DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Standing subsequent to his crew’s automotive earlier than Thursday’s qualifying race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. checked out his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, in amazement.
“God dang,” he mentioned to her earlier than the invocation, “we’re actually out right here. We’re actually out right here.”
The surprise in his voice shocked Kelley as a result of the 50-year-old Earnhardt has been right here at NASCAR’s cathedral of pace since his youth. This 2.5-mile, high-banked monitor of drama and daring has witnessed a few of his biggest accomplishments as a driver along with his Daytona 500 victories in 2004 and ’14. This additionally was the place his father died in a last-lap crash within the 2001 Daytona 500.
However this week has been in contrast to some other time Earnhardt got here right here. He and his sister are Cup automotive homeowners.
By no means earlier than had JR Motorsports fielded an entry in NASCAR’s premier sequence. For the crew to make its Cup debut in Sunday’s Daytona 500 would add to the household’s wealthy legacy.
Earlier than Justin Allgaier secured a beginning spot for JR Motorsports in NASCAR’s largest race, the Earnhardts would undergo a dizzying and draining vary of feelings that reached crescendo in a decent, rocking embrace between Earnhardt, his sister and her husband once they had been assured a spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500.
“I did not know precisely how badly I wished to do that or wished to be part of one thing like this till we began going via it,” Earnhardt mentioned.
What a journey it has been.
Household legacy
Kelley Earnhardt Miller texted an evite Tuesday for a spring gathering to a bunch chat that connects Earnhardt aunts, uncles, cousins and different members of the family. Dale Earnhardt Jr. quickly replied.
I’m in my truck driving to the airport to go to Daytona. Jr Motorsports and (Hendrick Motorsports) are combining in an effort to jot down a brand new chapter within the legacy of the Earnhardt household. I hope we will get on this race and do everyone proud.
A flurry of nicely needs adopted, together with this response:
We’re already so happy with you, Kelley and JRMGive Em Hell
One member of the family texted that the crew haulers had been arriving at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. Kelley, husband L.W. Miller and son Wyatt, who turns 13 Sunday, had pushed that day from their North Carolina residence and had been within the competitor’s motorhome lot on the monitor.
Kelley ran out of their motorhome in her socks to catch the JR Motorsports hauler. With it among the many final of the 45 vehicles to enter the storage, she had time to return for her sneakers.
Because the crew’s hauler become the storage entrance, Kelley waved whereas she recorded the historic second on her cellphone.
Ten hours later, beneath the identical full moon Kelley stood to look at the JR Motorsports hauler arrive, her brother entered the Cup storage. It was 6 a.m. ET Wednesday. He got here to witness the crew unloading the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet. Earnhardt walked subsequent to the automotive because the crew pushed it into its storage stall.
“I don’t wish to miss a factor,” he advised NBC Sports activities forward of Daytona. “Wednesday goes to be a extremely unbelievable day, with the ability to hear them hearth that automotive up, again out of the storage, pull out of the storage space and on to the race monitor for observe. And the nervousness, the stress, the nerves of hoping the automotive performs.”
It’s uncommon for some Cup automotive homeowners to be on the monitor most weekends, not to mention when the storage opens an hour earlier than dawn.
“Most automotive proprietor should not considering that this may very well be the one and solely time they try this,” Earnhardt mentioned of his exuberance. “Simply in case that we by no means get again to that state of affairs or that chance to enter a Cup race, I wish to be certain that there wasn’t something about it that handed me by or I wasn’t capable of expertise.”
He final had been a competitor within the Cup Sequence in 2017. Whereas he’s remained related to the storage, it’s completely different once you’re not behind the wheel.
“I miss all of that,” he mentioned. “I miss that as a driver. Displaying up at Daytona, how good is our automotive? I’ve been watching the fellows put it collectively for 3 months. How are we going to qualify? How is it going to race?
“Standing on that grid, standing on the market in that lineup for qualifying at Daytona, it’s only a particular second, ready in your alternative to go, ready in your alternative to climb in. It’s one of many nice issues about being a competitor, whether or not you’re the driving force, crew chief or the automotive proprietor, you’re a competitor.
