Chase Elliott gets Dale Jr. reality check after – Sports News
Chase Elliott has been NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for the final eight seasons, carrying the torch handed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Elliott received the award an eighth consecutive time after edging out Cup Series runner-up Denny Hamlin, who endured championship heartbreak in Phoenix, Arizona, final month.
The torch Elliott carries as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, denying Denny Hamlin a shock win on this yr’s vote, was beforehand carried by Earnhardt Jr., who received the award 15 consecutive instances earlier than retiring from full-time racing in 2017.
However, regardless of Elliott’s prolonged stint on the prime of NASCAR’s reputation chart, Earnhardt Jr.’s long-lasting legacy stays clear. It comes as Earnhardt Jr. is aware of what NASCAR’s current settlement means for him getting into Cup Series.
Lionel Racing, NASCAR‘s official die-cast producer, introduced its top-selling model of 2025, highlighting the collectibles that captured probably the most consideration from followers this yr. At the highest of the checklist was Justin Allgaier’s Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet for Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports.
The model marks JR Motorsports’ debut within the Cup Series and in addition delivers Allgaier his first look atop Lionel Racing’s annual best-seller rankings. The 2025 Daytona 500 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet shortly emerged as a fan favourite. It captures a landmark second for each the group and its driver.
Earnhardt Jr.’s Budweiser Speedway Classic Late Model Chevrolet additionally took second place forward of Allgaier’s Traveller Whiskey Raced Version Chevrolet in third, and Elliott’s NAPA Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Echopark Win Chevrolet in fourth.
Following final season’s entry into the Daytona 500, JR Motorsports will attempt to compete again in subsequent February’s race. However, entry into the race shouldn’t be assured, as they may attempt to qualify as an “open” staff.
Earnhardt Jr. has admitted feeling nervous forward of JR Motorsports’ second attempt. “Well, Kelley will tell you that we race. We got a chance to go race, we race. We just wanna race,” Earnhardt mentioned on Monday’s Dale Jr. Download.
“The Daytona 500 is the most important race of the season, and I would say that it, for an open team or anybody that wants to enter the race, that probably is the best opportunity financially to do it and not lose money.
“It prices a important quantity of money to run any race, Talladega or no matter. If you wanna go run within the center of the yr or a couple races all year long, more durable to make the financial work in them different occasions. This one, we’re simply introduced with alternative to go do it. We bought some companions that wanna go help us fund it.”
Dale Jr. will not be behind the wheel. Instead, it will be Allgaier again — and fans will be keen to see what JR Motorsports does with the car this year following last season’s iconic livery. “Our store gets enthusiastic about it. They really feel prefer it’s their effort,” Earnhardt continued. “You see Rodney Childers chiming in on social media and also you see our staff get pumped concerning the thought as a result of it is their car.
“It’s our flagship. But I will say this, more than likely, I don’t know for sure 100 percent, but if I had it my way, we would go with exactly the same components, people and personnel as we did last year. Justin’s gonna drive the car. Last year, we had Greg Ives as the crew chief. We had [Barry] Hoover come out of retirement, my old car chief guy. I would have everything as it was. That was a great, fun group of people. They all wanted to be there, they all cared about it. That hopefully comes together.”
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