Jeffrey Earnhardt: “I’ve worked incredibly hard for this opportunity”
Come 2019, Jeffrey Earnhardt will run nine races with one of the best teams in the business
In 2017, Jeffreay Earnhardt had a full-time gig with Circle Sport – The Motorsport s Group. However, at the end of 2017, the team separated their management structure. the shakeup left Earnhardt without a ride.
Earnhardt has bounced between three different teams in the 2018 racing season.
Now, for 2018 he’ll run nine races with one of the best teams in the business. Earnhardt will drive the #18 for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Dale Earnhardt heard this news this morning. “This is awesome news. Had no idea he was putting this deal together. Can’t wait to see what he can do with a great race car.”
A fan asked why Jeffrey Earnhardt never jumps into a JR Motorsports ride in the NXS.
“We have room for him. He never reached out to Kelley or me to talk about it. Either way it’s an outstanding opportunity for him. He hustles like hell to keep active in NASCAR,” Dale JR responded.
Read the full announcement on Jeffrey Earnhardt’s 2019 ride below:
Jeffrey Earnhardt Announcement
Jeffrey Earnhardt will compete in a nine-race NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2019 with sponsorship from Xtreme Concepts Inc., a worldwide leader in providing turnkey security solutions, along with training and technology integration to U.S. government, military and commercial clients on a global scale.
Earnhardt will make his debut in the No. 18 Xtreme Concepts Toyota Supra in the season-opening Xfinity Series race Feb. 16 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Eight more races will follow, allowing the 29-year-old from Mooresville, North Carolina, to compete in the same front-running equipment that has secured more than 150 Xfinity Series victories for JGR.
“I’ve worked incredibly hard for this opportunity and I’ve got to thank Xtreme Concepts for making it happen,” said Earnhardt, the grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt.
“You see the level of expertise Joe Gibbs Racing has and the caliber of equipment they bring to the racetrack every week. As a driver, it’s exactly where you want to be. It’s the best opportunity I’ve had in my career and I plan to make the most of it,” Earnhardt concluded.
Xtreme Concepts is backing Earnhardt’s endeavor, with the Birmingham, Alabama-based company showcasing its brands on the No. 18 Toyota, most notably iK9, a comprehensive canine solutions provider for detection and service dogs, along with professional handler education.
“We believe motorsports is an incredibly strong platform to highlight the many services Xtreme Concepts can provide, and we also believe in Jeffrey Earnhardt,” said Landon Ash, founder, Xtreme Concepts.
“I know firsthand how just having the opportunity to show what you can do is all you need to find success. It’s how we’ve grown Xtreme Concepts since our founding in 2008 to a worldwide leader in security concepts and solutions. Jeffrey has been an excellent representative for Xtreme Concepts and our brands like iK9, and through this endeavor with Joe Gibbs Racing we plan to grow together,” Ash concluded.
Earnhardt has made a total of 151 starts across the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, but none have been with an organization with the depth and resources of JGR. Earnhardt is taking a path most recently traveled by Ryan Preece, a driver who joined JGR in 2017 and promptly won two Xfinity Series races after finally getting into equipment befitting his talent.
“From the time we first came to NASCAR in 1992, we’ve always put forth maximum effort to have the best possible results on the racetrack,” said Coy Gibbs, Vice Chairman and COO, JGR.
“Our Xfinity Series program is the perfect example of what happens when preparation meets execution. We’ve had both up-and-coming and veteran drivers achieve success in our racecars, and that success has translated to the partners they’ve represented. We think Jeffrey Earnhardt has the talent to win races and deliver strong results for Xtreme Concepts,” Gibbs concluded.
Details regarding Earnhardt’s nine-race Xfinity Series schedule will be announced prior to the start of the 2019 season.
— Xtreme Concepts PR —
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Links
Jeffrey Earnhardt | Xtreme Concepts| NASCAR
