Dale Earnhardt Jr. has long been an avid and vocal fan of all things music. Whether it’s country legends like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., or punk and rock bands like Nickelback or The Dangerous Summer, his taste in tunes includes some of the most iconic and infamous acts in history. One of them is the late 90s-2000s rock band, ‘Creed’.

Not too long ago, Creed was everywhere. Their hits like “Higher” and “With Arms Wide Open” were on constant rotation, their music videos dominated MTV, and their concerts pulled in massive crowds. But at some point, it became trendy to hate them. People called them cheesy and over-the-top—everything wrong with post-grunge excess. Fast forward to 2024, and suddenly the tables have turned. Creed is back, bigger than ever, and even NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. is wondering if the hate was ever real.

The Creed comeback: From mocked to mega-stars again

Creed’s journey has been a wild one. They shot out of Tallahassee, Florida, in the mid-’90s, led by Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall, and Scott Phillips. Inspired by the grunge explosion from bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, they carved their own path with heartfelt lyrics and arena-ready melodies. Their debut album, My Own Prison (1997), sold over six million copies. But the higher they climbed, the harder the backlash hit. Critics mocked their earnestness as pretentious, and Stapp’s dramatic delivery became a running joke. By the 2010s, Creed had faded from the mainstream, their songs reduced to guilty pleasures.

Then 2024 happened. Creed’s “Summer of ’99 Tour” became one of the hottest tickets of the year, selling more than 825,000 tickets and raking in $65 million—their best year ever. Their July 26 show at Jiffy Lube Live in Virginia pulled in $1.654 million, a record for the band. The demand was so high that they added new dates for 2025, including a sold-out “Summer of ’99 and Beyond” cruise featuring Sevendust and Hoobastank. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was pleasantly surprised by the revival as he took to his Instagram story to share his thoughts. “What 2024 taught me is that, contrary to popular belief, people have actually loved Creed all this time,” said Dale Jr. The numbers certainly back him up.

Scott Stapp, reflecting on the comeback, couldn’t hide his gratitude. “We’ve been through a lot—individually and as a band. Seeing a whole new generation embrace our music is incredibly emotional. Your eyes water, you tear up. It’s a blessing,” he told Billboard.

Dale Jr.’s love for Creed is no secret, but his musical connections go even further. His JR Motorsports team is set to debut in the Cup Series at the 2025 Daytona 500, with country superstar Chris Stapleton joining the adventure. Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey brand will sponsor the JR Motorsports No. 40 Chevrolet, driven by Justin Allgaier.

Dale Jr., Chris Stapleton, and the Daytona 500 Dream

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Chris Stapleton, the Grammy-winning voice behind hits like “Tennessee Whiskey,” was introduced to Dale Earnhardt Jr. through Rick Hendrick. The collaboration quickly took off. “I was thinking, what is the coolest thing we could do with the whiskey brand?” Stapleton said. “I just love the history of racing and whiskey… Already feel like winning the Super Bowl or something”

Stapleton feels this is the perfect partnership. “Traveller Whiskey joining JR Motorsports for their inaugural entry into the Cup Series at the DAYTONA 500 feels like a very natural partnership,” said Stapleton. “I’m honored to be a part of this historic moment with Dale and Kelley, and excited to see Justin race the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet in Daytona.”

For Justin Allgaier, who just won his first Xfinity Series championship in 2024, the opportunity is a dream come true. “It’s an honor to represent JR Motorsports in their Cup debut, especially at such an iconic race. I’m ready to give it everything we’ve got,” he said.

The team’s secret weapon? Veteran crew chief Greg Ives. “I saw how many times he’s qualified a car on the front row,” Dale Jr. said with a grin. “It’s like, ‘You got any magic left, Greg? Let’s go to the track and see what we can do.’”  Ives has positioned the car in the front row at Daytona six times in his career! Greg Ives previously worked at Hendrick Motorsports as a race engineer between 2006 and 2012. Jimmie Johnson won 5 consecutive champions for HMS during this era. He then moved to JR Motorsports and in 2014 guided Chase Elliott to the Xfinity Series title in the latter’s rookie season! It’s clear that Ives is up to the task as JRM embarks on their Cup dream.

For Dale Earnhardt Jr., this Daytona 500 entry represents a long-held dream. JR Motorsport started with humble beginnings, focusing on late-model racing, and now they’re taking on the biggest race in NASCAR. Speaking of his ambitions with JRM in 2004, Dale Jr had said, “But I’m just kind of letting the JR Motorsports thing, which is my personal company, do its own thing, grow at its own pace. If it becomes a Busch [Xfinity] team or a Cup Series team, so be it.” 21 years and four Xfinity championships later, JRM is ready to grace the Cup Series at the Daytona 500.

Creed’s comeback and JR Motorsports’ Daytona 500 debut might seem like separate stories, but they share a common theme: perseverance and proving the doubters wrong. Whether it’s a band reclaiming their legacy or a team chasing glory on NASCAR’s biggest stage, 2024 has been a year of comebacks—and the fans are here for it.