Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chris Stapleton react to seeing Traveller Whiskey car for JR Motorsports

For the 2025 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a car. JR Motorsports is partnering with Chris Stapleton to put Justin Allgaier in the show. Of course, the No. 40 car will have to earn its way in as an open car against the best of the best in NASCAR.

Justin Allgaier is the defending Xfinity Series champion. He is now going to attempt his first Daytona 500 in ten years. He has become a much better racer since 2015 and is ready for the challenge.

Speaking with Justin Allgaier and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chris Stapleton talked about the design of the car. His whiskey brand, Traveller Whiskey, is the sponsor for the car. So, it’s a big deal how it looks.

“I really feel like the paper version of this car right here does not do the real thing justice,” Earnhardt said to the award-winning country music artist. “When we saw that car in person just now, man, it just jumps out at you.”

Stapleton agreed. As good as it looked on paper, the real thing was a different experience. Watching it race under the lights in the Duels and then again in the Daytona 500 and

“Yeah, me too, and I like both versions. I like the paper version, obviously, I wouldn’t have said, ‘Let’s do that.’ But to get to see it in person it’s a very, I don’t know, like a reality check moment. I don’t know how you feel as long as you’ve been racing or you guys been in racing when you see the car that’s a new car or something like that where you’re like, ‘Oh this is cool, this is our thing now.'”

It already sounds like Stapleton has the itch. He’s going to be in for one heck of an experience at his first-ever Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Jr. can tell, too. Those guys are going to have a blast in Daytona.

Winning the Xfinity Series championship was a big deal for Justin Allgaier. Subbing in for Kyle Larson at the Coca-Cola 600 was a big deal as well. I think those two things more than any other win or accolade have given Allgaier the confidence he needs to succeed at Daytona.

JR Motorsports will have a Hendrick engine. So, I expect the car to be fast in qualifying. When you go to Daytona, nothing is guaranteed (unless you’re Helio Castroneves). Allgaier will have to race his way into the Great American Race.