Dale Earnhardt Jr. is gearing up for his return to racing at Darlington Raceway this Saturday, and he’s got a backup plan in place just in case. However, it seems unlikely that he will need to use it.
Since stepping away from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of the 2017 Cup Series season, Earnhardt has continued to make occasional appearances in the Xfinity Series, driving for his own team, JR Motorsports. This year’s race is particularly notable, coming just over two weeks after a harrowing plane crash involving Earnhardt and his family. On August 15, while en route to Bristol Motor Speedway, their private plane had a rough landing that caused it to slide off the runway and catch fire. Fortunately, Earnhardt, his wife Amy, their daughter Isla, their dog Gus, and the two pilots all escaped without major injuries.
A week following the accident, Earnhardt reported significant bruising and swelling in his back but expressed his intention to race despite the pain. As the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 approaches, he provided a more detailed update on his condition during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I had some severe bruising on my back, but with excellent medical care and treatment, the swelling has decreased rapidly,” Earnhardt explained. “It was quite painful initially, but I’m feeling much better now. I believe that once I’m in the car, I’ll be so focused on racing that I won’t notice the discomfort. Race car drivers are known for pushing through physical issues, and once you’re in the middle of a race, you tend to forget about the pain.”
Earnhardt is enthusiastic about getting back behind the wheel. He believes that the experience of racing, including practice and qualifying, will help him mentally overcome the recent trauma and rebuild his confidence, particularly regarding flying. For the Darlington race, he’ll be driving the No. 8 Chevrolet, featuring a paint scheme reminiscent of the one his father used during his first Cup Series race in 1975. While it seems Earnhardt is on track to race, fans understand that he might not be at his absolute best.
In his previous Xfinity Series appearance in 2018 at Richmond Raceway, Earnhardt performed impressively, qualifying second and leading for a race-high 96 laps before finishing in fourth place. The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 will be broadcast on NBC at 4 p.m. ET, and NASCAR fans are eagerly anticipating his return to the track.
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