What’s Happening?

With the reports of Stewart-Haas Racing and now possibly JTG-Daugherty looking at selling charters, rumors continue to swirl that JR Motorsports is one of the teams looking to buy. This is not the first time JRM has been rumored to be looking for a charter. Here is the whole story on JRM’s Cup Series ambitions.

• JR Motorsports has been a staple of the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2006. It was founded out of the remnants of Chance 2 Motorsports. Dale Jr. owns the team alongside his sister Kelly and former boss, Rick Hendrick.
• JR Motorsports has 81 wins and 3 Championships. Alumni of the team include Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick.
• Fans are clambering to see JRM make the jump up to the Cup Series. Unfortunately, obstacles keep getting in the way.

September 2022-2023: JRM Says They Are Interested in Going Cup Racing

JRM underwent a series of changes in September of 2022 and even held talks with teams that owned charters according to Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal. Kelly Earnhardt Miller told Stern that the team was considering buying a charter, but, only at the right time.

[We’re] constantly looking at it – every day I’m trying to figure out the lay of the land, reading different topics and have spent a ton of time meeting with people within the sport about it from NASCAR executives to other team owners and OEM partners…We’re just really trying to understand what it’d look like because it’s a lot to learn and put together to see if it makes business sense, and that’s really the key for us.

Kelly Earnhardt Miller

Nothing ultimately came out of this, but, it showed that the interest is definitely there. Unfortunately, that interest has remained only an interest ever since. Dale Jr. spoke out about the process on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio in the fall of 2023, and he said that the charter cost was their “Biggest barrier”.

February 2024: Did JRM Miss Their Opportunity?

The 2023 season came and went with JR Motorsports not buying a charter, which now was worth at least $40 million. Dale Earnhardt Jr. welcomed Ray Evernham into the Dale Jr. Download, and Dale Jr. revealed that he could have bought BK Racing’s charters in 2016 for $2 Million.

So, why did he not buy them? Earnhardt Jr. never said, but, it’s worth noting that he had both yet to retire from firing and was dealing with concussion-like symptoms, keeping him from the race car. Either way, charter values are now worth 20x as much, so, many wondered if Dale Jr.’s chance had passed.

April 2024: Opportunity Knocks?

When Adam Stern reported that Stewart-Haas Racing might be selling charters, he name-dropped JRM as an interested race team. It seems that JRM has been in the conversation during most charter deals throughout the last few years, but, is this finally the time it comes together?

It all comes down to money. Does JRM have to money to not only afford a charter at face value, but to compete with the price that teams like Trackhouse, Legacy Motor Club, and 23XI Racing are willing to pay? That remains to be seen.

Keep this page bookmarked as we follow JRM’s quest for a charter.