Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed against each other at the highest level of NASCAR for more than a decade. The two drivers shared an “interesting relationship” to say the least. While their rivalry wasn’t as violent or ferocious as Busch has had with others in NASCAR, there was a time when tension between the two was really high. Speaking on the rivalry, Busch said [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmVUMcwDh6A&t=1685s] “So in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, we hated each other you know. We really didn’t talk a whole lot. I avoided eye contact and all that sort of stuff… But you know [Dale] Junior over time he got a girlfriend, got married, and then we were are NASCAR driver functions together so we started talking, the wives started talking.“ “We were cordial with each other but we weren’t, we lived in Mooresville, necessarily going to text each other “Hey you want to go to dinner together tonight”. You know but it just kind of got over it together. I don’t know what the turning point was, it just kind of evolved,” said Busch. Brutally Snubs Kyle Busch for Indy 500 Role [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-doesnt-add-that-value-after-axing-daniel-ricciardo-mclaren-ceo-brutally-snubs-kyle-busch-for-indy-500-role/] The two seemed to have improved their ties as Busch said. Their rivalry was one to watch for fans and will be remembered for long after. DALE JR RETIRED, BUT KYLE BUSCH IS STILL GOING STRONG Dale Jr retired from the Cup Series in 2017. However, Busch continues to race full-time in NASCAR. Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2022-10-07-at-23.26.07-2.png] He recently signed a new contract to join Richard Childress Racing. There was a ‘fight’ for his signature between RCR and 23XI Racing. Busch went for the former as they offered him a long-term contract. He was also made one of the highest-paid drivers on the circuits as a result of the new deal. It is reported that with the salary terms being so high, sponsors of RCR have agreed to pitch in. Kyle was also the subject of rumors regarding Aston Martin’s 4th seat in the IndyCar 500. However quite controversially, owner Zak Brown found him too inexperienced for the event and dropped the idea. Watch This Story: Dale Earnhardt Jr Provides Much-Needed Clarification on Victim Jordan Anderson’s Burns to a Confused NASCAR Audience [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-news-dale-earnhardt-jr-provides-much-needed-clarification-on-victim-jordan-anderson-burns-to-a-confused-nascar-audience/] While Busch’s rivalry with Jr had a happy ending, it will be interesting to see if his equations with Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski sees any positive change. 

Kyle Busch opens up on his much discussed relationship with one of his fiercest
rivals, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and offers details on the rivalry.

Abhay Tyagi is a Formula 1 Author at EssentiallySports. Although he has
completed his undergrad in Law and Management, he has always been eager to
venture into the exciting field of sports journalism. With a special affinity
for Engineering and Speed, Abhay has always found the world of Formula 1 quite
exhilarating. Having been a fan of the pinnacle of motorsport for over 5 years
now, he is an avid supporter of Max Verstappen and hopes some other driver can
soon challenge the Flying Dutchman so that the sport stays as thrilling as it
was back in 2021. Other than rooting for Verstappen and Red Bull, he loves to
watch Manchester United play, and on the days they don't play too well, you can
find him listening to Bon Iver and The Paper Kites.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Abhay_Tyagi_F1-UE.png

Abhay Tyagi

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Kyle Busch: I'm An A$$hole Too  | I AM NASCAR w/Brandon Marshall, Chad Johnson & More

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strong

“We Hated Each Other, I Avoided Eye Contact” – Kyle Busch Once Opened Up About
His Explosive Relationship With Dale Earnhardt Jr

Kyle Busch’s Wife Samantha Surprisingly Embracing Indian Culture Has Fans Going
Gaga Over Fashionista Status

NASCAR Rumor: Courtesy of a $38.76B Sponsor, Tony Stewart’s Dark Horse Secures a
Seat With Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Enraged at Bubba Wallace After He Shot Himself in the Foot,
Leaving Michael Jordan in Agony

