Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to having old No. 8 font back in NASCAR Xfinity Series

The 2025 season is a big deal for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. The old No. 8 font from the DEI days is coming back. Sammy Smith will rock the iconic number on his Chevrolet next NASCAR season and already has his three paint schemes unveiled.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and that No. 8. It is likely the most iconic pairing outside of his father Dale Sr. and the No. 3 and Richard Petty’s No. 43. Although, for younger fans, the Earnhardts likely beat Petty out in notoriety.

NASCAR is so different from other sports because there are a lot of ways fans express their fandoms. It goes beyond teams. It is at times one or more of the driver, team, sponsor, number, or manufacturer.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a team owner now. But his team should be running this No. 8 and hopefully, there are many more wins and iconic moments in the future.

Of course, Dale Jr. is very excited to see his number return to the track. He is racing it on his late model car. Sammy Smith is repping the legacy in the Xfinity Series. Just how it should be.

Earnhardt posted a short video expressing his excitement about the number returning. He has a lot of faith in Sammy as a driver and is ready to get the season started at Daytona.

“It’s awesome to have this number and font back at [JR Motorsports],” the team owner said on X/Twitter. “Can’t wait to see it on [Sammy Smith] car next season.”

It’s awesome to have this number and font back at @JRMotorsports. Can’t wait to see it on @sammysmithSS car next season. pic.twitter.com/kLC27492iQ

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 13, 2024

Fans are going to love seeing the No. 8 back in its proper place.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has his legacy back on the track

This is a big deal for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his fans. That number and font are his legacy and his trademark. Quite literally, it is his trademark now. Put the merch aside. Put the potential throwback paint schemes away for now. This means something to Earnhardt and his organization.

I think that it is fitting for Dale Jr. to field the No. 8 and No. 88 cars full-time next season. He has two of the most talented young drivers in NASCAR in those cars. Sammy Smith is entering his third full-time season but he is only 20 years old and will be 20 until June of next year.

In the 88 will be 18-year-old Connor Zilisch. A phenom, and Trackhouse Racing development driver, Zilisch is considered the next big thing in stock car racing. This is your #1 draft pick, if there was a NASCAR draft. Both of these numbers have defined Earnhardt’s career.

JR Motorsports isn’t a final destination for most. Only Justin Allgaier, really. But Dale Earnhardt Jr. has an organization that produces or helps produce, Cup Series talent.

Yes, they land some of the best talent year in and out, but they give their drivers the opportunity to succeed and put their talents on display. Now the organization will look how they should with the right font on these cars.