Dale Earnhardt Jr. Afraid of ‘Messing Up’ Possibly Final NASCAR Rodeo in Bristol

Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time racing at the end of 2017. There was this feeling that Jr. was leaving a good chunk of his racing days behind with this call. He transitioned into the roles of a broadcaster, a podcaster, and a team co-owner. But he continued racing in the Xfinity Series, thus giving his fans something to cheer about every year.

However, the 2024 race at Bristol could prove to be his last NASCAR race after all. And this has led to nervous energy at the JR Motorsports camp. Speaking on his podcast DJD, the veteran driver expressed the jitters of getting into the Bristol race weekend and the chip he has on his shoulders. Trying to not overdo the preparations, the #88 team decided not to make any changes to the race car. "We are bringing back the same car as last year. Totally stripped and rebuilt. Hope it handles as well."

But a recent update by his crew chief Andrew Overstreet suggests that they are going to tweak the racing setup on the #88 JRM Chevy. Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. has agreed to test these changes, he isn't going to take any chances if this experiment goes south.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hesitant about adopting the new changes ahead of the Bristol race Last year, Dale Jr. was close to clinching his first Xfinity Series win since 2016 at the world's fastest half-mile. He even contested for the lead thanks to his #88 Chevy and trotted inside the top 5 positions. However, with 30 laps to go in the race, an abrupt incident causing a fire inside his car's cockpit forced him to retire. And, just like that, his chances of a win and a solid run were cut short.

He ran with the same setup at the Miami Homestead and was able to notch a top 5 result. So lining up for a potential last dance in the Xfinity Series, Jr. was hoping to run with the same car. But his crew chief, Andrew Overstreet, who guided Connor Zilisch to his first win last weekend, has other ideas. While they are trying to implement a few changes, Dale Jr.'s preparations have been going really well.

"Me and Dale talked a lot back and forth about getting ready for this weekend. And we had our simulator time Monday night. He knows what he needs to expect out of his car at Bristol and pace himself, and he was getting as fast as the other guys, but he was focusing on what you need to do here at Bristol to get good." Overstreet explained.

Moreover, he also shared that they would go back to the original setup if things didn't work out in the practice sessions. "We made some changes to get the car better, and at the end of the day, Dale said well, if we can't change it in practice, I don't want it to mess me up, and I get one shot a year. So I know that the car was awesome last year; let's not mess it up and let's just go race."

Despite having 146 Xfinity races under his belt, the veteran driver is feeling the nerves ahead of the crucial event. While there is a possibility of a win on the cards, the veteran driver has set realistic expectations for what could be his last NASCAR race.

Dale Jr. wants to enjoy his race at Bristol Motor Speedway At Bristol, multiple entries of the race car make it tough for drivers competing in a one-off race to qualify for the event. Last year, Dale Jr. was in a rough spot and on the bubble to miss the race during the qualifying session. However, he managed to put in a good enough lap to be able to compete in the main event.

But steeping into what seems to be his last NASCAR race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is feeling anxious. "I get nervous; I can't help it," he said. "Last year when we went, I was freaking out. We were one of the two cars that could miss the race (in qualifying), but we're locked in this year (points). I told the guys that without that pressure I'm probably going to qualify worse."

As far as expectations go, he is looking to round off the day with a solid top 5 finish. "If I go run top-five, we run like we did last year, and we get to the end of the race with a chance to win or a damn good result, I'm like, 'hell yes!' I will be ecstatic. I just want, when the race is over with, I want to have enjoyed what I just did." The JR Motorsports co-owner said this on the Dale Jr. Download.

What do you feel about Dale Jr.'s chances for this weekend's race at Bristol? And should he continue with NASCAR racing in 2025?