Jeffrey Earnhardt Bio
Jeffrey Lynn Earnhardt, born June 22, 1989, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing, with a stated current team of Alpha Prime Racing and a car number of 44. A member of one of stock car racing’s most famous families, he is the son of Kerry Earnhardt, grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt, and nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Early Life and Background
Jeffrey Lynn Earnhardt was born on June 22, 1989, in Mooresville, North Carolina. Mooresville is widely known as a hub of NASCAR team operations, and the Earnhardt family has long been connected to the sport. He grew up surrounded by the business of racing, with multiple generations of his family working as professional drivers.
He is the middle child of Kerry Earnhardt, the eldest son of Dale Earnhardt, and he has four siblings. His older brother, Bobby Dale Earnhardt, later competed in the ARCA Racing Series before retiring and returning for the 2025 season. He also has a paternal half-sister, Kayla, and two maternal half-brothers, James and David.
His first race came in the hornet division at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia, where he scored three feature wins, finished in the top five in division points, and was named Rookie of the Year. The following year, he moved up to the sportsman division at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia, closing the season in the top ten of the division standings.
Path to NASCAR
In 2006, General Motors created a driver developmental search program and invited select prospects to test a late model and a Busch car at two different tracks. Earnhardt made the final cut, earning a place on a national ladder. In 2007, he drove the No. 1 Chevrolet for Andy Santerre Motorsports in the NASCAR Busch East Series, finishing fifth in the standings and winning the 2007 Busch East Series Most Popular Driver Award.
He returned for another full season in what is now known as the ARCA Menards Series East in 2008, racing at Greenville-Pickens and later at Iowa. After Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Chip Ganassi Racing, the team’s driver development program went into limbo, and Earnhardt was released, forcing him to chart a new course toward NASCAR’s national series.
In 2010, he drove several races with Rick Ware Racing, which qualified him to compete on all NASCAR tracks for 2011. He signed with the team for a full Camping World Truck Series campaign, his first season-long national tour, although the relationship briefly fractured before being repaired.
Jeffrey Earnhardt Career
Early Career (2009–2012)
Jeffrey Earnhardt made his first national NASCAR start in 2009, debuting in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the CampingWorld.com 200 at Gateway. He also debuted in the NASCAR Nationwide Series that same year, finishing 21st in the Zippo 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International. His early Truck Series schedule produced a best finish of 38th in 2011.
In 2012, he moved to the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, racing a GT-class entry for Rick Ware Racing. That same year, he also made his amateur mixed martial arts debut on May 22, 2012, defeating Chris Faison by unanimous decision in Charlotte, North Carolina. He balanced his open-wheel and stock car ambitions while building toward a full NASCAR opportunity.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2013–2014)
In November 2012, Earnhardt announced that he would compete for Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year in 2013, driving the No. 79 for Go Green Racing, although sponsorship issues later limited his schedule. He picked up a one-race deal with JR Motorsports on April 4, 2013, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond International Raceway.
For 2014, he moved full-time to the Xfinity Series with JD Motorsports in the No. 4 Chevrolet. He fractured his collarbone in a motorcycle accident during the week of the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona, forcing Matt DiBenedetto to relieve him during the first caution. The Great Outdoors RV Superstore sponsored his run at Watkins Glen, where he finished 21st, and he closed the year 18th in points before being released by the team.
NASCAR Cup Series Debut (2015–2017)
Earnhardt made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway for Go Fas Racing, becoming the second fourth-generation driver to compete in NASCAR’s top series after Adam Petty. On September 18, 2015, Go Fas Racing announced that he would run the majority of the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season with Can-Am sponsorship, competing for Cup Rookie of the Year honors.
He also joined BK Racing for the Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 83 and later drove the team’s car at Texas and Homestead. In January 2017, he signed with Circle Sport – The Motorsports Group to drive the No. 33 Chevrolet, and at the 2017 Daytona 500 he became the first fourth-generation driver to compete in that event, starting 33rd and finishing 26th after a late-race crash. He closed the 2017 Cup season with a career-best 36th-place points finish.
Joe Gibbs Racing Era (2018–2019)
After a year of moving between StarCom Racing, Premium Motorsports, and Gaunt Brothers Racing, Earnhardt joined Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. He drove the No. 18 Toyota Supra in nine races, sharing the car with Riley Herbst, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin. At the summer Charlotte race, he scored a career-best third-place finish despite hitting the turn 3 wall on lap 142.
On February 14, 2019, sponsor Xtreme Concepts formed XCI Racing to field a No. 81 Toyota Camry and Supra for him at the two Talladega Cup races and five Xfinity events. He announced his departure from XCI and Joe Gibbs Racing on August 7 of that year, ending a notable chapter in his career.
