Despite a $30 Million Hurdle, Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals Big Plans as a NASCAR Cup Series Owner

The success of Chicago Street Racing is yet to subside from the minds of NASCAR enthusiasts. This ambitious project of NASCAR, which had the potency to be the biggest failure, gained the highest views on NBC. The question is, is it just the inaugural race at an alien land that has propelled the sport’s unprecedented victory or one can thank the debutant for pulling a stellar show in a rain-filled afternoon?

Notably, behind the success of the New Zealander on a foreign track, lies the huge effort of Trackhouse Racing and their housing of Project 91. However, not every team has the capacity to house an extra car, given the exorbitant prices of the charters. This has been the biggest hindrance for Dale Earnhardt Jr and his team, as he exclaims in the latest episode of Dale Jr Download.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals His Future Ambitions if His Team Makes Its Headway Into the Cup Series

There is no denying the fact that JR Motorsports has been one of the most successful teams in the Xfinity Series. It has nurtured young talents and has provided the perfect impetus that a budding talent requires. Whether it was Noah Gragson or Josh Berry or Kevin Harvick, JR Motorsports has been the true powerhouse of talents. However, it does come as a surprise that the team is only restricted to the lower formats of NASCAR.

Among the plethora of reasons that act as an obstacle for JR Motorsports, one decisive factor is the charters of NASCAR and their skyrocketing prices. Before the 2023 season, a NASCAR charter would cost in and around $20 million, but with the uncertainty in TV deals till the 2025 season and beyond, the prices of charters skyrocketed. And currently, the cost of a single NASCAR charter is a whopping $30 million.

But if the co-owner of JR Motorsports is able to acquire one and make its way to the elite format, Junior has already laid the groundwork for his team. Speaking to his co-host Mike Davis, Dale Junior revealed, “If I am an owner in the Cup Series and I have got an extra car just sitting there, I can take it to the race track to any great course. I don’t care if it’s a street course, the Glen.”

“I am calling one of the Australians or one of the New Zealand. I am going to call one of those guys who have Supercar experience. Basically, a Next-Gen car in specs is very similar,” Junior concluded.

Justin Marks Reveals How He Is Open to Nurturing Future Talents in His Team

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There is no arguing that Justin Marks’ Project 91 was nothing less than a leap to make the sport more viable to the international audience and also open the gateway to other motorsports racers. Apart from providing a seat to a 3x Supercar champion, Trackhouse Racing has worked with Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen. ‘The Iceman’ had his first stint in stock car racing back in 2022, in Watkin Glens. He also drove for the team at the beginning of the ongoing season at COTA.

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Nevertheless, it was Shane Van Gisbergen’s victory that reflects the ambitious steps of Justin Marks, and his team that is ready to take the sport to the next level. After the Chicago victory, the co-owner of the team spoke to the media regarding Project 91. He expressed, “It just puts fuel in the tank as far as we’re trying to build something here where the greatest drivers in the world have a place that they can call home if they want to try NASCAR racing.”

“I think the fact that we put it in Victory Lane, it just galvanizes our mission in trying to attract the greatest motorsport talent in the world,” Marks added.

With the parking of an extra car, Trackhouse Racing has an upper hand in the sport and utilizes it to its highest potential. But with the prices of charters that pinch the pockets of the owners, it is to be seen how teams like JR Motorsports make their way in the elite formats. And the solution to it doesn’t seem to be in sight.

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