Dale Earnhardt, Jr. retired from full-time racing on the finish of 2017, with 17 years and 631 races beneath his belt as a NASCAR Cup Collection driver. However even when he spends extra time podcasting and commentating than turning a wheel as of late, Junior’s driving streak continues to be going sturdy: This weekend he’ll run within the Xfinity Collection race at Bristol, Tennessee, marking his twenty-seventh consecutive 12 months beginning at the least one race in NASCAR’s second tier. And given how lengthy he is been going, it is not inconceivable this finally ends up as Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s final race.
Even all through his practically two-decade run in Cup, Earnhardt would pop into NASCAR’s equal of AAA ball to have just a little enjoyable. He tends to select races at his favourite tracks; In recent times, that is meant driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet he co-owns at Darlington, Richmond, Homestead, Martinsville, and Bristol. (He has some new sneakers to fill — teen sensation Connor Zilisch drove the identical No. 88 to victory in his debut in final weekend’s Xfinity race at Watkins Glen.)
What we have not seen is NASCAR’s 15-time Most In style Driver win any of these current begins, regardless of a number of spectacular runs. His final Cup victory got here in 2015, and his most up-to-date win in an Xfinity automobile was the next 12 months. Positive, Earnhardt Jr.’s drop-ins are for enjoyable, however there is no query the 49-year-old would like to seize the checkered flag once more.
Final 12 months at Bristol, he practically did.
After beginning fifteenth, he moved by way of the sphere, buying and selling paint with Daniel Hemric and others. By Lap 174 of 300, he was within the lead. Junior finally misplaced management of the race, however remained firmly within the top-five — till he abruptly pulled off monitor, smoke filling the cockpit. His race was carried out, simply 30 laps wanting the end, regardless of having lead 47 laps.
The explanation why? His pants have been on fireplace.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, JR Motorsports, Hellmann’s Chevrolet Camaro and Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports, BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
“We received a gap in my pants,” Earnhardt, Jr. defined afterwards, showcasing the burn marks on his firesuit round his proper ankle. “Someway or one other, the shifter tunnel column caught on fireplace. I noticed some smoke within the automobile, and I smelled it, and I was like, ‘hopefully that is not me.’ But it surely was. Clearly, my uniform was burning up. I used to be like, ‘I cannot preserve going. I received to cease.’ And often once you cease, the fireplace will get larger.”
Setting apart the undesirable flambé, it proved that Earnhardt —who’s received on the iconic half-mile Bristol brief monitor in each the Cup and Xfinity Collection earlier than — nonetheless has the products to take the checkered flag. Friday’s Bristol race will likely be his 147th Xfinity Collection begin, with an opportunity to seize his twenty fifth profession win in NASCAR’s center sequence. (That may be a pleasant spherical quantity to pair with the hall-of-famer’s 26 Cup wins and two driver titles — 1998 and 1999 — within the NASCAR Xfinity Collection.)
However Junior’s additionally turning 50 in October. How for much longer can followers count on to see him buying and selling paint?
Earlier this month on the Dale Jr. Obtain, he stated that this week’s race at Bristol might be his final within the Xfinity Collection, although he nonetheless intends to run his late mannequin. He stated it is going to “in all probability” be his ultimate Xfinity begin and that he was “fairly positive” about that, however would not totally decide to it. Whether or not it’s his final race or not, we all know Earnhardt Jr. will placed on an excellent present. (Simply perhaps do not let the youngsters hear his uncooked radio feed.)
Qualifying for Bristol begins at 2 p.m. ET on Friday; inexperienced flag drops simply after 7:30 p.m. ET. All protection is on The CW.
