Dale Earnhardt Jr. is set to take on a new role in 2025, one that offers a unique twist on his racing career. The two-time Daytona 500 champion has been announced as the American commentator for the Red Bull Soapbox Race, a lighthearted and creative competition featuring homemade, gravity-powered vehicles racing down obstacle-filled courses. Earnhardt Jr. will co-host the Red Bull Soapbox Race TV show in the U.S. alongside NASCAR radio announcer Mike Bagley, with the program expected to air on Discovery this spring.
During the recording of his commentary for the series, Earnhardt Jr. hinted at a possible—though minor—return to racing. He jokingly suggested he’d be open to competing in the event himself, expressing excitement about the innovative and often wacky builds teams bring to the race. “I would absolutely be down for entering a race,” he told Red Bull. “One of the things I think would be cool is walking around the paddock. It’d be a lot of fun to see the ingenuity, creativity, and just how people interpreted the rules.”
This opportunity marks Earnhardt Jr.’s return to broadcasting after spending much of the past year without a formal television role outside of his Dale Jr. Download podcast. Reflecting on his time away, he shared, “I’ve just been kind of goofing off, doing everything but broadcasting. So this was nice to kinda get back to work.”
Another aspect of the Soapbox Race that excites Earnhardt Jr. is the chance to share the experience with his daughters. He revealed that they’ve already taken an interest in the event after watching highlights of past races. “I showed them some of the YouTube stuff from the older races. They loved seeing the accidents and the goofy-looking builds,” he said. Unlike traditional motorsports, which his children don’t always find engaging, he believes the humor and spectacle of the Soapbox Race will capture their attention. “When I take ’em to the racetrack when I drive races, they’re like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on. What are we doing here?’ But I know this will be something they’ll like and laugh at.”
While his involvement in the Red Bull Soapbox Race is primarily as a commentator, Earnhardt Jr.’s enthusiasm for the event has sparked curiosity about whether he might one day enter as a participant. For now, fans can look forward to hearing his signature style in the upcoming broadcast.
