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Dale Earnhardt Jr. previews return to Budweiser No. 8 car at Florence Motor Speedway

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•11/19/24•

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Dale Earnhardt Jr (8)
Aug 6, 2006; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nascar Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. races the Budweiser Chevrolot during the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-US PRESSWIRE © 2006 Jason Parkhurst

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is getting ready to drive the Budweiser No. 8 car in the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway on Saturday. On Dale Jr. Download, the NASCAR legend previewed the Late Model Stock Car race.

“It’s a 250-lap race. I’m really excited about that,” Earnhardt said. “There’s not many long races in the Late Model Stock ecosystem. There are 56 cars currently signed up to enter this race for 36 spots. These are some of the best of the best Late Model Stocks in all of the Southeast/mid-Atlantic region. Trying to even make this race will be an accomplishment.

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“When I was thinking about running this race, I believed in my mind if history proved correct, every car that came would be able to race. They probably wouldn’t get more than 40 entries. But it’s at 56 right now and counting.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. downplayed his driving the Budweiser No. 8 car as the reason 56 cars have signed up for the race. But it is a big deal to be driving the car since he hasn’t done it in 17 years. In late October, Earnhardt announced he would be driving the car that he had competed in during his time in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1999 through 2007.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to driving Budweiser No. 8 car

“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No.8,” Earnhardt Jr. said in a press release. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

“There are names that when mentioned, draw on the significance of their place in American history. Among them, Budweiser, and Earnhardt,” Matt Davis, Vice-President of Partnerships at Anheuser-Busch, said. “This return to the racetrack alongside Dale with the Bud King of Beers paint scheme is another chapter in Anheuser-Busch’s long and storied sports history.”

Earnhardt retired from full-time racing after the 2016 season. He has competed in multiple Xfinity Series races since his retirement, including this year’s Bristol race where he finished seventh.