NASCAR Fans Urge Kyle Busch for a U-Turn Amid Rumors of Rick Hendrick’s
Underachiever’s Exit

Despite Alex Bowman’s Confidence, $12.67 Billion Sponsor Could Leave Him Hanging
Out of HMS if the Tides Don’t Turn

<h1 style="text-align: center">23XI Racing: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is 23XI Racing?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: left">Would you believe it, if five years ago, somebody told you that NBA legend Michael Jordan would become a regular name in NASCAR? Most people would probably scoff at the idea. However, that's exactly what happened when 23XI came into inception. 23XI Racing is a stock car racing team that regularly competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team currently has two drivers in its team: Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, and Tyler Reddick driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE.</p>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-2639040 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F4irU_PWEAASKOc-1.jpeg" alt="" width="1769" height="723" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The History of 23XI Racing</strong></h2>
After a lot of speculations and vehement denials by Michael Jordan's representatives about a possible NASCAR entry, 23XI was finally founded in 2020. The team debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series on February 14, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway. The team is owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who is a minority stakeholder. 23XI reportedly has a technical alliance with JGR.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is the team named 23XI Racing?</strong></h2>
23XI Racing's name is a culmination of meaningful symbolism. While the team name is as unconventional as it can be, the backstory behind it is the stuff of legends. Pronounced twenty three-eleven, the team name is an amalgamation of two numbers, 23 and 11, where the former is Michael Jordan's jersey number that he adorned for most of his NBA career. And, 11 stands for Denny Hamlin's car number in his Cup series team, Joe Gibbs Racing, that he has driven for the entirety of his career.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing’s Net Worth 2024 </strong></h2>
23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan is reportedly the first athlete to attain billionaire status. And a small chunk of it went to his NASCAR team. As per reports from 2023, 23XI is reportedly worth $150 million. While this is definitely a lot less than where other Cup Series teams stand, which MJ's backing, the best of the team definitely awaits.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Drivers</strong></h2>
23XI currently backs two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series: Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Wallace was the first driver that was announced as a part of the team. What's interesting is that the #23 driver had left his former team Richard Petty Motorsports, who he had driven for four years, just eleven days prior to the announcement.

[caption id="attachment_1946369" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1946369 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1032013058h.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" /> July 15, 2023, Loudon, NH, United States of America: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Drivers, Bubba Wallace 23 and Tyler Reddick 45 get ready to qualify for the Crayon 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon NH. NASCAR Cup Series 2023: Crayon 301 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAa161 20230715_zaa_a161_021 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x[/caption]

Apart from Wallace, Kyle Busch's older brother Kurt Busch was roped in to drive the No. 45 car in the 2022 season. However, his stint at 23XI Racing was unfortunately a short one. Kurt Busch joined the team in 2021 and competed in 20 races throughout the season, before a mishap took away his chances to be back in NASCAR's top division. Busch fell prey to a wreck during the qualifying race at Pocono Raceway and was subsequently not cleared to race in the main event despite his qualification, due to a concussion. Soon after, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nascar-community-comes-together-to-say-goodbye-to-cup-series-champ-kurt-busch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the driver announced his retirement from full-time racing in the Cup Series</a>. Currently, Kurt Busch serves as a consultant to 23Xi Racing.

[caption id="attachment_934728" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-934728 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-02-17T033117Z_1214388381_MT1USATODAY17701270_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500-QUALIFYING.jpg" alt="Kurt Busch" width="1920" height="1342" /> Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (45) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

After Kurt Busch's untimely retirement, Tyler Reddick joined the team to replace the former as the new driver of the No. 45 car. Reddick, who was originally scheduled to start racing 23XI Racing in 2024, joined the team earlier than scheduled, after the Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin owned team bought the remainder of his contract from his then team, Richard Childress Racing.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Partnerships and Endorsements</strong></h2>
Despite 23XI being a fairly new team in the NASCAR Cup Series, it boasts an arsenal of big-named sponsors. After all, with the likes of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin spearheading the team, sponsors seem to have that confidence. While brands like McDonald's, Root Insurance, DoorDash and Columbia Sportswear moved to 23XI Racing in 2021 with Bubba Wallace from Richard Petty Motorsports, Dr. Pepper joined hands with the team soon after.

