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Josh Berry added himself to the list of JR Motorsports alums to go Cup racing with his move to Stewart-Haas Racing. Many drivers have come through Dale Earnhardt Jr’s race team and had success. Who are the best drivers to come through JR Motorsports or affiliated teams?
By the Numbers (JRM): 2 Wins; 7 Top-5s; 20 Top-10s; 2018 Xfinity Series Champion
By the Numbers (Cup): 4 Wins; 21 Top-5s; 48 Top-10s; 126 Races; 2 Playoff Appearances
Breakdown: Tyler Reddick only ran with JR Motorsports for one season, but his one season was spectacular. He won both the first and the last race of the season, which gives him the Xfinity Series Championship. Now he is a four-time winner in the Cup Series with a rising team, and the future is getting brighter by the day.
By the Numbers (JRM): 4 Wins; 12 Top-5s; 22 Top-10s; 2017 Xfinity Series Champion
By the Numbers (Cup): 7 Wins; 33 Top-5s; 71 Top-10s; 196 Races; 5 Playoff Appearances
Breakdown: William Byron is in the midst of his best Cup Series season to date, and he began his career in maybe the two best developmental programs in NASCAR today. While with JRM, Byron followed up his seven-win Truck Series season with an Xfinity Series Championship. It seems that he is now finding his full potential in the Cup Series.
By the Numbers (JRM): 5 Wins; 32 Top-5s; 61 Top-10s; 75 Races; 2014 Xfinity Series Champion
By the Numbers (Cup): 18 Wins; 89 Top-5s; 142 Top-10s; 266 Races; 2020 Cup Series Champion
Breakdown: Elliott was a driver under a microscope since he was a kid, and his talent was obvious. Despite this, he has kept a level head, and his time with JR Motorsports was nothing short of spectacular winning the 2014 Xfinity Series Championship. Since then, he has won a Cup Series Championship, and he is well on his way to a Hall of Fame Career.
By the Numbers (JRM): 6 Wins; 33 Top-5s; 53 Top-10s; 89 Races; 3rd Place Standings Twice
By the Numbers (Cup): 35 Wins; 142 Top-5s; 239 Top-10s; 501 Races; 2012 Cup Series Champion
Breakdown: Under the current edition or JR Motorsports, Brad Keselowski was the first driver to run a full-season for the team. He turned out pretty well as he ran two full-time seasons in the 88 car winning six times and having two third-place points finishes during the height of the “Buschwacking.” Eventually, that turned into the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Championship where Keselowski would beat out one of NASCAR All-Time Greats, Jimmie Johnson.
By the Numbers (Jr): 12 Wins; 34 Top-5s; 52 Top-10s; 2-Time Xfinity Series Champion; 89 Races
By the Numbers (Cup): 33 Wins; 138 Top-5s; 271 Top-10s; 637 Races; 2017 Cup Series Champion
Breakdown: No, it was not with today’s JRM, but it was with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first Xfinity Series team that he ran alongside Theresa Earnhardt, Chance 2 Motorsports. Truex Jr. had tremendous success in the Xfinity Series, and, once he found his footing, he was able to find a Hall of Fame career in the Cup Series. Maybe this is not a traditional JRM driver, but it no doubt gave Earnhardt Jr some inspiration when it came to starting his own team.
JR Motorsports will continue to be a breeding ground for new talent in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Could it go Cup soon or could it add the Truck Series as well? It’s hard to say, but this list will continue to grow as time goes on.
