A dream is finally taking its shape. JR Motorsports has excelled in the Xfinity Series since 2006 – picking up 4 driver’s championships and 88 race victories. However, it has never ventured into its co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s home ground – the NASCAR Cup Series – until now. A few days ago, Dale Jr. sent the motorsports world into a whirlwind of rumors with an exciting post, and now he has expanded on it.

Justin Allgaier brought JR Motorsports its 4th Xfinity Series title in 2024. Naturally, he would be spearheading the team’s brand-new venture. With Allgaier and a snazzy sponsor’s support, Dale Jr. is prepared to go the whole way in resurrecting the Earnhardt legacy.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team has nothing to lose

It’s not like JR Motorsports has not tried before. In September 2022, Kelley Earnhardt Miller declared the team’s intentions to buy a Cup Series charter in the near future. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that the charter cost was their “biggest barrier”. Spire Motorsports bought a charter at the end of 2023 for a whopping $40 Million. Several opportunities sprang up like BK Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing selling their charters. Although that scene is yet to be finalized, Dale Jr. and his team have already taken the first step into the Cup Series – and will not go back.

JR Motorsports will field the No. 40 Chevrolet for the upcoming Daytona 500, with Justin Allgaier behind the wheel. This would mark the first Cup start for the team since it debuted 19 years ago. In a recent Dale Jr. Download podcast, Kelley Earnhardt Miller confessed she is feeling a bit jittery. “Recently in the last couple of weeks as we’ve waited to announce this, I’ve seen other open cars that are going to be on the docket.” However, her brother Dale Earnhardt Jr. was there to uplift her – quite simply, JRM has nothing to lose. “Well, hey, I almost feel like we can’t go down. We’re starting at the bottom…We are at the bottom and the only way forward…the only way we can go is up.” 

The competition at Daytona for open entries is surely going to be stiff this time around. Former Cup Series champions Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson are yet to have a confirmed open entry but have both expressed a desire and hope to race at Daytona. MTJ hopes Joe Gibbs Racing will sort his seat out while Johnson would likely pilot the Legacy Motors #84 which he has run part-time in the past. 4x Indy500 winner and IndyCar legend, Helio Castroneves, has been granted provisional entry to the race after NASCAR’s latest rule allowing ‘world-class’ drivers one guaranteed race.

A fateful union with JRM stakeholder Rick Hendrick and Grammy-winning artist Chris Stapleton made this possible. Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey will be the primary sponsor for the Daytona 500 entry. With this snazzy partnership, Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks forward to achieving more milestones with the perfect mindset. “I personally hope that this is the start of more opportunities for us to compete at the Cup level. Should it be in a situation where it’s very challenging, it would only motivate us to continue to go back and…When we don’t entirely succeed at something, we retool and try again.” 

Despite the prospect of not qualifying or not having a good run looming on then, Kelley Earnhardt had a great perspective on their entry. For a family that boasts a driving legacy of 7 Cup Championships and three Xfinity Championships, it’s only right that they continue to expand their racing ventures. “We’re a motorsports family, legacy, team, that’s what we do,” added Kelley.

Besides, Dale Jr. has a stellar driver onboard to fulfill this dream.

The champion has unabated energy

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Justin Allgaier has driven for JR Motorsports since 2016 and has grown to be a pioneer of the team. Allgaier clinched 22 wins for Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s team and fought off jaw-dropping odds to fetch the 2024 Xfinity title. What is more, Allgaier has already made two Daytona 500 starts among his total 82 Cup starts across two full-time seasons. So who better to be the torchbearer for JRM’s Cup Series efforts? Things will be tough though – Allgaier will need to fight for one of the four open car spots at the Great American Race. Yet he has solid assistance for this effort. Greg Ives, Dale Jr.’s crew chief who led him to one of his two Daytona 500 victories, will be atop the pit box.

Justin Allgaier initially cracked a joke. “When I was first told the news, I was called to the office, which was like being called to the principal’s office.” However, the champ is determined to make the venture a thumping success. “As somebody that’s been a part of the Cup Series, it’s great to get back,” he said. “But this is a lot bigger than that. For me, this is about seeing Junior Motorsports make this transition for this race. You know, who knows if there will ever be another Junior Motorsports Cup Series entry? But regardless, there will always be one first, and this is obviously something that’s really, really important to all of us.”

A lot of eyes will be on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team next month. With the former legend of the sport finally pushing his team into the Cup Series, who can miss this opportunity?