The NASCAR Xfinity Series is a storm of raw emotion, fierce ambition, and jaw-dropping twists, and the 2025 season hasn’t disappointed. Whether you should read too much into it, we will leave that to you, but jokes always come from some version of the truth. Whispers of blockbuster moves by Hendrick Motorsports have taken a stronghold, thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr. It all started when Kyle Larson, who dropped by the Happy Hour podcast, said, “I want to smash the field when I run Xfinity. That’s motivating to me, for sure.”

Truer words have not been spoken. At Saturday’s SciAps 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Larson didn’t just win the pole as well as the race, he did it in the most dominant form, leading 276 of 300 laps. This came on the heels of another stomping performance at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he led 132 of 201 laps. It was after the Bristol outing that the “smash the field” comment was uttered. Cocky, yes? But only Larson here has vision: “I want to embarrass NASCAR a little bit because they don’t let Cup drivers run anymore. The kids probably think they are in a good spot and they don’t know where the bar is really at.”

Enter Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The latest episode of Dale Jr. Download saw Junior draw some meaningful conversations around that. Call it irony, but Junior was ripe with a slew of sarcastic punches: Sure, NASCAR limited the Cup drivers to five Xfinity races a year. “But is five the right number? I don’t know about that. Kyle Larson’s complaining that it’s not. But he’s running only two, and he’s running the only two tracks he’s really really freaking good at, Bristol and Homestead… He wanted to win two triples so that he can tie Kyle Busch, who’s done that twice.

“And then he doesn’t have another race on the schedule, and he gets out, and goes [mimicks washing his hands off], ‘I want to embarrass them every time I drive.'” Only if Junior had stopped there.

Junior dismissed the right for Larson to brag, and for good reasons. For one, HMS gets to be a part of JRM’s meetings where the latter shares setup information. And the other argument being, as a Cup driver, Larson is expected to be better. “I understand the point he [Larson] was trying to make, but how he presented it only made me wish he would sign up for a few more races this year.” Earnhardt went on to joke that, if asked about expanding his schedule, Larson would have his answers ready: That it’s house full in the No. 17, his part-time Xfinity Series ride fielded by HMS.

“He’ll [Larson] tell us, ‘Well, the Hendrick car’s full. They got Day, Rajah, Finch, they got a season full.’ Well, [there’s] other Chevrolets out there. He won’t be in that sweet, sweet Hendrick equipment carrying him around that racetrack, but, hey, he’s the difference maker, right?” That’s cheeky, Junior, but what ended up happening is that keen ears picked up on it and ran with it. If the latest rumors are anything to go by, Hendrick Motorsports may have poached a rising Toyota prospect: Rajah Caruth and Jake Finch. Take a look:

How real is this rumor?
Caruth is a Spire Motorsports driver in the Xfinity Series and had a one-off opportunity to race under the HMS banner in 2023 in Phoenix. But Jake Finch in the HMS roster is a wild supposition. Known for his dominance in Late Model Stock, has never made a start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. But one thing is for sure: Technically, it’s possible. And if history is anything to go by, No. 17 is known to take a chance on outsiders once in a while, such as Caruth in 2023 and Boris Said in 2024.

As JRM preps for Rockingham Speedway, Dale Jr. is all in. The Xfinity Series is a crucible of dreams, rivalries, and heartbreak. With Hendrick’s bold moves, JRM’s red-hot streak, and Dale Jr.’s tease of a game-changing partnership, 2025 is poised to be a season of tears, triumphs, and history-making moments. Junior looks forward to this iconic racetrack he loves.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s emotional take on Rockingham Speedway

NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway has stirred up big feelings, especially for Dale Earnhardt Jr. The track, set to host its first NASCAR race since 2013 on Easter weekend 2026, holds a complicated place in his heart. I hated that place until the very last race … I went there in the Xfinity Series in 1997. Drove the Wrangler car. My track bar was dropping on the right side as we ran the race. I ended up running 14th or something and struggled, but not too bad.” Dale Jr. admitted on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, reflecting on the North Carolina track.

Rockingham, nicknamed “The Rock,” was a beast of a track. Its abrasive surface chewed up tires, and its unique layout—with a tighter turn one and a wider turn three—made it a puzzle drivers struggled to solve. Dale Jr. wasn’t alone in finding it tough, but for him, it was personal. Despite his family’s legacy, including his father’s nine Cup Series wins there, he never found his rhythm.

Junior added, “Went back in 1998 and 1999. I don’t think anything great happened. I remember Harvick missing the show there in his Xfinity Series debut. It just made me have a hard time appreciating the track because of how brutal it could be.” Yet, there’s excitement in his tone too. The track’s revival, backed by a $10 million state grant and upgrades like new grandstands and LED lighting, has Dale Jr. hopeful. He’s not racing but will be there, soaking in the atmosphere as a fan and broadcaster.

For fans, Rockingham’s return is a nostalgic homecoming. Once a staple with 78 Cup races from 1965 to 2004, it’s a chance to relive memories.