Alpha Prime Racing and Sam Hunt Racing Era (2020–Present)
Earnhardt returned to JD Motorsports in 2020 on a 12-race schedule, and after running 29 races that season he was elevated to a full-time ride in 2021 in the No. 0. On November 9, 2021, he announced that he would not return to JD Motorsports in 2022 in order to pursue opportunities with a top-tier team, whether full-time or part-time.
On January 14, 2022, he was announced as a part-time driver for Sam Hunt Racing, splitting between the No. 24 and No. 26 entries. He also drove the No. 35 for Emerling-Gase Motorsports at Phoenix and the No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing at Talladega, the first time he had driven the number made famous by his grandfather Dale Earnhardt. He collected his first career pole award and finished a career-best second behind Noah Gragson. In 2023, he ran full-time for Alpha Prime Racing in the No. 44 Chevrolet, later splitting between the No. 44 and No. 45 entries and finishing 27th in the final standings with a best result of 11th at Daytona.
Driving Style and Strengths
Earnhardt has built his reputation on a balanced combination of short-track discipline, road-course comfort, and superspeedway patience. His career-best Cup finish of 11th came at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, and he has produced strong runs at Watkins Glen, Loudon, and other varied layouts. His pole and runner-up finish at Talladega in 2022 showed that drafting savvy, combined with a measured hand in traffic, remains a defining strength.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2015 Cup debut at Richmond made him the second fourth-generation driver in NASCAR’s top series, and his 2017 Daytona 500 start made him the first fourth-generation driver in that crown jewel. The 2022 Talladega spring race for Richard Childress Racing produced his first career pole and a runner-up finish, tying his career-best result in a national NASCAR race.
Jeffrey Earnhardt Career Wins
Across his national NASCAR career, Jeffrey Earnhardt has not recorded a victory in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, or ARCA Menards Series. His most celebrated results to date are his first career pole award and a runner-up finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2022, driving the No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing. His career highlights have been built on steady top-tens, signature superspeedway runs, and milestone family achievements rather than trips to Victory Lane.
Xfinity Series Highlights
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Earnhardt has recorded zero wins, six top-ten finishes, and one pole across his career. His best points finish of 18th came in 2014 with JD Motorsports, and his most recent Xfinity start listed in the records is the 2025 Food City 300 at Bristol, where he finished 50th in the standings. His first career pole came at Talladega in 2022, and his best career Xfinity finish of second came in the same race.
Craftsman Truck Series and Regional Highlights
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Earnhardt recorded zero wins, one top-ten, and zero poles, with a best points finish of 38th in 2011. He also made one start in the NASCAR Canada Series in 2016, finishing 45th in the standings. Earlier, he posted 13 top-tens and one pole in the ARCA Menards Series East, with a best points finish of fifth in 2007.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| NASCAR Canada Series | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Jeffrey Earnhardt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jeffrey Earnhardt is a fourth-generation NASCAR driver, a rare distinction within the sport. He is the son of Kerry Earnhardt, grandson of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt, and great-grandson of Ralph Earnhardt. He is also the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr., continuing one of the most recognized family trees in American motorsports.
His older brother, Bobby Dale Earnhardt, competed in the ARCA Racing Series and retired in 2019 before returning for the 2025 season. His family lineage is also reflected in his numbers, as he drove the No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing at Talladega in 2022, the number made famous by his grandfather during his Cup career with RCR.
Personal Life
He is the middle child of Kerry Earnhardt and has four siblings, including a paternal half-sister, Kayla, and two maternal half-brothers, James and David. Beyond racing, he made his amateur mixed martial arts debut in 2012, defeating Chris Faison by unanimous decision. He continues to be based in the Mooresville, North Carolina, area, near the heart of NASCAR country.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Jeffrey Earnhardt is listed as part of the Xfinity Series field with Sam Hunt Racing, driving the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra, while Alpha Prime Racing is identified as his current team with the No. 44 entry. His most recent recorded national start came at the 2025 Food City 300 at Bristol, where he was classified 50th in the standings. The year is positioned as a selective, part-time campaign focused on superspeedways and select ovals.
With Toyota machinery at both Sam Hunt Racing and Alpha Prime Racing, Earnhardt has a consistent manufacturer footprint in 2025. His focus is on producing top-fifteen finishes, avoiding the crash-heavy outcomes that have marked earlier superspeedway runs, and building momentum for additional opportunities later in the schedule.
Looking ahead, the season outlook centers on stability, sponsor continuity, and a clear path back to full-time competition. A strong run at Daytona, Talladega, or another superspeedway could help him reset the conversation around his Xfinity career and open the door to a more complete schedule in 2026.
