Dale Earnhardt Jr., the legendary NASCAR driver and owner of JR Motorsports, recently made a big announcement regarding his future in racing. In an interview just before his race at the Bristol Motor Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. revealed that he would not be racing in the 2025 Xfinity Series. However, he left a glimmer of hope for fans by hinting at a possible return in 2026, keeping everyone curious about what’s next for him.
As most fans know, Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time racing in the NASCAR Cup Series back in 2017. Despite stepping away from the full grind, he didn’t completely leave the track. Instead, he made occasional appearances in the Xfinity Series, where he drove the #88 Chevy Camaro. One of his most recent races before Bristol was in 2023, when he competed in the Contender Boats 300 at Homestead.
But for 2025, Earnhardt Jr. has decided to take a step back, skipping the Xfinity Series altogether. It’s not a permanent goodbye, though. Earnhardt Jr. has been pretty open about the possibility of racing again in 2026. In his words, “I don’t have a requirement to run next year, so I may just not do that. I will miss it terribly and regret that I didn’t race, and probably in 2026, I can go somewhere and compete in the Xfinity Series again.”
While fans will certainly miss seeing him on the track next year, Earnhardt Jr. offered some insight into why he’s decided to sit out. He explained that his participation in recent years has been largely due to the benefits it brings to his team, JR Motorsports. He’s been working with long-time partners like Hellman’s and Unilever, who have supported not just him but other JR Motorsports drivers, such as Justin Allgaier. Earnhardt Jr. explained, “I run this race because of the big benefit it is to JR Motorsports. It’s a package deal where Hellman’s and Unilever put their logos on Justin’s car, and it’s helped fill out that car.” His involvement wasn’t just about the thrill of racing—it was also about supporting the business side of his team.
Despite his plans to skip the 2025 season, Earnhardt Jr. hinted that his race at Bristol might not be his last one. In the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, he started in the 13th position and finished seventh, with a best lap time of 16.075 seconds and a top speed of 119.365 mph. Although he didn’t take home the win, he led the pack for one lap and proved that he’s still got plenty of fire on the track. After the race, Earnhardt Jr. was asked about his future, especially after he had mentioned on the radio that they would “do this again in a few years.”
When pressed about whether his Bristol appearance might be his final race, Earnhardt Jr. responded with a casual but telling answer: “No. I mean, the thing is, I’ve been doing this with Hellman’s and Unilever, great partners. I’ll run one race, and they’ll do about six or eight races next year. They said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna do the races. Don’t need you to run.’ I said, ‘Man, I just might sit out intentionally.’”
This means while his sponsors will continue to be active in the series, Earnhardt Jr. himself is taking a breather. For the 2025 season, he plans to focus on his broadcasting career, which has become a big part of his life since stepping back from full-time racing. Earnhardt Jr. has been a well-loved personality in the booth, bringing his experience and passion for the sport to fans watching from home. He made it clear that broadcasting will be his main focus next year, but it’s also evident that racing is something he’ll never fully leave behind.
Although 2025 will be a quiet year on the track for Earnhardt Jr., it’s safe to say that fans can look forward to his return in 2026. He might be taking a break, but his love for racing is undeniable, and the door to future races is wide open.
