The 2025 Daytona 500 is fast approaching, and anticipation is building as motorsports stars prepare for the iconic race. The lineup features big names like four-time IndyCar champion Helio Castroneves and newly full-time Cup driver Shane van Gisbergen. However, fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. might need to curb their excitement, as rumors of his return to racing are quickly being debunked.
Dale Jr., who retired from full-time racing in 2017, hasn’t competed in a Cup Series race since. Recently, speculation surfaced that he or newly retired Martin Truex Jr. could make a surprise appearance at Daytona. This buzz began after JR Motorsports, the team Dale Jr. co-owns with his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, teased an upcoming announcement. But fans soon realized that the idea of Dale Jr. racing in the 500 was just a rumor, with little chance of it coming true.
JR Motorsports, founded in 2006, has long been an Xfinity Series team. Since 2022, the Earnhardts have explored the possibility of entering the Cup Series by acquiring a charter. However, skyrocketing charter prices delayed their plans. They missed a chance to buy BK Racing’s charter for $2 million, and by the end of 2023, prices soared to $40 million. Although a recent post from JRM reignited fan hopes, a NASCAR podcast quickly shut down the speculation, stating that neither Dale Jr. nor Truex would be racing in the Daytona 500.
Despite JRM’s ongoing interest in Cup racing, Dale Jr. himself has expressed doubts about joining the Cup Series due to the high financial investment required. He once remarked that the window for JRM to own a Cup team might have already passed.
Since retiring, Dale Jr. has taken on various roles in NASCAR, including broadcasting and hosting his own popular podcast. Although he briefly returned to the track for select Xfinity races, he made it clear at Bristol last year that he has no plans to race in 2025. His focus now is on his broadcasting duties, as he will be part of NASCAR’s media coverage this season, handling 10 races across Amazon Prime Video and TNT.
While Dale Jr. admits he may regret stepping away from racing, fans can expect to see him in the broadcast booth rather than behind the wheel in 2025.
