity scene, hopping into the #88 car for his first race at Watkins Glen. But wait—he’s not just making a one-off appearance. Zilisch is also gearing up for action at Kansas Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Phoenix.

The young gun inked a deal with Trackhouse Racing as a development driver this January, locking in a multi-year commitment. Not to mention, Zilisch already has a Rolex 24 at Daytona win under his belt with Era Motorsport in the LMP2 class.

Read More: Dale Jr’s Latest Recruitment Aspires to Follow in Kyle Larson’s Footsteps After the Big NASCAR Break

His quartet of races is a big move for JRM’s fifth car, which hit the track for five races last year. And in case you missed it, they’ve also got short-track sensation Bubba Pollard lined up for Richmond on March 30. Plus, Carson Kvapil is preparing for his Xfinity debut at Martinsville in April. It sounds like JRM’s roster is stacked this season!