And that's not all. DraftKings inked a multi-dimensional deal with the Cup Series team ahead of the 2o21 season. Apart from being the official sports betting partner of 23XI Racing, the company also acted as a primary sponsor for #23 driver, Bubba Wallace.

The driver has also had a partnership with Leidos, having joined hands as a primary partner in 2022. The brans primarily teams up with #23 driver Bubba Wallace.

23XI Racing's Michael Jordan popularized brand Jordan also came on-board ahead of the 2022 season when Kurt Busch joined the team. While the team had plans to sponsor the team since its inception, 23XI being a single car organization with Bubba Wallace, in 2021, with backing from Columbia Sportswear proved to be a hindrance. However, Busch's joining finally facilitated the onboarding of the highly popular company.

Additionally, in February 2023, Monster Brewing announced a partnership with 23XI Racing, with Tyler Reddick primarily adorning the colors of the brand. <em>"This is all really cool,"</em> Reddick had said at the time. <em>"And now I get to debut The Beast this weekend at <span class="xn-location">Fontana</span> here in <span class="xn-location">California</span>. With the race being in such close proximity to Monster's Global HQ, It worked out to where we got to unveil the Beast scheme here today before getting on-track this weekend... Really cool to unveil the scheme with all the employees today, "</em> the #45 driver added.

Apart from that, Xfinity, the brand and not the NASCAR division, also inked a deal with the team ahead of the 2o23 season. It backed Tyler Reddick at the Richmond Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway last year. The telecommunications brand also sponsored Bubba Wallace at the Martinsville Speedway playoff race in 2023.

In another exciting development, in January 2024, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-mobil-1-expands-its-presence-in-nascar-as-they-announce-a-new-deal-with-all-toyota-teams-in-the-cup-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toyota Racing Development(TRD) and Mobil 1 announced an expansion backing all Toyota NASCAR teams</a>, including 23XI Racing. Tyler Reddick will kick-off the partnership by running a Mobil 1 race at Phoenix in March and Richmond in August. On the other hand, Mobil 1 will be backing Bubba Wallace as a primary sponsor at the Circuit of the Americas race in March.

More exciting names have also joined the team recently. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-makes-dream-come-true-as-23xi-teams-up-the-united-states-airforce-for-the-2024-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The #23 driver reunited with US Air Force</a>, who will serve as a primary sponsor for select races.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2639065 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/FvAJVpXaUAEBEDq.jpeg" alt="" width="1367" height="911" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Investments</strong></h2>
The team has been growing in leaps and bounds ever since it came into business. As recently as 2021, Charlotte Business Journal reported that the team had made a huge $16 million investment into building a team headquarter in Huntersville, North Carolina. The HQ was reportedly being built on a 15-acre site that the team had acquired for $3.7 million the same year. Talking about when the HQ can be expected to be up and running, President of 23XI Racing, Steve Lauletta had said, "<em>“We don’t have an actual date yet, but it will be in the very near future."</em>

The headquarter will be a grand affair as the building will not just be a race shop but also<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-gives-insight-into-airspeed-23xis-sixteen-million-racing-mansion-in-north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> house a 120 room hotel and 12,000 square feet of office space</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Major Achievements and Awards</strong></h2>
If you think 23XI Racing shouldn't be taken seriously just because it's a new team, you're definitely wrong. Despite only three years of experience, the team has been leaving a mark. While 2021 and 2022 proved to be a lackluster season for the team, 2023 went down in history books. Both full-time drivers from the team, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace made it to the Playoffs for the first time in the team's history. While Reddick finished 6th on the standings after getting eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace finished 10th last year after getting post his Round of 12 race elimination at the Charlotte Roval.

