NASCAR fans will again see their favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr racing! This time, Junior will race at the Hampton Heat 200 at Virginia’s Langley Speedway. And it will easily be the biggest one in the event’s 16-year history. No exaggeration–with tickets already sold out and a massive 38-car entry list, the Hampton Heat has become the must-see event of the pavement in the Late Model season.

Notably, two-time Daytona 500 champion, Dale Earnhardt Jr, is making a return with the event, but he is skeptical of his run on the track!

Dale Earnhardt Jr nervous before the Langley race

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr announced his plans to be at this year’s Hampton Heat back in June. But in his recent podcast, he expressed his worries about the run. And given that this will be the first time he races at Langley Speedway, he might just be extra worried! On his podcast, Dale Jr Download, he expressed that he is most worried about the heat in Hampton. The weather forecast on that day does show some rain, but nothing too severe. He said, “I’m worried about just how hot this Hampton heat race is going to be. Uh, looking at the weather it looks like we’ve got a little uh you know some rain in the forecast nothing too crazy.” 

Well, if it does rain, the weather from its usual 95-98 degrees is expected to cool down to the 80s and Earnhardt Junior is just grateful for that. He said, “Um being in that car at 90° no matter how much fun driving a late model stock is it is not fun at 90 degrees so anything above 90 so um wasn’t looking forward to that part but I’m excited, 200 laps.”

But the weather is not the only thing which he is concerned about. He is concerned about the competition that lies ahead. Because it’s going to be a field of 37-38 cars and some of the best drivers are to be competing it out for the win. Junior said, “Uh and I’m you know it is tough it’s like 37 38 cars it’s going to be a very very competitive field. I’ve never raced there before I expect to get my a** kicked in qualifying cuz I’ve just not figured out how to qualify this car and what it needs but um so probably going to you know probably temper my expectations and qualifying.”

However, he is hopeful and said that when the race starts, he’ll have all the equipment and a good car needed to succeed. He just needs to figure out how to drive effectively to finish in the lead. But will it be easy for the Hall of Famer? The competition does look fierce!

Drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr should keep an eye on!

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The general manager of the Langley Speedway announced on social media that the 37 entries received tie the record for the most entries in Hampton Heat history. However, with an additional entry on Monday, the total has reached 38, making it the largest field ever. Of these, there are some of the top drivers that Dale Earnhardt Jr and the rest of the field need to look out for! 

Connor Hall is one of the drivers Dale Jr needs to look out for. He has been on a roll the entire season. Hall is the defending NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Nation Champion and also leading the NAAPWS and Cars Tour point standings. He has clinched a massive eight wins at Langley this season! 

The next driver is Brenden “Butterbean” Queen from Virginia. Last year he ended Hall’s Langley’s winning streak by taking his second Hampton Heat victory! He is a three-time Langley track champion, so, surely a driver to watch out for. CARS Tour champion Bobby McCarty is also a great competitor. And even though he has had an up-and-down season this year, he is expected to be in his best form for the race. 

In total, there are five former Hampton Heat winners going into the race this year. Alongside Hall, Queen, and McCarty, Peyton Sellers, a multi-time NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion, will also compete. Even though he rarely does race at Langley, he won in 2013!

Woody Howard, who was the winner of the second Hampton Heat in 2009 and also runner-up in 2010, is going to be there. Hence, Dale Earnhardt Jr does have to face a lot of heat at Hampton Heat! Do you think he can perform well? Let us know!