"Special day for the entire Earnhardt family": When Dale Jr. emotionally connected to his NASCAR roots before debut Cup race with Budweiser's scheme
On May 30th, 1999, Dale Jr. made his debut Cup Series run at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The famed 1.5-mile oval has a historical relationship with the legendary NASCAR driver, as his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., also began his car racing career on Charlotte's asphalt.
Before Earnhardt Jr. kicked off his first-ever NASCAR Premier Level run, donning his grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt's #8 on his Chevy, and Budweiser's iconic red and white paint scheme, he reflected on the 'special' moment for his entire family.
Junior is a third-generation NASCAR driver. Dale Sr. followed in his father Ralph's footsteps, and Earnhart Jr. kept his family's tradition alive by doing the same. Though he had experienced stock car racing in the Xfinity Series, he had yet to tame his Chevy in the Cup Series.
Before beginning the highly-anticipated debut, Dale Jr. pondered his NASCAR roots and elaborated on the Earnhardt family's "special day." He said (via NASCAR).
“I couldn’t have asked for a better situation to make my Winston Cup debut. I’ll be racing at the track near my hometown, in a car owned by my dad, competing against the best drivers in the world on the same track where he began his Winston Cup career. Best of all, I’ll have my granddad’s No. 8. It’ll be a special day for the entire Earnhardt family,"
138 days before Junior registered his first Cup run, his primary sponsor Budweiser heavily promoted the upcoming driver. It included printed shirts with 'Countdown to E-Day' written, Budweiser's 16-ounce beer cans with Junior's picture, commercials, and die-cast models.
Dale Jr. raced alongside his father. The former finished his debut run in 16th, while the latter came sixth.
"It is an incredible opportunity": Dale Jr. excited for reunion with Budweiser amid paint scheme's return after a 17-year hiatus
On Tuesday (Oct. 22), the news about the reunion between Dale Jr. and Budweiser surfaced. The duo will join forces for Late Model Stock car races in 2024 and 2025 and will mark their return in the South Carolina 400 at the Florence Motor Speedway on November 23 this year.
Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, has sponsored NASCAR-warranted events for the past 40 years. They have backed Dale Jr. for nine seasons, 13 years with 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, and presently with Ross Chastain.
Not only will the 26-time Cup Series race winner reunite with Budweiser, but he will wear the same iconic paint scheme with the stylized #8, with which he dominated the tracks from 1999 to 2007.
“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8. Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again," Dale Jr. said of his rekindling with the United States first truly national beer brand, serving since 1876.
To take reunion up a notch, Junior's JR Motorsports has launched an apparel line that is similar to his notable pairing in the 2000s.