It is not every day that a racer gets to compete with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a racetrack, especially against the iconic Bud 8 car. The moment has finally arrived when Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be back racing in his iconic Bud 8 car at the Florence Motor Speedway this weekend. Popularly known as the Diamond of the Southeast, the track has been hosting local short-track racing since 1982.

However, this year’s event is indeed a special one, as Dale Jr. will be bringing back his iconic #8 Budweiser car for the first time since 2007. This is why a total of 57 entries have already registered to compete in the event. But only 36 cars can advance to the main event. Dale Jr.’s return with the #8 car is one of the reasons for seeing so many drivers sign up for the race. However, the CARS Tour co-owner was too modest in accepting that.

But the same cannot be said for his wife, Amy. She believes the massive turnout among the drivers and the fans is because of the return of the Bud 8 car.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is surprised to see so many entries sign up for the Florence race

This Saturday will see Dale Jr. compete in the stacked Late Model Stock car race event at the Florence Motor Speedway. It will be his third straight appearance at the marquee event that comes at the tail end of the season. Although the CARS Tour and other stock car racing have concluded their races, this event is expected to see drivers turn up in good numbers. And Dale Jr. returning to compete on the 0.4-mile short oval is the reason behind the rising number of entries.

However, Jr. was too modest in accepting that and tried to credit the Late Model Stock car racing community for turning up for the race. “That (number of cars) is probably the most important thing to me because, as the owner of the CARS Tour or one of the owners, the car count is the sign of a successful and healthy series. And if you’re getting 25, 28 cars, you’re not succeeding.” Jr. said this while speaking on the bonus edition of Dirty Air. Usually in a CARS Tour race, there are roughly 30 entries in every race. Dale Jr and the #8 Bud car’s effect is clear.

Meanwhile, his wife Amy couldn’t help but address the elephant in the room and reveal the reason why the race at Florence is all hyped up. “I’ll say it; that’s what’s happening. It’s ridiculous to not just at least somewhat accept that scheme has not attracted some attention and people want to race against it; people wanna come watch it, like it’s going to be a madhouse.” Now, Dale Jr. isn’t assured a spot on the starting grid. In fact, he will have to qualify like most of the other drivers.

Things could get sticky for the veteran driver given that 57 drivers are competing for those 36 spots. “So wait, speaking of everybody qualifying in, is there a chance that you won’t make the race?” Amy sparked the conversation about this hypothetical situation. To which Dale Jr. explained the whole scenario about qualifying and his contingency plan to tackle a situation if he fails to qualify.

Here’s how the field will be set up for the Late Model race at Florence

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It is hard to imagine that Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t be able to race at Florence. In his last two races at the racetrack, he has finished inside of the top 10. Moreover, he’s already raced at the track twice this year. He finished fourth in the Icebreaker event early in February and secured a 10th place finish in the CARS Tour race on August 30. But, with the growing list of drivers attempting to qualify, his spot for this weekend’s race isn’t secured yet.

Explaining what the qualifying process will be for the South Carolina 400 race, Jr. added. “Twenty cars will be locked in after qualifying. So there’s 36 cars or more; if more sign up, split into two heat races, and the top 6 of those will go to the main event… So there will be qualifying in the middle of the afternoon Saturday. And then there will be two heat races and right into the main event, I’m assuming.”

While there is a possibility of the #8 Bud car not making the field. This won’t be the last time fans will see the iconic paint scheme in action on the racetrack. “Listen, man, it’s going to be a tough race to make it ain’t going to be foregone conclusion that the #8 car is in there. If for any reason the #8 Bud car does not race, we will go find another race to run it in; you know we’ll go do that somewhere else,” he added.

It would indeed be a big upset for the fans if Dale Jr. doesn’t qualify for this weekend’s race at Florence. But, looking at his past record at the track, certainly the odds are in his favor. So the fan should be optimistic about Jr.’s chances rather than being nervous or edgy.