Since retiring from full-time NASCAR Cup sequence competitors after the 2017 season, Earnhardt Jr. has run choose Xfinity races yearly since.
He usually picks quick tracks, reminiscent of Martinsville Speedway, Richmond Raceway, but additionally Darlington Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Final yr, he ran two races, together with one at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, he led 47 laps and was in competition for the win within the closing laps.
Sadly, whereas operating contained in the top-five, he abruptly pulled off monitor as smoke crammed the cockpit. His race was over simply shy of the end, ending thirtieth. The underside of his uniform really burned after the shifter tunnel column caught on hearth, forcing him to drag out of the race.
“We had a constructive wire quick up within the high of the sprint, and the casing on the wire melted down onto the leg brace and caught the froth within the leg brace and the material cowl of the leg brace on hearth, so it burnt the leg off my uniform,” Earnhardt Jr. stated of the occasion. “It was like one other lap, and I used to be most likely gonna be blistered up. However, no burns on my leg. Simply barely escaped. I used to be dissatisfied to must get out. We have been gonna run fourth or higher.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr, JR Motorsports, Hellmann’s Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
He will probably be again behind the wheel of the No. 88 machine at Bristol on September twentieth with major sponsorship from Hellmann’s. The corporate has signed a multi-year contract extension with JRM.
The Bristol race additionally serves because the common season finale for the NXS drivers and groups. The 49-year-old has ever intention of continuous to run these one-off races.
“I’ll run so long as I can,” Earnhardt stated final yr after the Bristol race. “I like operating one right here and there. I believe I nonetheless really feel younger. I overachieved tonight in my eyes when it comes to how I ran, so I assume that gave me some confidence to strive do to 1 right here and there for a pair extra years.”
Earnhardt has received on the iconic half-mile quick monitor in each the Cup and Xfinity Collection throughout his profession. The upcoming Bristol race will probably be his 147th Xfinity Collection begin, trying to find his twenty fifth profession win. He’s a two-time champion of the secondary NASCAR division, successful the title in each 1998 and 1999.
