NASCAR Hall of Famer, fifteen-time most popular driver, 2 time series champion will drive the #88 Chevrolet Camaro for the second year in a row at Bristol for the Food City 300 on Friday Night. Dale Earnhardt Jr, who ran this race last year, was forced to retire when an ignition issue started a fire in his race car. Junior is back again, with the same car, setup, and sponsor, Hellman’s.
Ready for another battle. pic.twitter.com/tAi4ctw5Jx
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) September 20, 2024
But Junior’s night cannot be called a failure. In his first time back in the car in 2023, he led 47 laps, took the lead on restarts as well as controlled them. His run at Bristol last year was the talk of the NASCAR world until his driver Justin Allgaier won the race.
Crew Chief Andrew Overstreet went on DJD Reloaded Thursday to preview the race. He was calling in from the track at Bristol Thursday morning. He had been chatting with Connor Zilisch, who was prepping for his first start at Bristol in both Trucks and ARCA. With his win at Watkins Glen last week, the team have been awarded the first pit stall. The #88 will have Chase Elliott’s Cup Series pit crew servicing the car during the race.
He reassured the listeners that will not catch fire again, that it has been repaired. Overstreet said Dale and him have been having conversations about the race for a while. The two worked on the setup of the car, with Junior telling Overstreet how he wants it to handle and looking over the notes from last year.
In the end of the episode, Dale Jr. answered fans questions. He spoke a lot about pressure and how he understands everyone has expectations for Junior to win Friday night. He said he is managing expectations, and that Overstreet and him just want to run all the laps.
Spotter TJ Majors believes the team will win the race. Majors spotted for Zilisch at Watkins Glen, so it would be back-to-back wins for the spotter.
Junior has made select Xfinity Series starts since his retirement in 2017. He has run twice at Richmond, in 2018 and 2021, and twice at Homestead, 2020 and 2023. He ran at Darlington, in a throwback to his father’s first start in the World 600. His best finish in his one off races is Fourth at Richmond in 2018.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s 2023 Xfinity Series starts:
Obviously, the Bristol start is what is fondly remembered by Junior Nation. He showed he can still hang with the Xfinity talent, and with a car capable of winning, he is a series threat. But what is often over looked is his start at Homestead-Miami.
Driving the #88 with sponsor Bass Pro Shops. He qualified his Camaro in the 23rd position, but quickly headed for the front. He made contact with Josh Berry, his driver in the #8 Camaro on lap 172 of 200. Junior would finish the race in the fifth position, and his only finish of the 2023 starts.
The #88 Camaro in 2024:
Dale Jr is hoping into one of the fastest all-star cars in the Xfinity Series currently. Not only does it have a win with Connor Zilisch at Watkins Glen. JRM Late Model driver Carson Kvapil has been driving the wheels of the car in his select starts. In 8 starts so far, he has finished inside the top five three times, including a runner up at Dover. Kvapil has led 63 laps, in his first year driving an Xfinity car. Connor Mosack made a single start at Chicago, starting third and finishing sixth.
The #88 has been a rocket ship all year, and is currently sitting 26th in the owners points. That is higher than most back markers who run the full schedule.
Can Dale Jr. win this race at Bristol? Absolutely. He has shown that even qualifying outside of the top ten, he can drive to the front.
If Earnhardt Junior could win at Bristol, the NASCAR fandom would implode. The driver took the NASCAR community on his back in 2001, and has been in the hearts of the fans since. He is an incredible steward for the sport, a champion as an owner and driver, and a well-spoken commentator, joining the TNT Sports crew for 2025.
The eyes of the NASCAR world are on Junior and the #88 JRM team, let’s hope for a clean and safe race for him Friday.
