Nearly two decades later, Dale Earnhardt Jr. reignited the nostalgia of the early 2000s when he recently took the iconic #8 for a spin at the South Carolina 400 in November, driving the red Budweiser #8 Late Model. Despite an engine mishap that cut his evening short, the mere sight of the number sparked tremendous excitement.
Advertisement
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, he’s set to revive that same #8 style in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, this time with Sammy Smith behind the wheel starting with the Daytona race.
On Monday, JR Motorsports took to social media to announce that the #8 font, which Dale Jr. popularized during his tenure at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and Chance 2 Motorsports, will grace Smith’s car in 2025. The post, shared across their official X handle, was captioned with a promise: “Ready to make some more history… in style.”
Ready to make some more history… in style. pic.twitter.com/kUJTzVA5gF
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) December 9, 2024
The announcement saw fans buzzing with excitement, rallying around the return. One fan proclaimed, “The true #8 back in NASCAR. What a glorious day,” while another declared, “AMERICA IS BACK.”
The true #8 back in NASCAR. What a glorious day
— GuhleW (@GuhleSzn) December 9, 2024
Surprised and thrilled, one fan exclaimed, “WHAT!!!! ITS BACK BUT IN THE TOP THREE LEVELS OF NASCAR!!!! IS THIS A DREAM!?!!?!?” and yet another cheered, “YES ITS RETURNING.”
Legacy of the No. 8 Car
For the first time since 2009, the stylized #8 will adorn a NASCAR vehicle. That year marked the end of its previous stint when Aric Almirola, who took over the number at DEI after Earnhardt Jr. transitioned to Hendrick Motorsports, began the season in the car before the team ceased operations.
In 2007, an attempt by Earnhardt Jr. to secure the stylized #8 from his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, fell through. However, with the trademark for the iconic #8 font secured in June, after Teresa let pass the deadline to claim the number back, Dale Jr. is now poised to restore its former luster.
From 1999 to 2007, Earnhardt Jr. transformed the Budweiser #8 into a legendary one on the NASCAR circuit. His victories in the 2001 Pepsi 400 and the 2004 Daytona 500, along with 17 other wins, featured prominently with Budweiser’s branding on the hood and the DEI #8 emblazoned on the side and roof. The pinnacle of his achievements in this car was securing P3 place overall in 2003, a season in which he clinched two race wins.
Despite escalating his performance the following year with six wins, Junior only managed to clinch the fifth position in the season standings.