23XI Racing team has also been picking up several accolades off the track as well. In February 2024, the team won the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards. "<em>For the third consecutive year, the 23XI Racing family was recognized at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards for living out our mission and values as they pertain to making motorsports more diverse, equitable and inclusive," </em>the official release said.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing’s Vision</strong></h2>
When it comes to 23XI Racing's future prospects, the team has a lot of cards set on the table. Inclusivity has been at the forefront of the team's beliefs. Speaking about the same and how Bubba Wallace has been a big-time contributor to that cause, team president Steve Lauletta said, <em>"It’s part of the mission and values of this team, and it was started by what Bubba did for the sport of Nascar in 2020 (by campaigning for a Confederate Flag ban at NASCAR tracks). We all believe in it and we want to make it a focus of what we do as a team, and our partners believe in it."</em>

Even team co-owner Denny Hamlin mentioned how expanding the talent pool and encouraging inclusivity is a vision that the team definitely sees. In an interview with Associated Press, the #11 driver said, <em>“I’m looking at potential hires right now that we’ve got on the board — there’s England, Brazil and Israel, the next three hires."</em> "<em>We’re trying to make a very diverse team. Certainly it’s important to give opportunities to those that never thought racing was a job, a place that they could have a job opportunity, " </em>the co-owner further added.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1079908 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/EievOnNWAAMVQ05.0-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" />

And not just that, the team is also heavily involved in charitable causes such as the <b>23XI Speed Institute Tuition Programme,</b> under the team's educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The program which offers $5,000 each to 23 students every year besides providing them with opportunities <em>"such as scholarships and internships, as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field"</em>.

Speaking about the same, the team president said,<em> "This was the second year that we gave away 23 US$5,000 scholarships to students of diverse backgrounds that wanted to explore motorsports, whether that be in engineering or on the business side. Two of those winning scholarship recipients were interns with us this year, and they’ll be interns with us next year. Those are the kind of things that all of our partners are rallying behind and want to be a part of so that we can help change the sport.”</em>

What's clear is the 23Xi racing team is in NASCAR for more than just racing and championship wins!
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Social Media</strong></h2>
<table style="width: 439px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://twitter.com/23XIRacing?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://x.com/23XIRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Website</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.23xiracing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.23xiracing.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="width: 59.7333%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">23XI Racing</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Owners</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%">Headquarters</td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Mooresville, North Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Series </span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Race Drivers</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Tyler Reddick (No. 45)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Sponsors</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">McDonald's, Beast Unleashed, Nasty Beast, Columbia Sportswear, MoneyLion, Leidos, U.S. Air Force, Jordan Brand. Mobil 1, Monster Energy, Xfinity, Draft Kings, Walmart, DoorDash, Dr Pepper, NBA 2K24, melin, Mack Trucks, R3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Manufacturer</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Toyota</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Founded</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">2020</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Latest Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">2024 Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Championship</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">NA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Race Victories</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">$150 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

23XI Racing

Read on to find out about NASCAR Cup Series Team 23XI Racing's Net Worth, Endorsements, Achievements and Vision!

23XI Racing: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More

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Kyle Busch opens up on his much discussed relationship with one of his fiercest rivals, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and offers details on the rivalry.

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“We Hated Each Other, I Avoided Eye Contact” - Kyle Busch Once Opened Up About His Explosive Relationship With Dale Earnhardt Jr

