Dale Earnhardt Jr. is preparing for a much-anticipated return to racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the legendary Bristol Motor Speedway.
Dubbed “The Last Great Colosseum,” the Bristol track will see Earnhardt revisit the site of a dramatic event from last year.
Earnhardt’s return will feature a tribute as he races in a completely rebuilt version of the car that almost earned him a win last time.
Last year at Bristol, Earnhardt had to retire early due to a fire near his feet. This incident ended what could have been a remarkable victory but left a memorable impression on fans and analysts.
This time, Earnhardt, with his JR Motorsports team, hopes to settle unfinished business with the car, which has been completely stripped down and rebuilt for peak performance and safety.
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“We’re bringing back the same car as last year. Totally stripped and rebuilt. Hopefully, it handles the same. See you in a week.”
Earnhardt did celebrate a victory last year, but not as a driver. He shared in the win with Justin Allgaier as the owner of the JR Motorsports team.
Recently, Earnhardt commented on the ongoing issues between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR. He shared his thoughts on his podcast, as reported by Newsweek Sports:
“It’s interesting times. I don’t see this turning into a circus or leading to a legal fight,” he said.
“(23XI Racing) may, but I don’t think anyone will care much about a legal battle. I don’t think the public will emotionally invest in it.
“If it goes to court, will you follow that? I’d probably just say, ‘Okay, let’s see who wins.’ … There’s too much happening in today’s world, and in a week, we’ll move on. I think this would be the same.
“Once it becomes a court case, I think people will lose interest, and the sport will focus on more important issues. … I don’t see this becoming a major roadblock that stops the sport.”