“I form of miss, I miss the feelings you undergo, the highs, the lows, the nervousness of efficiency, and can we make it? Will we get in? If we’re fortunate sufficient, lucky sufficient to qualify in on time, wonderful. If not, then you must reprogram your mind to go sort out the duel and I’m prepared for all these challenges and psychological gymnastics that you just do.”
Why now? Why not sooner?
Kelley admits that relating to enterprise, she’s keen to take extra dangers than her brother, however says they have to agree on enterprise choices, “so we’re risk-adverse on the finish of the day.”
Dale says his mindset modified when Isla, the primary of his two daughters, was born in April 2018.
“Earlier than I had children, I used to joke that no matter how lucky I used to be financially, I used to be going to bounce my final verify,” he advised NBC Sports activities. “I used to be going to stay my life and there wasn’t going to be no one to depart something behind to.
“As quickly as I had children, my thoughts immediately shifted towards every part that I’ve saved and earned is theirs. It’s not mine anymore.
“I don’t wish to threat their inheritance. So if I purchased a crew and, heaven forbid, the values and issues don’t work out like we hope, then I’ve taken their inheritance and risked it and misplaced it.
“How may I look them within the eye (and say), ‘You’d be on this place however due to the alternatives I made now you’re on this place.’”
The alteration in his monetary strategy got here at a essential time when it comes to JR Motorsports’ Cup aspirations.
Three days earlier than the 2018 Daytona 500 — about two months earlier than Isla’s delivery — Ron Devine put his race crew, BK Racing, in Chapter 11 chapter in an try to carry off a financial institution’s calls for he repay greater than $8 million in loans and accrued curiosity.
Later that summer time, the trustee overseeing the crew beneficial {that a} chapter decide approve promoting the crew and its constitution, which assured a spot in each race and supplied a monetary fee plan. The charters had been nonetheless new within the sport, having been granted to groups in 2016.
Entrance Row Motorsports claimed the BK Racing constitution and a few tools for $2.08 million.
That there was little competitors within the bidding confirmed the business’s hesitancy towards spending a lot on a constitution.
Issues modified in December 2018 when Furnishings Row Racing offered its constitution — one of many extra worthwhile charters on the time based mostly on the system for funds — for $6 million to what would change into Spire Motorsports.
A brand new worth had been positioned on charters. Kelley started finding out the difficulty extra intently.
“Once we type of acquired severe about speaking to individuals, and I began speaking to Hendrick Motorsports and attempting to study as a lot as I may about what it took, then the charters are up between seven to the … $13 million or regardless of the numbers had been, and at that time you’re wanting and also you’re like then it’s a monetary factor,” she advised NBC Sports activities.
23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, bought a constitution from StarCom Racing for $13 million forward of the 2022 season, setting the excessive mark. Costs would proceed to climb. Spire Motorsports reportedly paid a report $40 million for Dwell Quick Motorsports’ constitution in a deal introduced in September 2023.
The excessive worth leaves JR Motorsports within the Xfinity Sequence, which doesn’t have a constitution system.
The worth for Cup charters is anticipated to maintain rising. The brand new constitution settlement, which started this yr, can pay “roughly 50% of NASCAR’s media revenues” to groups, in response to a courtroom doc from NASCAR. This season begins the primary yr of a seven-year Cup media rights deal NASCAR has with NBC, Fox, TNT and Prime Video for a reported $7.7 billion.
Though constitution costs have elevated exponentially in recent times, Earnhardt isn’t satisfied the window has closed on being a full-time Cup automotive proprietor.
“I advised Kelley, ‘OK we’ve acquired a automotive going right into a Cup race,’” he mentioned. “Who is aware of what thought this would possibly spark in somebody’s thoughts that’s on the market that wishes to be a companion of ours and comes within the door that we haven’t talked to but and says, ‘Let’s do that.’ I’m keen to place some cash in, for positive, however within the alternatives that we’ve had, it was too vital of an funding for me.
“However I might be, I assume I might be hopeful there could also be some those that wish to put money into a constitution, contemplating that charters are going for $25-40 million now. I feel there’s a day within the very close to future the place that constitution is $100 million, $150 million. I do. I feel they’ll go even past that, a decade, 20 years down the highway.”
The query is that if Dale and Kelley can have a kind of charters by then.