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Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dale Earnhardt Jr?s Net Worth Born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a former NASCAR Cup Series racer. He also goes by the name &#8220;Dale Jr.&#8221; or &#8220;Junior&#8221;.? Nowadays, he&#8217;s a part-time racer in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Additionally, he&#8217;s a NASCAR analyst and commentator for NBC. Dale Jr. comes from a family of motorsport drivers with his late father Dale Earnhardt Sr. a record seven-time Cup Series champion in NASCAR. Having competed in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1999 to 2017, Dale Jr. remains one of the most successful drivers of his time. HOMESTEAD, FL &#8211; NOVEMBER 18: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AXALTA Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) As per reports, Junior has an approximate net worth of $400 million. Having come from a well-established background, he has made good use of the resources at his disposal. From 2008 to 2015, Dale earned approximately, $20-24 million, making him the highest-paid NASCAR driver then. In fact, he earned a record $30 million in 2008. Dale Jr was made it to the Forbes list of the World&#8217;s Highest Paid Athletes in 2017. He earned $21.4 million then as it marked his last season in the NASCAR Cup Series.?The majority of Dale&#8217;s earnings have come through endorsements and sponsorship deals. Some of his well-known endorsement partners include Chevrolet, Goody&#8217;s, Wrangler, Axalta, Gillette, EA Sports, and many others. Dale Jr. also owns a media production company named Hammerhead Entertainment. He also works as an analyst for NBC Sports. Additionally, his book &#8220;Racing To The Finish: My Story&#8221; was released in 2018. The book received positive feedback from the fans. Dale&#8217;s a thorough businessman and has ventured into different industries so far. Most relatably, he co-owns JR Motorsports, the racing team that participates in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In addition to this, he also owns a number of automobile dealerships and restaurants. In 2013, he started his podcast The Dale Jr. Download under his Dirty Mo Media productions. Along with his wife, Junior runs a vodka brand named High Rock Vodka. As far as stores are concerned, Dale Jr has his own merchandise store. In addition to that, his team, JR Motorsports, too has its own merchandise store Dale Earnhardt Jr?s Early life Dale Jr was born and brought up in Kannapolis, North Carolina. At an early age, he saw his mother Brenda Lorraine and father Dale Earnhardt Sr. get divorced. With his father being away racing, his stepmother played a major role in raising him. Prior to racing, Junior used to service cars and carry out their maintenance at Dale Sr&#8217;s car dealership. As for his educational qualifications, he is an alumnus of Mitchell Community College with an associate degree in automotive technology. Prior to that, he attended Oak Ridge Military Academy. A few years down the line, he started attending and graduated from Mooresville High School. Even Rodney Childers, the current Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief, and Junior&#8217;s close friend graduated from the same school. In 1996, his NASCAR career officially began with the Xfinity Series. Dale Jr competed in the series for a while, winning two championships in the process. In 1999, Dale Earnhardt Jr made his Cup Series debut, competing in just five races. A year later, he made his full-time debut in the premier class. Dale Jr officially made his Xfinity Series debut in 1996 at the age of 21. Having won the competition twice, he started his NASCAR Cup Series campaign with only fives races in the 1999 season. A year later, he competed full-time and became the first rookie to win NASCAR&#8217;s All-Star race. Dale Earnhardt Jr?s family and personal life Dale Jr. has been happily married to his wife, Amy Reimann. It was in 2009 that the couple first met each other. Amy was hired as the interior designer for Dale?s house in Mooresville, North Carolina. Interestingly, she did not have any idea who Dale was back then. They clicked instantly and started dating. After six years of dating, Junior proposed to Amy in 2015 and tied the knot a year later in December 2016. The wedding took place at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina. With just more than a year of their marriage gone, Junior and his wife Amy announced the arrival of their first child, Isla Rose Earnhardt. Interestingly, Amy even took a ride in a NASCAR car while she was pregnant with Isla at Martinsville in 2017. MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA &#8211; APRIL 08: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann&#8217;s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet, poses for photos with his wife Amy Earnhardt, and