After 17 long years, Dale Earnhardt Jr finally reclaims his legacy. The 26-time Cup race-winning veteran will sport those bright red colors on a racetrack once again. His estranged stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, offered an olive branch this year in June, allowing Junior to buy the trademark for the No. 8. She retained rights over the long-lost Dale Earnhardt Inc. team. But the update means one thing – Junior fans can relive a nostalgic dream!

The podcast host and JR Motorsports owner is already creating a flutter with a wardrobe drop. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s loyal army of fans will see a spectacle at Florence Motor Speedway on November 23rd. A fiery red firesuit embroidered with Budweiser’s famous logo is all that the NASCAR community is drooling over right now.

That Memory Lane was a long 2000-2007 journey, sprinkled with colorful victories. Starting from the 2000 DirecTV 500 win in Texas and ending with the 2006 Crown Royal 400 win in Richmond, Dale Earnhardt Jr collected 17 victories for Dale Earnhardt Inc. What stood out was his iconic bright red Budweiser fire suit that clung to the icon’s tired body during every Victory Lane celebration. From 2007, Dale Jr shifted to Hendrick Motorsports, as his stepmother tightened her control over DEI and the No. 8 logo. 17 years later, that scenario has finally changed.

Ahead of the upcoming spectacle in the South Carolina 400 race at Florence, Dale Earnhardt Jr dropped a teaser. A NASCAR fan shared a picture of modern-day Dale Jr smiling his heart out in the legendary ruby-red firesuit, holding a Budweiser beer can. The post caption encapsulated the soaring emotions of numerous fans’ hearts: “If you ever wanted to see present day @DaleJr in a Budweiser firesuit, here ya go.” Being under lock and key for so long, the famous logo will feature where it rightfully belongs – on the firesuit and car of Dale Jr, under his team JR Motorsports.

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Florence entry will also mark the “Bud King of Beers” paint scheme’s first time on the track in 17 years. “It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” Earnhardt, 50, said of the ride he made famous from 1999 to 2007. “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.”

As expected, diehard Dale Earnhardt Jr fans are going gaga over this comeback.

NASCAR fans drool over Dale Earnhardt Jr’s red outfit

After all, Dale Earnhardt Jr has several precious memories in this firesuit. Less than four months after his father, the Intimidator, passed away in Daytona, Dale Jr roared back to win on the same track. Leading 116 of 200 laps, he won the Pepsi 400, and the pit crew, competitors, and fans all roared when he climbed out of his car in Victory Lane. Now that the same victory outfit is back in business, fans are ecstatic for more memories. One fan wrote, “Seeing him in a bud suit…nature has healed just a tiny bit more. The way I miss the old days though…” Another fan heaved a sigh of relief that we would be able to relive the golden era of NASCAR again. “All is right in the world,” they wrote.

Dale Earnhardt Jr holds the classic No. 8 close to his heart – given the numerous tracks he conquered wearing it. For instance, he won four of six Talladega races wearing Budweiser’s suit, the best memory coming in April 2002 when he led 133 laps. So the veteran sports an infectious smile while wearing that glorious suit today – enough to mesmerize fans. “Junior’s enthusiasm for everything NASCAR really is infectious. So glad he was/is my favorite driver,” somebody wrote.

Another fan compared Dale Jr’s glee in reclaiming his Cup Series legacy to a child holding their favorite sweet. “Dale looks like a kid in the candy store. So glad the Bud 8 is back.” After all, the reunion of Bud and Dale Jr comes after years of bitter separation. Fans may remember when Dale Jr decided to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. in favor of Hendrick Motorsports. Little did fans know beloved livery and firesuit would only return to the sport after a decade and a half.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer will compete in a limited series of late-model stock car races in 2024 and 2025. Florence Motor Speedway is gearing up for the start of this grand program on November 23rd, and one fan cannot get enough of the anticipation. “Everything about this is freaking awesome. Saw Florence posted a shot of the car on track, never thought seeing a scheme back on track would be so surreal. Also seems like Jr is as excited about all of this as we are which makes it that much better.” It’s not a track Earnhardt Jr. is unfamiliar with. He already raced at the track in 2022 as well as 2023.

Evidently, all eyes are currently on the Cup Series veteran sporting his old colors. We cannot wait to see Dale Earnhardt Jr drive the bright red Budweiser-sponsored No. 8 car to Victory Lane again!