Disappointment, then hope
Jimmie Johnson noticed his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate on pit highway and gave Dale Earnhardt Jr. a hug earlier than qualifying Wednesday night time at Daytona.
Whereas associates, additionally they are rivals, notably on this night time. Johnson, who’s scheduled to run solely two races this season, doesn’t have a constitution for his No. 84 automotive at Legacy Motor Membership and wanted to earn a spot within the Daytona 500 — similar to Earnhardt’s automotive with Justin Allgaier driving it.
The automobiles of Johnson and Allgaier had been amongst eight that weren’t assured beginning spots in Sunday’s 500. Martin Truex Jr.’s was one other. Solely two, nonetheless, would lock in spots with Wednesday night time’s qualifying.
Truex was the quickest of these eight automobiles and secured a spot within the Daytona 500. Johnson was subsequent on the pace chart, beating Allgaier by .08 seconds to assert the second opening.
Earnhardt shared his emotions on social media about 45 minutes after Johnson topped Allgaier’s lap.
Rattling it woulda been good to lock in tonight. However we get to return again tomorrow and race our approach into the Daytona 500 in a twin. Residing the dream.
There have been nonetheless a number of avenues for Allgaier to make the Daytona 500 via the qualifying races the subsequent night time, nevertheless it took a little bit of time for Earnhardt to course of his disappointment.
“Once we didn’t qualify (Wednesday) night time, I used to be, I used to be harm, I used to be heartbroken,” Earnhardt advised NBC Sports activities on Thursday on his golf cart as he returned to his motorhome after doing his “Dale Jr. Obtain” present within the monitor’s fan zone.
“That was powerful. It ain’t anyone’s fault. One thing I wasn’t actually good as a race automotive driver was stepping again and taking a look at it from a little bit little bit of a wider perspective. There’s lots of people that come down right here that it don’t come simple. I signed up for this. There’s a path ahead. There’s just a few routes ahead.
“The issue I’m all the time having, and possibly numerous individuals take care of this, however I might not see the trail ahead (Thursday) due to the frustration from (Wednesday) night time. So I wanted to take a little bit little bit of time and go, ‘You recognize what? There’s a world or universe the place I’m not even right here attempting to do that with this crew. I needs to be grateful that (Thursday) is one other probability to get ourselves into that race.’
“I didn’t actually know this or assume this manner a very long time in the past or throughout my racing profession, however I do imagine that if in case you have a foul perspective or anticipating the worst, you’ll be able to typically have an effect on that end result simply due to your perspective or strategy. The most effective shot at doing this (Thursday) is to have the most effective perspective going ahead.”
So Earnhardt seemed forward to what may very well be, as an alternative of what was.
Why Daytona
Another race on the NASCAR schedule for JR Motorsports to make its Cup debut possible wouldn’t have include this a lot strain. There possible received’t be greater than 4 open automobiles at some other race this season, so there can be no worry of failing to qualify.
However there isn’t something like Daytona. For a sport constructed round generations, Daytona has been the epicenter within the lives of the game’s most well-known households.
The Pettys received the Daytona 500 eight occasions — seven by Richard and one, the inaugural race, by his father, Lee. Richard’s son, Kyle, received the primary race he entered, the 1979 ARCA race at Daytona. The 1961 qualifying races noticed each Richard and Lee go over the fence in separate crashes. Richard suffered minor accidents. Lee was gravely injured. Whereas Lee returned to run just a few races, he by no means competed full-time once more.
The Allisons loved one of the crucial particular moments a father and son may whereas racing. Bobby Allison received his third Daytona 500 in 1988 along with his son Davey ending second — the one time a father and son have completed first and second on this race. A crash just a few months later at Pocono ended Bobby Allison’s profession and robbed his reminiscence of that Daytona 500 win. His son would win the 1992 Daytona 500.
For the Earnhardts, Daytona has provided the final word highs and lows. After 20 years of attempting, Dale Earnhardt Sr. received the 1998 Daytona 500 and — in a scene prone to by no means be repeated — was greeted by pit crew members of most groups desirous to slap his hand and congratulate him as he slowly made his approach to Victory Lane.
