Dale Earnhardt Jr. is getting back behind the wheel for another race. He will return to the JR Motorsports Late Model program next month at a historic track.
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"I'm racing at Nashville Fairgrounds, April 11," Dale Jr. said during a new episode of his podcast. "You know I have a million things going on up here in my head? I'm looking around in there — I think it's April 11 — and I'm driving the Bass Pro Shops car at the Fairgrounds for the CARS Tour."
The NASCAR Hall of Famer added that he's going to go do a tire test ahead of his return to the Late Model ranks, which will give him a better sense of speed in the No. 8.
Dale Jr., who retired from Cup Series competition after the 2017 season, continued to compete in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series through 2024. He made sporadic starts for the team he co-owns while supporting longstanding sponsors such as Hellmann's.
However, the Hall of Famer told media members at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2024 that he would step away from the NASCAR series. He would continue to race, but he would just do so in the Late Model ranks.
He has made several Late Model starts while working with such sponsors as Bass Pro Shops, Sun Drop, and Budweiser. He has resurrected classic schemes, including the Budweiser/MLB scheme he used to win at Daytona International Speedway in 2001.
DALE YEAH! An iconic @DaleJr scheme returned to the track. 😍⚾ pic.twitter.com/SNRIfBUTHm
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 18, 2025
The zMAX CARS Tour season started on Saturday at Southern National Motorsports Park. JR Motorsports driver Caden Kvapil, brother of O'Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Carson Kvapil, captured the win in the Late Model Stock Car division. Mason Walters won the Pro Late Model division race.
The season will continue with the trip to Nashville Fairgrounds. Both CARS Tour divisions will be in action at the historic short track. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge will serve as the presenting sponsor of the races.
"I'm thrilled to be a part of the CARS Tour in Nashville," Tootsie's owner Steve Smith said, per FloRacing. "This is some of the best racing in America and it belongs at such an iconic track and an iconic city.
"I grew up across the street from [Nashville] Fairgrounds Speedway and am a huge supporter of racing in Nashville. I can't wait to watch these guys race and to host the teams at Tootsie's afterwards."
