If you walk through the infield at Bristol or North Wilkesboro, you'll still see plenty of No. 8 and No. 88 gear. It’s been years since Dale Earnhardt Jr. hung up the helmet as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, but the question of does Dale Earnhardt Jr still race isn't as simple as a yes or no. Most people think he's totally retired. They see him in the broadcast booth for Amazon Prime or TNT and assume he’s finished with the steering wheel.
He isn't. Not even close.
Honestly, Dale Jr. is probably busier on a short track in the middle of nowhere than he was during his final years in the Cup Series. But he's doing it on his own terms now. He isn’t chasing a 36-race grind across the country. Instead, he’s cherry-picking events that remind him why he fell in love with racing in the first place.
The Reality of Junior’s "Retirement"
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition at the end of the 2017 season. He had 631 starts, 26 wins, and two Daytona 500 trophies on his mantle. The concussions were the main reason he stepped back. It wasn't worth the risk anymore.
But "retired" in the racing world is a loose term.
Since 2018, he has made it a tradition to run at least one NASCAR Xfinity Series race every single year. It’s usually a deal worked out with a sponsor like Hellmann’s or Unilever to help fund the other cars at his team, JR Motorsports. For a long time, fans could bank on seeing him at least once a season in a high-profile NASCAR event. However, as of early 2026, things have shifted slightly.
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Junior recently admitted that he didn't plan on making an Xfinity start in 2025. He wanted to see how much he'd miss it. He’s reaching that point where he knows he only has a few "competitive" years left in a car that fast. But don’t think for a second that he’s just sitting on a porch in Mooresville.
Where He’s Actually Racing Right Now
The real answer to does Dale Earnhardt Jr still race is found on the short tracks. Specifically, the zMAX CARS Tour.
Junior isn't just a driver there; he’s an owner. He bought the series along with Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, and Justin Marks. Because he has skin in the game, he uses his star power to put butts in seats. He’s been frequenting tracks like:
- Florence Motor Speedway: He’s a regular at the South Carolina 400 and the Icebreaker.
- Tri-County Speedway: He recently added dates here to run his iconic No. 3 Sun Drop Chevrolet.
- North Wilkesboro: Before the Cup Series returned there, Junior was the one leading the charge to save the track, often racing Late Models to prove the fans would show up.
In 2025 and 2026, his schedule has been heavily focused on these Late Model Stock Car events. It’s "old school" racing. No massive pit crews, no billion-dollar aero packages—just a guy and a car. He’s often racing against teenagers who weren't even born when he won his first Daytona 500. It’s wild to watch. He’s actually vocal about the age of these kids, recently saying that 17-year-olds shouldn't be rushed into the top tiers of the sport because it hurts the local short-track ecosystem.
The 2026 Xfinity Series Question
There is a massive rumor mill regarding 2026. While he skipped a formal Xfinity entry in 2025, he’s hinted on The Dale Jr. Download that 2026 might see him back in the No. 88 or No. 3 for a one-off.
Why the change of heart?
NASCAR recently overhauled the championship format for the 2026 season, ditching the "win-and-you're-in" elimination playoffs and returning to a modified version of the old "Chase" format. Junior was actually on the committee that helped design this. He’s publicly said that the previous format made him "fall out of love" with the sport as a fan. Now that the points system rewards consistency again—the kind of racing he grew up with—he seems re-energized.
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If a partner like Bass Pro Shops or Budweiser steps up with the right paint scheme, you can bet your house he’ll find a way into a car at a track like Bristol or Martinsville. He still has the itch. You could see it in 2024 at Bristol when his car literally caught fire and he was still trying to figure out how to stay in the race. That’s not a guy who wants to stay retired.
Why He Still Does It
It isn't about the money. He’s worth hundreds of millions. It isn't even about the ego.
It’s about JR Motorsports (JRM).
Every time Dale Jr. gets in a car, it helps the bottom line of his Xfinity team. It keeps sponsors happy and keeps the doors open for drivers like Justin Allgaier or rising stars like Connor Zilisch. He views himself as a "package deal." If he has to race once or twice a year to ensure JRM stays at the top of the food chain, he’ll do it.
Plus, he’s a historian. He loves the nostalgia. Seeing him bring back the Budweiser No. 8 or the Sun Drop No. 3 isn’t just marketing; it’s him paying homage to his father and the guys who built the sport.
What to Expect If You Want to See Him Live
If you're looking to catch him in person in 2026, stop looking at the Cup Series entry list. You won't find him there. Instead, you need to follow the CARS Tour schedule.
- Check the CARS Tour Entry Lists: They usually post these a week before the race.
- Follow Florence Motor Speedway: This is basically his "home" track now for Late Model stuff.
- Listen to the Podcast: He almost always drops hints about "testing" or "getting a seat ready" a few weeks before he actually competes.
Basically, Dale Jr. has transitioned from a professional athlete to a professional enthusiast. He races when it's fun. He races when it matters to the fans. And he races when it helps his business.
He’s currently focused on his broadcasting career with the new 2026 TV deals, but that helmet is never more than a few feet away. He’s the first to admit he’s "foolish" enough to keep signing up because he doesn't know how to stay away.
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To stay updated on his specific 2026 starts, keep a close eye on the JR Motorsports official schedule and the CARS Tour social media channels, as most of his appearances are announced only a few months in advance to manage the inevitable ticket frenzies.