Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a notable return to the Daytona 500 track, taking a Cup Series car for a spin at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. While it may have seemed unbelievable to some, it became a reality on Wednesday, February 12, when he drove the #40 Chevrolet entry. JR Motorsports confirmed the moment by sharing a video on social media.
From its official X account, JR Motorsports posted a brief five-second clip of Earnhardt Jr. speeding around the track in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, with the powerful V8 engine roaring through the speedway. They captioned the post with a playful reference:
“Somebody call Ripley’s Believe It or Not because we can’t.”
Earnhardt Jr. is currently in Daytona Beach for the 2025 Daytona 500, representing JR Motorsports. The team, which he co-owns alongside his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, LW Miller, and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, is making its first-ever Cup Series entry this weekend.
On Wednesday, JR Motorsports’ hauler arrived at the track, and Earnhardt Jr., whose net worth is estimated at $300 million by Celebrity Net Worth, was there early to witness the car being unloaded and prepped in the garage. Later that day, he personally tested the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on the speedway, marking a significant moment for the team.
JR Motorsports will field the #40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the Daytona 500 on February 16, with Justin Allgaier behind the wheel. This race, marking its 67th edition, will also see former U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance for the second time in five years.
As a co-owner of JR Motorsports, Earnhardt Jr. emphasized that his team had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to enter the Daytona 500 at the Cup Series level. Daytona holds deep personal meaning for him, as his father, Dale Earnhardt, tragically lost his life in an accident at the track in 2001.
“We’ve been waiting for the right moment for JR Motorsports,” Earnhardt Jr. stated in a press release, as reported by Reuters. “With Justin winning the Xfinity Series Championship and Chris Stapleton’s undeniable star power, the planets aligned for this perfect opportunity to enter this year’s Daytona 500.”
Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports’ leading driver, secured the Xfinity Series championship last season, finishing ahead of competitors like Cole Custer, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Hill. As he steps up to the Cup Series for this event, he will drive the #40 entry, which is sponsored by renowned musician Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey.
