What’s Happening?

A holiday for NASCAR fans is finally here. On Friday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his once-yearly start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Since 2017, Earnhardt has made one or two starts a year, but how has he performed in those starts?

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing after the 2017 season. However, this was not the end of Earnhardt’s NASCAR career. With sponsorship from Unilever and Bass Pro Shops, Earnhart makes one or two races a year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
• Earnhardt selects his starts from a short list of tracks, typically a short track or a 1.5-mile high banked oval. While fans would love to see Earnhardt at Talladega and Daytona, the risk of these tracks, combined with Earnhardt’s concussion history, keep these tracks off his list.
• These one-off starts have become a yearly tradition for fans and Earnhardt. His presence on track, combined with all the merchandise and marketing that comes with it, makes fans feel comfortable in the ever-changing sport. However, this might be Dale Earnhardt Jr’s final race in the Xfinity Series.

Stats 2017-2023

• Races: 8
• Best Start: 2nd- Richmond 2018
• Average Start: 17
• Worst Start: 30th – Richmond 2021, Martinsville 2022
• Best Finish: 4th – Richmond 2018
• Worst Finish: 30th – Bristol 2023
• Average Finish: 9.1
• Laps Led: 148
• Lead Lap Finishes: 6

Analysis

Despite the year-to-year occasional races, Dale Jr has yet to fall off in his finishes. However, qualifying was Earnhardt’s Achilles heel at his later start. His poor starting spots make his outings all the more difficult, having to work his way through a volatile Xfinity Series field. Notably, Earnhardt keeps himself adjusted by racing in multiple Late-Model races a year.

2018 Go Bowling 250 – Richmond

Started: 2nd – Finished: 4th – Led: 96 Laps

Dale’s first race in this saga may have been his best bet to win. At Richmond in 2018, Earnhardt Jr. led multiple laps, won his first stage, and finished in the top five.

2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 – Darlington

Started: 14th – Finished: 5th – Led: 0 Laps

Dale Jr. took a throwback car to Darlington for his second race. Notably, this was Earnhardt’s first race in the No. 8 in any Series since 2007.

2020 Hooters 250 – Homestead-Miami

Started: 12th – Finished: 5th – Led: 4 Laps

Dale Jr switched it up in 2020, heading out of the Coastal region of the Carolinas and Virginia to Homestead-Miami Speedway. In his return to the site of his 1998 and 1999 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship, Earnhardt battled hard throughout the day, but failed to stay out front.

2021 Go Bowling 250 – Richmond

Started: 30th – Finished: 14th – Led: 0 Laps

In his 2021 return to Richmond, Earnhardt found his way to the front of the field but failed to keep up with what had been a closely-knit field. He still found his way to victory lane, with JR Motorsports driver Noah Gragson winning the race.

2022 Call 811 Before You Dig 250 – Martinsville

Started: 30th – Finished: 11th – Led: 0 Laps

Earnhardt made a very chaotic choice for 2022, choosing Martinsville for his fifth race since 2017. It was a tough race. Earnhardt started 30th and, in the midst of working his way to the front, found himself caught up in three accidents throughout the day.

2023 Food City 300 – Bristol – DNF

Started: 30th – Finished: 15th – Led: 47 Laps

Bristol was an exciting choice last season for Earnhardt’s longtime fans. At a track he loved to race at, Earnhardt started 15th and led 47 laps. However, his night came to a swift end after a sudden fire erupted in his car. Earnhardt was fine despite a hole in his firesuit.

2023 Contender Boats 250 – Homestead-Miami

Started: 5th – Finished: 23rd – Led: 0 Laps

For the first time since 2017, Earnhardt started more than one race in a single season. Earnhardt went from 23rd to 5th in an impressive performance, showing that he still had it.

2024 Food City 300 – Bristol

Started: 13th – Finished: 7th – Led: 1 Laps

In what may be his final start in a NASCAR-sanctioned series, he finished top-ten and led a lap. Notably, Jr. stayed on track for hours after the race, celebrating the night with friends and drivers.

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