Dale Earnhardt Jr. is returning to Bristol Motor Speedway with a mission to settle some unfinished business. In last year’s Xfinity Series race at this iconic venue, known as the “Last Great Colosseum,” Earnhardt Jr. found himself out of contention early on due to a fire that erupted in his car. This year, the former driver turned analyst is determined to finish what he started.
Though he officially retired from full-time racing in 2017, Earnhardt Jr. has not completely stepped away from the sport. Since his retirement, he has participated in at least one race each year, showcasing his enduring passion for competition. This Saturday, during the Food City 300, he will take the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, a team co-owned by himself, his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick.
Reflecting on last year’s experience at the Tennessee short track, Earnhardt Jr. recounted, “Last year was a blast. Yes, I have thought about what would have happened had we not had the issue with it. I’ve run that over in my head a million times, and I have a vivid image of looking down at the floorboard and seeing that fire and thinking, ‘this is over.’” At that point in the race, he had been leading for 47 laps and appeared poised for a solid finish. However, with just 29 laps remaining, smoke filled his cockpit, resulting from a mechanical failure that led to the fire. Unfortunately, this incident relegated him to a disappointing 30th-place finish. After the race, he was evaluated and later released from the infield care center. Meanwhile, his JR Motorsports teammate, Justin Allgaier, won the race and secured a spot in the next round of the playoffs. “I want to go back and finish the job,” Earnhardt Jr. added, emphasizing his desire for redemption.
Fans can catch Earnhardt Jr. back in action this Saturday, September 20, on CW starting at 7:30 PM. Additionally, live radio updates will be available through PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
In a recent episode of his podcast, the Dale Jr. Download, the NASCAR Hall of Famer opened up about the mental pressure he feels ahead of this year’s race. “I get nervous, can’t help it,” he admitted. He recounted how anxious he felt last year, particularly since they were one of only two cars that could have missed the race during qualifying. “But we’re locked in this year. I told the guys that without that pressure, I’m probably going to qualify worse,” he said, illustrating how the absence of stress can affect his performance.
Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged the expectations placed upon him, noting, “If I listen to all of them, I hear, ‘man, you’ve got a shot! You almost won it last year.’ That’s pressure, and that makes you nervous because you want to go and deliver. You have all these people setting an expectation, and you’re like, ‘Now I’ve got to go run good enough to win.’” He further explained how different drivers respond to this pressure; while some view it as a burden, others see it as an opportunity to excel.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s memorable victories at the Bristol events in 2004, where he led a remarkable total of 420 laps across both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races. As he prepares for the Food City 300, the question remains: will Dale Jr. clinch his second Xfinity Series victory? Only time will tell, but fans are eager to see how this storied driver performs under the spotlight once again.
