At Anderson Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is set to compete in the familiar red #8 Budweiser chevrolet/”>Chevrolet, marking the second time he’s reunited with this classic livery. His comeback in the Dale Earnhardt Jr Budweiser comeback is fueled not just by nostalgia but by a unique story of rekindling his partnership with Budweiser after regaining the rights to the #8 car.
Famous for his success in the Budweiser colors during his years with Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Earnhardt Jr. worked to bring the brand back on board after negotiating the #8 license from Teresa Earnhardt. Initially, his intent was a single race, but the collaboration expanded following Budweiser’s enthusiasm, now encompassing the Anderson event after his previous appearance at Florence Motor Speedway.
This time, Earnhardt Jr. returns with a Budweiser baseball throwback scheme, inspired by his 2001 Daytona summer victory. Describing the origins of the deal, he said,
“This deal with Budweiser was really interesting, the story behind it coming together. We reached out to Bud, I said to Kelley (Earnhardt-Miller, sister) and everybody at JR Motorsports, just like, ‘Man, I like to run that red car one time.’”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Driver
He elaborated on the licensing and initial confusion with his longtime sponsor:
“We got the #8 licensing back, and that just made sense. So we called Bud, and they weren’t sure what we were talking about doing. They didn’t really understand the kind of ask we had,”
he added. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Driver
Once Earnhardt Jr. explained the CARS Tour and clarified his hopes for a simple branding effort, Budweiser agreed enthusiastically, saying,
“They were like,M‘Man, let’s do one race this year… another race the next year, which is this race here in Anderson,’”
the Kannapolis native said. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Driver
Anderson Motor Speedway Marks a Homecoming
The event at Anderson features the CARS Tour’s highly anticipated return to the South Carolina oval for a 125-lap Late Model Stock feature. This marks the series’ first visit since 2017, and for Earnhardt Jr., it’s an emotional return under the Budweiser banner. His previous Budweiser race at Florence Motor Speedway saw him overcoming a difficult qualifying session to rise to second place, only to exit early due to a fuel pump failure.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not only a competitor but also a co-owner of the CARS Tour, joining forces with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks. Alongside Kelley Earnhardt-Miller and Rick Hendrick, he also co-owns JR Motorsports, further deepening his impact on motorsports at multiple levels.
Behind the Scenes: Reviving the #8 and the Budweiser Bond
The process of bringing back the #8 Budweiser car involved not only legal negotiations but also significant coordination with key figures, including Earnhardt’s sister and business partner, Kelley Earnhardt-Miller. The renewed presence of the Budweiser Chevrolet highlights connections spanning generations, nodding to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s achievements at Daytona, as well as the legacy of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports.
Challenges Producing the NASCAR 25 Video Game
In addition to his racing ventures, Dale Earnhardt Jr. serves as executive producer on NASCAR 25, a video game featuring a diverse soundtrack. Despite his leadership role, he has faced hurdles integrating hip-hop songs due to complex sample clearance issues. As he revealed,
“Clearing hip hop music was really tough. I had a Lil Wayne song I wanted on there as well as others. To clear a song what has sampled music, you have to get the rights to not only the current artist and publisher but also the rights of the sample. Getting in contact and a response with all those people is one challenge.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., Executive Producer
He highlighted fiscal challenges as well:
“Working with a budget also made that a real challenge,”
he added. —Dale Earnhardt Jr., Executive Producer
NASCAR 25 ultimately boasts 28 tracks across genres like country, rock, and hip-hop, including contributions from artists such as Hanumankind and Ruby Ibarra. Though Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t include every track he’d hoped for, the diversity represents his ongoing commitment to celebrating racing culture through multiple mediums.
Legacy, Community Impact, and What Lies Ahead
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return to Anderson Motor Speedway in the Budweiser #8 car blends a celebration of racing tradition with new milestones for motorsports. Supported by figures like Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Justin Marks, and Rick Hendrick, Earnhardt Jr. continues to influence the NASCAR community as a competitor, team owner, and innovator. This comeback at Anderson reflects both his personal journey and his broader efforts to bridge NASCAR’s past with its evolving future, setting the stage for ongoing excitement and renewed attention on the CARS Tour and beyond.
