What’s Happening?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is ready to return to the track at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on April 11, taking part in the Tootsie’s Music City Showdown. In one of his occasional appearances in the series, Earnhardt will drive the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in a CARS Tour Late Model Stock event at the historic track.
- Ahead of the race, Dale Jr. logged laps during a tire test to get a read on the surface and what it may bring on race day. The CARS Tour runs on Hoosier Racing Tire rubber, and such sessions are used to gauge wear and grip before the green flag.
- For the veteran NASCAR driver, the visit to Nashville brought back memories from earlier years of his career. He raced there a dozen times in the mid-1990s, when the track served as a hub for Late Model Stock and NASCAR Busch Grand National (now O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series competition.
- Posting on his X account, Dale Jr. noted the track carries speed, with some weeper issues and a bump off Turn 2, though nothing that raised concern. The session also gave him a chance to test mufflers, required under a local noise ordinance. He added that turning laps there carried an emotional note.
- His last race at the track came in 1999, in the BellSouth Mobility 320, part of what was then the Busch Grand National Series schedule. A return has remained on his radar for years, as Eanrhardt frequently speaks about his love for the track on his podcast The Dale Jr Download.
- With the weekend ahead at the 0.596-mile oval, fans will have a chance to follow Dale Jr.’s run from the first laps of practice to the fall of the checkered flag.
For those looking to catch Dale Jr.’s Nashville run from the very first lap to the drop of the checkered flag, here is how the weekend stacks up at the .596-mile oval at the Fairgrounds.
Here’s the Full Schedule:
Gates Open:
- 11:35 AM (General) / 12:00 PM
Race Schedule:
- All at 7:00 PM
- CARS Pro Late Model (100 laps): Begins at 7:00 PM CT.
- CARS Late Model Stock (125 laps): Follows immediately after the first feature.
Ticketing:
- Tickets are available for purchase through the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway website or by calling their office at 615-254-1986.
Watch on TV or Streaming Platforms:
- The entire race event will be streamed live on FloRacing.
Streaming:
- Watch the 2026 CARS Tour at Nashville Fairgrounds on FloRacing.
On Your TV:
- Download the FloSports App Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Samsung, VIZIO, & LG.
On The Go:
- Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.
FloRacing Archived Footage
- Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloRacing subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
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