Dale Earnhardt Jr. has officially confirmed he will attend the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race, scheduled for Sunday evening, May 18, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The announcement came just days before the event, instantly fueling excitement and speculation throughout the racing community. Fans are eager to see what the iconic NASCAR figure’s presence will mean for this high-stakes exhibition, which gathers the sport’s elite drivers for one thrilling weekend in North Carolina.
The All-Star weekend marks a pivotal moment in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, as it brings together only the best racers on the legendary North Wilkesboro track from May 16-18. While Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t raced full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for several years, his connection to the sport has remained strong through his work with JR Motorsports and as a prominent broadcaster. His decision to attend the All-Star Race was made public in response to a social media prompt from the speedway itself, where he enthusiastically confirmed he would be there.
This development has reinvigorated fan interest and opened new dialogues about the future of the All-Star Race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not only been a dominant driver in several previous All-Star Races but continues to influence the sport as a team owner and advocate for innovation in racing formats. Recently, he proposed ideas to revive the exhibition event, suggesting that it could benefit from allowing legendary drivers to return to the field.
In a recent discussion, Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled conversations about possibly bringing back retired stars like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and even Kevin Harvick for the All-Star Race.
I got a solution. This All-Star Race is, it’s an exhibition, no points,
Earnhardt said.
And I know that, and this will never happen, but for the last handful of years, there’s been some conversation – when the All-Star Race was at Bristol a couple years ago before Wilkesboro came back, there were some calls and conversation going around of getting Jeff Gordon, myself, and some other drivers into the All-Star Race. Jimmie, and we were going to – how much would it cost, what would we demand or all that. You know, so there was a real conversation, um, that didn’t go farther than that.
He also pointed out the enthusiasm among fans for seeing past champions return, adding,
And fans will say, you know, man, in that All-Star Race, I wish Harvick and all these other drivers could come back and run it. The way for that to happen that would be more financially reasonable is to run a cheaper car. So, there’s all kinds of different options for that, but I think the Late Model Stock is not a terrible idea.
This suggestion reflects his willingness to embrace change while honoring the traditions of the sport.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s confirmed attendance at the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race brings both nostalgia and anticipation, sparking hope that he might again get behind the wheel, even if just for an exhibition. As the weekend draws near, all eyes will be on North Wilkesboro Speedway, waiting to see if this NASCAR legend’s presence on race day might lead to even bigger surprises in the future.
