Dale Earnhardt Jr on asphalt late model racing

Dale Earnhardt Jr: “I certainly have some curiosity about going to those tracks”

Dale Earnhardt Jr has expressed interest in running asphalt late models. His NASCAR career is quickly coming to an end. Are late models on the list?

What type of races would he run? The 300 at Martisville, is one of the largest late model races of the year. Is that one on the list?

Would you run the Martinsville 300 late model race?

“Oh man, I don’t know about the 300,” Dale Earnhardt Jr states.

Martinsville 300 - ValleyStar300 Late Model Race
Martinsville 300 – ValleyStar300 Late Model Race

“We spent a lot more money than we ever took home from over there. I’ll tell you that.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr fields late models already. Pictured below is the JR Motorsports late model.

“It’s a big race, very prestigious. But, I kinda leave it to them young guns to battle for that.”

JR Motorsports Late Model
JR Motorsports Late Model

Any late model racing?

The cars are there. There’s not much more of an investment or anything. The team, the crew, it’s set and ready to go. Is the driver?

“If anything, I’d have interest in sneaking over to a track somewhere and just running a short weekly show.”

Trying to get in there, under the radar and have some fun.

-Dale Earnhardt Jr

“Trying to get in there, under the radar and have some fun. Not really a big show, like the 300.”

“But, you never say never. I don’t really know how I’ll feel. I’m really interested [in seeing] just what the urges will be once I get out of the car full-time.”

“If I’m going to really miss driving the cars more than I think. Then, maybe I’ll want to drive the late model more often. Obviously, it’s a team back there at the house, it’s not just me. So, I gotta run it by the whole group and make sure everybody feels comfortable with that.

Martinsville Speedway Late Model event
Martinsville Speedway Late Model event

It keeps you sorta plugged in to the grassroots.

-Dale Jr

“I definitely wanna focus on my next job too. Like, I love runnin’ the late models and I like to have those cars competing every week. It keeps you sorta plugged in to the grassroots.”

Next year, Dale Earnhardt Jr will retire from full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing. However, he’ll still be on the partial tour as a broadcaster for NBC Sports.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to give to those tracks and support your local tracks. I certainly have some curiosity about going to those tracks at some point in racing.”

“But, I don’t know about that big show at Martinsville. That’d be a little bit of a commitment.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr - Grey Ghost paint scheme
Dale Earnhardt Jr – Grey Ghost paint scheme

 

This weekend

NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway.

At Martinsville, Dale Earnhardt Jr will run the grey ghost paint scheme. The scheme was selected on a fan vote.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr | Martinsville Speedway | JR Motorsports | NASCAR

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