Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he'd add extra race to his schedule if NASCAR makes key decision
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has hinted that a return to NASCAR Xfinity Series action could be on the cards if a race at North Wilkesboro is added to the schedule.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has revealed he could expand his race schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – on one condition.
The NASCAR icon has competed sporadically since his retirement from full-time racing in 2017. But the 50-year-old still has the itch to get behind the wheel for competitive races occasionally.
Earnhardt was at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina last week for the ZMAX CARS Tour, and during his visit he appeared on the broadcast.Dale Earnhardt Jr was 'scared' for NASCAR star during 'out of control' race
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The two-time Daytona 500 winner told viewers that if an Xfinity race at North Wilkesboro was added to the schedule, he would take part.
Earnhardt Jr. last competed in the Xfinity Series in September, finishing in seventh place in the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The two-time Xfinity champion has competed in six races in the junior series over the past five seasons.
NASCAR held its All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro on Sunday, with Christopher Bell taking victory. A Craftsman Truck Series race was also held at the North Carolina circuit over the weekend, but there was no Xfinity race on the schedule.
North Wilkesboro is steeped in NASCAR heritage, and Earnhardt Jr. played a big role in its revival. The short track had been allowed to fall into disrepair and it seemed consigned to being nothing more than a relic from the past.
But Earnhardt Jr. was involved in a campaign to revive the iconic 0.625-mile circuit, first by leading efforts to have it scanned and playable in the iRacing simulator. From there, momentum got behind the project and elite racing returned in 2023 when North Wilkesboro became home of the All-Star Race.
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It is no surprise, therefore, that Earnhardt Jr. wants to compete on a track that is so close to his heart.
Earnhardt Jr. addressed his future in competitive racing after his top-10 in last year’s Food City 300. He said: "I mean, if I don't ever run again, I'm happy at 50 years old to jump in once and run top 10.
"I know there was some guys named [Harry] Gant and [Bobby] Allison that were winning races in their 50s. So I know it's damn doable. It's not anything too crazy.
“But not doing it every week, man, you certainly come in here feeling like you're handicapped, and you've got to drink from the fire hose trying to figure out what's going on and getting up to speed.
"I loved every lap. It was great. I mean, I got everything I wanted out of this, and I'll miss it next year. I'm certain I'll probably sign up for somewhere else. Trying not to already start thinking about, where would I run? Where do I want to run?
"But I definitely do want to take next year off, focus on my broadcasting and get my boots on and get back to work there, make sure I'm doing a good job for that. That's my priority, that and my family."