their daughters Isla Rose (R) and Nicole on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250 powered by Call 811.com at Martinsville Speedway on April 08, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) In October 2020, Isla got promoted to the elder sibling with the arrival of Dale Jr?s second child, Nicole Loraine. Despite racing being in their blood, Junior isn?t that keen on encouraging his daughters to join the sport. He thinks he would rather love it if they get a degree and thereafter get a super job. Dale Earnhardt Jr and his NASCAR journey Dale Earnhardt Jr had an impressive NASCAR Cup Series career. He started his 19-year-long Cup Series career started at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. His debut came in the Coca-Cola 600 where he finished 16th despite finishing the qualifying lap in the eighth-quickest time. Dale Jr&#8217;s one Cup Series season saw him participate in only five races in 1999. That being said, he never had to look back from the 2000 season as he participated full-time and graced the tracks with aggression and passion. He went on to win 26 races in his Cup Series career, taking part in 631 races in total and finishing 149 and 260 times in the top five and top ten respectively. Having won a good amount of races, Dale Jr provided some memorable on-track performances. One of his finest victories came in the Daytona 500 in 2004. It just took Junior four years into his Cup career to win his first Daytona. The race saw him go head-to-head with NASCAR great Tony Stewart. In addition to that, the 2001 Pepsi 400 will also remain a special one for Dale Jr. It was just five months since Dale Sr. died at the 2001 Daytona 500. Junior was making a return to the sport and went on to win the race by overtaking six cars in the final lap. The victory saw Dale celebrate in front of 1,00,000 fans. In his Cup Series career, Dale Jr preferred either the #8 or #88 on his cars. From 1999 to 2007, he drove the Chevrolet #8 for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Post 2007, he joined Hendrick Motorsports and drove the Chevrolet #88. He enjoyed more success while driving the #8 car as he registered 17 wins using that. Dale announced his retirement from the top division of NASCAR in 2017. His last race was at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. He finished 25th in his final race, failing to make it to the playoffs in his ultimate Cup Series season. Since then, Dale Jr has been a regular figure in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dale Earnhardt Jr?s awards and achievements Dale Earnhardt Jr has enjoyed a good amount of success in his NASCAR career. He started off with his first NASCAR Cup Series win in 2000 at the Texas Motor Speedway whilst driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. The victory saw him break his father&#8217;s record for requiring the fewest starts by a driver to secure his first victory. Dale Jr recorded the win in just his 12th start. One of the most notable achievements of his Cup Series Career would be to win the Daytona 500 twice. He did this in 2004 and 2014, with two different teams. By doing so, he became the 11th driver to win it multiple times. In addition to his victories, Dale Earnhardt Jr has a tremendous record when it comes to winning the Most Popular Driver award. Dale Jr has won the award 15 times in his career. What makes it even more amazing is that he did it for consecutive 15 years from 2003 to 2017. Only Bill Elliott, the father of Chase Elliott, has won it more (16 times). Junior has also two Xfinity Series championships to his name when he won it back-to-back in 1998 &amp; 1999. As a motorsport team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr has won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship five times in his career. With Dale Earnhardt Inc, he did it in 2004 and 2005. The other three have come with JR Motorsports in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Like his father, Dale Jr is also a NASCAR Hall of Famer. Dale Earnhardt Jr?s NASCAR team Along with his sister Kelley Earnhardt, his brother-in-law L.W. Miller and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, Dale Jr runs the JR Motorsports. The team was started in 2006 and is currently strongly competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. JR Motorsports has more than 140 employees and fields four full-time entries in the Xfinity Series. Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Miguel Paludo, and Dale Jr himself form the Xfinity drivers&#8217; lineup for the 2023 season. Their superstar driver Noah Gragson left to join Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series for the new season. If that wasn&#8217;t enough, Gragson poaching some of the JR Motorsports crew surely wouldn&#8217;t have boded well with Dale Jr. It is going to be an uphill task for Junior&#8217;s team this season without the presence of last season&#8217;s runner-up Gragson. Dale Earnhardt Jr and North Wilkesboro Speedway After hosting over 90 races, the North Wilkesboro Speedway was shut in 1996 citing arguments that the track wasn&#8217;t large or fancy enough. Dale Jr along with local boosters and state officials have been pushing hard for years to revive the venue. Eventually, they succeeded in reviving the Speedway with a late-model stock race in August 2022. Dale Earnhardt Jr was taking part in a late-model stock race for the first time since 1997. For this historic race, he drove a green no. 3 Sun Drop Chevrolet which bore a throwback paint scheme resembling the late model he used to drive in the early 1990s. Most notably, it was his first race at North Wilkesboro since 1995. After qualifying sixth, Dale Jr stayed in and around the top 10 positions. Unfortunately, midway through the race, his rear quarter panel sustained some damage. Despite the event, he came back strongly to finish third, lagging just behind second-placed Mason Diaz and the winner of the race, Travis Kvapil. Dale Earnhardt Jr and the plane crash It was on August 15, 2019, that Dale Jr was traveling with his wife Amy, just over a year-old daughter Isla and their family dog on their private Cessna aircraft. While attempting to land at an airport in Elizabethton, Tennesse, the aircraft crashed because of issues with the landing gear and a section of the right wing. Unfortunately, the plane ran off the runway and went 400 feet down a hill before slamming through a chain-link fence. The aircraft eventually caught fire but all five passengers including the two pilots and the dog escaped in time through the main cabin door. Luckily, all of them survived with no major injuries suffered because of the crash. Junior was back in action at Darlington Raceway just two weeks after the race. Back then, he said, &#8220;It was a very tough experience to go through. I try not to get into that, think about (it happening to my family) too much. Things happen for a reason. You just try to learn from it and move on. Dale Jr added, ?I love my daughter so much and enjoy being around her and look forward to watching her grow up and experiencing a lot of things with her going forward. That just made you realize that that much more. I?m just thankful and ready to live our lives.? What is Dale Earnhardt Jr doing post-retirement You can take the driver away from the racing but you cannot take the racing away from the driver. That has been the case with Dale Jr post his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. Despite hanging his helmet, he has been quite actively involved in off-track ventures. He has been seen regularly featuring for NBC as a commentator and as a NASCAR analyst. Dale&#8217;s podcast &#8220;The Dale Jr Download&#8221; has been doing wonderfully well, attracting a lot of listeners. He prefers to give more insights to his fans and relishes discussing controversial topics. Junior is bold and outspoken with his comments on the podcast. In fact, he once even encouraged NASCAR drivers to be outspoken and hold everyone accountable if it&#8217;s bothering their safety in the cars in any fashion. Dale Earnhardt Jr is very active on social media, especially on his Twitter account. He uses it to voice out his opinion time and again, sometimes either using sarcasm or hilarious remarks. He once used the medium to make fun of former Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer. In addition, he provides his fans with regular updates about his personal and professional life using social media. Of course, Dale Jr has his own team JR Motorsports with which he is very much involved. Furthermore, he and his wife Amy, have collaborated with Sugarlands Distilling Company to start a new vodka brand. It&#8217;s named &#8220;High Rock Vodka&#8221; and is a premium, handcrafted vodka. Dale Jr released his book &#8220;Racing To The Finish: My Story&#8221; in 2018, narrating his story behind the wheel. Since announcing his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017, it looks pretty clear that Junior has zero interest in returning back to race at the highest level. His off-the-track ventures keep him heavily occupied. It would take something special to bring him back to the Cup Series and maybe challenge his two-faced rival Kyle Busch. As of now, Dale Earnhardt Jr is at peace and keen on running his team, podcast, and other ventures successfully.  Name Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Born 10th October 1974  Place of Birth Kannapolis, North Carolina  Nationality American  Education Associate Degree  Parents Dale Earnhardt Sr and Brenda Lorraine  Wife Amy Reimann  Children Isla Rose (2018) and Nicole Loraine (2020)  Height 6?00?  Weight 165 lbs/75 kg  Team JR Motorsports  Car #88 Chevrolet Camaro  Social Media Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website

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