The iconic No. 8 is making its return to NASCAR.
Less than a month after Dale Earnhardt Jr. brought back his legendary Budweiser paint scheme for a one-off Late Model Stock race at Florence Motor Speedway, JR Motorsports announced that the classic Dale Earnhardt Inc. font would be featured in the Xfinity Series next season.
Specifically, the No. 8 car, driven by Sammy Smith in 2025, will now carry the familiar font. This marks a change for JR Motorsports, which had previously used a proprietary design for the number across several drivers.
Earnhardt Jr. secured the copyright for the iconic design over the summer after his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, allowed the ownership to lapse. While their relationship has been contentious over the years, Dale Jr. noted there was an unspoken trust between them to protect the legacy of the Earnhardt name.
With the copyright in hand, JR Motorsports is bringing back the No. 8 font, and Dale Jr. is thrilled about its return.
“It’s incredible to have this number and font back at JR Motorsports, and I can’t wait to see it on the track at Daytona,” Earnhardt Jr. said in a press release. “It’s personally meaningful to me, and I know Sammy will represent it well. It’s exciting to bring back something that means so much to our fans and our history.”
Earnhardt recently came close to winning the South Carolina 400 Late Model race, evoking memories of his dominance in the Budweiser No. 8. He’s hopeful that the next generation of JR Motorsports drivers, including Smith, will continue to build on that legacy.
“Reuniting with Budweiser and the No. 8 is truly special,” said Earnhardt Jr. “We’ve created some incredible memories together, and it’s a privilege to represent them again on the racetrack.”
The 2025 season will mark Sammy Smith’s third year in the Xfinity Series and his second with JR Motorsports after transitioning from Joe Gibbs Racing. His first two seasons have been consistent, with one win each year, six and then seven top-5 finishes, and 15 and 16 top-10 finishes, respectively. Now, the 21-year-old feels it’s time to elevate his performance.
“From a development perspective, the last two years have been great,” Smith said. “This year was a learning experience, especially switching teams and adapting to JR Motorsports. We started to find our rhythm toward the end of the season with Phillip and the team, and I’m excited to carry that momentum into 2025.”
Phillip Bell, Smith’s crew chief, joined the No. 8 team after previously working with the No. 9 team. The two recently competed in the Snowball Derby Super Late Model race, an experience Smith described as the most enjoyable pre-race weekend he’s ever had.
When asked about his goals for 2025, Smith was clear about his expectations.
“It’s definitely a championship-or-bust mentality for me,” Smith said. “Last year, we fell short of making the Championship 4, but I believe we’re showing the speed and growth needed to get there. My focus is on continuing to develop as a driver and within this team.”
Smith will be joined by veteran driver and champion Justin Allgaier, as well as newcomers Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch, which he sees as an exciting dynamic.