Earnhardt Sr. misplaced his life in a crash on the final lap three years later.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. memorably received the subsequent Cup race there in July 2001 in one of the crucial electrical scenes within the sport’s historical past as his victory was a type of catharsis for followers. Junior went on to win two Daytona 500s (2004 and 2014) earlier than retiring.
“I knew that it wasn’t the monitor that took him, and I knew that he, wherever he was, he nonetheless felt the identical about Daytona,” Earnhardt mentioned of his father. “So I’ve embraced it. Him shedding his life on this property introduced this property nearer to me. Now, that does not work the identical for different individuals and tragedy, however for me realizing I needed to maintain coming right here, I made some peace with it and embraced the monitor and find it irresistible.”
There actually was no different place for the debut of JR Motorsports as a Cup crew after singer Chris Stapleton, a 10-time Grammy winner, reached out to his pal, Rick Hendrick, final July to inquire about sponsoring a automotive. Hendrick put Stapleton in contact with JR Motorsports.
“We considered that as we had been going via the method of may we pull this off for Daytona?” Kelley mentioned. “And if we couldn’t pull it off for Daytona, the place else would it not make sense? We stored going again to, nothing’s as massive because the Daytona 500, proper? And I’m not speaking about only for the publicity for the sponsor and all that.
“There isn’t any higher race than the Daytona 500, I imply, it being our first race, it being the crowds which might be there, the roar, every part that you just really feel once you go into Daytona.”
One final probability
With 4 laps left in Thursday night time’s first qualifier, Justin Allgaier was in peril of not advancing to the Daytona 500 and needing a selected situation within the second qualifier to make it. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller sat atop the crew’s pit field watching, their our bodies inflexible, their breaths shallow, ready to see if all of the work finished since final summer time — and all their hope — can be fulfilled.
On the ultimate lap, Earnhardt pumped his fist and yelled. He stood and leaned ahead because the automobiles got here to the end line.
Bubba Wallace received. Allgaier completed ninth, the highest-finishing non-chartered automotive, to assert a Daytona 500 beginning place.
In that second Thursday night time, the love of the game exploded into hugs, handshakes and even a dash by Earnhardt to get to Allgaier and congratulate him whereas celebrating having a automotive within the Daytona 500.
It’s the subsequent step within the evolution of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“Now him being a automotive proprietor within the Daytona 500,” mentioned NASCAR senior advisor Mike Helton, “I feel is simply one other chapter of the Dale Jr. we’ve seen develop up on this sport to change into the face of and the voice and such an envoy for what his household has finished for 3 or 4 generations from time to time taking that duty very critically.”
Just a few days earlier, Earnhardt advised NBC Sports activities about what this effort meant.
“It’s one thing we don’t must do,” he mentioned. “It’s one thing you’re doing purely for the love. It’s one thing that you just’re doing purely since you really feel prefer it’s what you’re presupposed to do.
“It’s like what your calling is and also you’re doing it solely out of the fervour and love that you’ve got for the game of NASCAR and every part it represents.”
Thursday night time, with so many to thank and a lot to stay up for, the monitor’s lights shone down seemingly on one man.
Considering of pop
Because the lots encircle him Sunday, many wishing him good luck in his maiden race as a Cup automotive proprietor, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will take all of it in.
He’ll have a look at the group on pit highway and think about the confluence of colours from 100,000 individuals within the stands that attain skyward. He’ll thrill within the roar of U.S. Air Drive Thunderbirds as they fly their F-16 Preventing Falcons simply above the venue on the finish of the nationwide anthem.
He’s seen it earlier than, however that is completely different. Eighteen occasions he competed within the Daytona 500 — successful twice.
Earnhardt additionally gave an lively command from pit highway to fireplace engines for the 2018 race. He twirled the inexperienced flag like an skilled within the flag stand when he began the 2020 Daytona 500.
In contrast to these different occasions, he can have one thing else — another person — on his thoughts Sunday.
“That will likely be so emotional,” he mentioned of standing along with his automotive on the grid earlier than the beginning of the Daytona 500. “I’ll be trustworthy — and I don’t say this fairly often — nevertheless it’ll completely be a kind of moments the place I won’t be able to shake the concept or the considered what my dad would consider what me and Kelley have finished to get ourselves so far.”
