Dale Earnhardt Jr. is taking another bold step in nurturing young talent, announcing his investment in rising star Connor Hall for the 2025 season. The NASCAR Hall of Famer has secured Hall a full-time spot at JR Motorsports, where the 27-year-old will drive the Bass Pro Shops No. 88 Late Model Stock Car. Hall, already a two-time National Champion in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, is seen as a key figure for the team’s championship-winning Late Model program next year.
In a move that shows his continued commitment to driver development, Earnhardt Jr. expressed his excitement about working with Hall. “Looking forward to helping Connor continue his career. He’s a hard racer with proven ability,” Earnhardt Jr. shared in a recent tweet. He emphasized that Hall will be leading JR Motorsports’ ambitious late model schedule, hinting at big plans ahead for both the team and its newest recruit.
Hall’s addition comes as no surprise to those who have followed his career closely. Currently competing in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car division, Hall holds a narrow lead over Brenden Queen with just two races remaining. His track record is impressive, boasting five CARS Tour wins along with notable victories at South Boston Speedway and Langley Speedway. For JR Motorsports, Hall’s proven ability to handle pressure and consistently perform at a high level makes him the ideal candidate to take over from Carson Kvapil, who is set to move up to the team’s No. 1 NASCAR Xfinity Series entry full-time in 2025.
JR Motorsports Senior Vice President of Motorsports L.W. Miller expressed the team’s excitement in a press release, stating, “We are very happy to have someone of Connor’s caliber and experience join us in our Late Model program. His success over the past several seasons has been remarkable, and we’re excited to see what he and Bryan Shaffer can accomplish together in the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.”
As Hall gears up for his next big step, JR Motorsports faces another challenge as they plan to appeal the disqualification of their Xfinity Series driver, Sam Mayer. Mayer’s No. 1 car was disqualified after the United Rentals 250 at Talladega, which saw him drop from 16th to 38th in the final standings. JR Motorsports quickly announced its intent to appeal, fighting to restore Mayer’s playoff hopes as the final Round of 12 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway approaches.
