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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. retired from full-time racing on the finish of 2017, with 17 years and 631 races below his belt as a NASCAR Cup Sequence driver. However even when he spends extra time podcasting and commentating than turning a wheel lately, Junior’s driving streak remains to be going robust: This weekend he’ll run within the Xfinity Sequence 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 isn’t unimaginable 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 a bit 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 footwear 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’ve not seen is NASCAR’s 15-time Most Standard Driver win any of these latest 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. Certain, Earnhardt Jr.’s drop-ins are for enjoyable, however there isn’t any 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 means of the sector, 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 observe, smoke filling the cockpit. His race was finished, simply 30 laps in need of the end, regardless of having lead 47 laps.
The rationale why? His pants have been on hearth.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, JR Motorsports, Hellmann’s Chevrolet Camaro and Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports, BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
“We obtained 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 hearth. I noticed some smoke within the automobile, and I smelled it, and I was like, ‘hopefully that is not me.’ However it was. Clearly, my uniform was burning up. I used to be like, ‘I cannot hold going. I obtained to cease.’ And often if you cease, the fireplace will get larger.”
Setting apart the undesirable flambé, it proved that Earnhardt —who’s gained on the iconic half-mile Bristol quick observe in each the Cup and Xfinity Sequence earlier than — nonetheless has the products to take the checkered flag. Friday’s Bristol race might be his 147th Xfinity Sequence begin, with an opportunity to seize his twenty fifth profession win in NASCAR’s center sequence. (That will 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 Sequence.)
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. Download, he stated that this week’s race at Bristol could possibly be his final within the Xfinity Sequence, although he nonetheless intends to run his late mannequin. He stated it’ll “in all probability” be his last Xfinity begin and that he was “fairly positive” about that, however would not absolutely decide to it. Whether or not it’s his final race or not, we all know Earnhardt Jr. will placed on a very good present. (Simply possibly do not let the children 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.
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