The Dirty Mo Media Twitter account created a stir with a post about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s potential involvement in the 2027 Daytona 500. But the Hall of Famer has shut down the rumors.
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He's not going to climb back inside the car to compete in his 632nd Cup Series race.
"I only wanted folks to know Amy wasn't to blame for my retirement back in the day," Earnhardt posted on X after a clip from his podcast went viral.
"I felt she got some unnecessary blame back then. I won't be racing Cup but she's not the reason."
Dale Jr on the 2027 DAYTONA 500 entry list?
Amy is a fan. 🤨 pic.twitter.com/4F2ChfcJ8R
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) February 18, 2026
So what exactly happened on Wednesday? Essentially, the Dirty Mo Media account posted a clip from the latest episode of "The Dale Jr. Download," one featuring a surprising story.
"Amy told me I should run the Daytona 500 next year," Earnhardt said. This prompted some reactions from his podcast crew, so he elaborated.
"I was like, 'What?' We were laying in bed Sunday night after the race, she was like, 'You should just drive it next year.' I'm like, 'Hello? Pardon me? What did you say? Are you ok?'"
The car Amy referenced is the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series team made its Cup Series debut last season when Justin Allgaier qualified for the Daytona 500. He finished ninth.
The No. 40 returned this season with Allgaier as the driver once again. The veteran driver finished 38th after he and Denny Hamlin got together while racing for the lead.
Earnhardt last competed in the Cup Series in 2017, his final full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports. He retired from the top series, but he continued to make select starts in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2018-2024.
He made it clear over the years that he would not make a comeback in the Cup Series. He would continue having some fun in the lower tiers of racing.
His last NASCAR start took place at Bristol Motor Speedway in Sept. 2024. He has continued to make select Late Model starts, but he has remained away from the JR Motorsports O'Reilly Series cars.
He just never officially said that he is done racing in NASCAR for good.
"Well, I'm not planning on racing (in 2025)," Earnhardt said at Bristol in 2024. "I'll be foolish to say I'm never going to run again because I don't know well enough to stay away from it.
"And I'll probably miss it next year and be absolutely willing to sign up with anything that might be beneficial to JR Motorsports."
A return to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series is a longshot, but it is possible if a sponsor wants Earnhardt to get back in one of his cars. He has previously said as much. He just won't be making a comeback in the Cup Series.
