Not even a number of rounds of changes to revive his radio communication points along with his workforce might dampen Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s vibrant smile and enthusiastic angle as he capped off a wild night time to his lone annual NASCAR Xfinity Sequence begin of the 2024 season with a seventh-place run at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, September 20.
Earnhardt Jr., a two-time Xfinity Sequence champion and 15-time Most Fashionable Driver within the Cup Sequence from Kannapolis, North Carolina, rolled off the beginning grid for the 2024 Meals Metropolis 300 at Bristol in thirteenth place after he posted a qualifying lap at 119.365 mph in 16.075 seconds a number of hours previous to the principle occasion.
On the occasion’s begin, Earnhardt Jr. was hampered by radio points that prevented him from speaking clearly along with his crew chief Andrew Overstreet and spotter T.J. Majors. Throughout the first warning interval that flew previous the opening lap, he made his first pit cease in an try and have his radio restored. Amid his first pit cease, nonetheless, he was then penalized for dashing on pit street as he restarted in direction of the tail finish of the 38-car subject. As well as, he was nonetheless mired with radio points and never receiving concise suggestions from his No. 88 JR Motorsports workforce.
For many of the occasion’s opening stage, Earnhardt Jr. was mired outdoors the top-20 mark on the observe however remained on the lead lap class. By means of one other warning interval that flew on Lap 51, he additionally swapped out his helmet with a brand new one to proceed to have his radio communication along with his pit crew restored. He would additionally obtain new wiring harnesses and a contemporary pair of glasses to go together with his radio changes. After continuing to complete twentieth on the conclusion of the primary stage interval, Earnhardt Jr., who had pitted through the earlier warning interval, remained on the observe and restarted contained in the top-10 mark when the second stage interval commenced on Lap 95. By then, his radio communication along with his crew was restored after 4 makes an attempt.
All through the second stage interval that was mired with two warning intervals, Earnhardt Jr. stored his No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet Camaro entry racing contained in the top-10 mark and towards a bevy of Xfinity Sequence regulars, future stars and fellow JR Motorsports opponents. Racing as excessive as fourth place, Earnhardt Jr. would settle in ninth place on the second stage’s conclusion and gather two stage factors.
Restarting within the prime 10 in the beginning of the ultimate stage interval with 121 laps remaining, Earnhardt Jr., who was starting to have his radio communication points returning, muscled his means as much as sixth place through the occasion’s remaining restart interval with 94 laps remaining. With the laps dwindling, he made a number of repeated launches in an try and overtake Ryan Truex for fifth place, however the latter withstood his floor. Regardless of being overtaken by teammate Brandon Jones with roughly 20 laps remaining, Earnhardt Jr. would muscle his automotive to a seventh-place consequence when the checkered flag flew.
With the consequence, Earnhardt Jr. notched his 96th top-10 lead to his 147th Xfinity Sequence profession begin, his fourth since turning into a semi-retired competitor in 2018 and his first at Bristol within the Xfinity circuit since he completed fourth through the spring Bristol race in 2011. The seventh-place consequence marked the eighth top-10 end in 12 races this season for JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro workforce led by crew chief Andrew Overstreet. The workforce was additionally coming off its first victory of the season with newcomer Connor Zilisch profitable in his sequence’ debut per week in the past at Watkins Glen Worldwide.
Even after his eventful night time at Bristol that concerned rallying from the rear of the sphere to notch a top-10 run, the most important query was did Dale Earnhardt Jr. have enjoyable in his lone Xfinity Sequence begin of the 2024 season?
“Sure,” Earnhardt Jr. stated on CW Community. “Sure, I did.”
“I used to be nervous as a result of [the race] was heading within the mistaken course there shortly,” Earnhardt Jr. added. “You do your greatest and we tried to not lose any laps, tried to determine tips on how to get it proper. We lastly bought to the place I might hear [spotter] TJ [Majors]. The steadiness of the automotive was actually good.”
Throughout his post-race interview, Earnhardt Jr., who was greeted by Ryan Truex and rookie Shane van Gisbergen on pit street, expressed the thrill he felt whereas being aggressive and racing each towards the entrance and towards the present subject of Xfinity Sequence regulars.
“I’m thrilled [to] come out right here, be aggressive,” Earnhardt Jr. stated. “Man, I don’t know the way for much longer I’ll be capable of be aggressive. I can come out right here for an additional 20 years, however ultimately, these younger children, they only get to be so good. It’s enjoyable to have the ability to run with them tonight.”
Presently, Earnhardt Jr., who is about to affix TNT Sports activities’ broadcasting workforce for NASCAR protection in 2025, shouldn’t be scheduled to make any Xfinity Sequence begins for subsequent season, with the Corridor of Famer solidifying his determination earlier within the day to focus extra along with his broadcasting and JR Motorsports’ possession commitments. Whereas he admits that he’ll miss the need to drive for subsequent season, he did depart all choices for an additional race return for the 2026 season on the desk.
“Perhaps I’ll get again on this [No. 88 car],” Earnhardt Jr. stated. “I’ll miss it and doubtless find yourself signing up for one thing in [2026].”
With Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2024 NASCAR season as a competitor full, his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro entry will return to motion subsequent weekend at Kansas Speedway for the Kansas Lottery 300 with Connor Zilisch returning behind the wheel for his second Xfinity Sequence profession begin. The occasion is scheduled to happen subsequent Saturday, September 28, and air at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Community.
