JR Motorsports, headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, stands as a key player in American stock car racing. This team, co-owned by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, L.W. Miller, and racing titan Rick Hendrick. Renowned for developing driving talent and equipped with a lineup of high-performance Chevrolet Camaros, JR Motorsports competes not only in the Xfinity Series but also in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and the CARS Tour.
HISTORY
JR Motorsports, a prominent force in American stock car racing, was established in 2002 by Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR star widely celebrated for his racing prowess and charismatic personality. Originally founded as a management company for Earnhardt Jr.’s personal racing interests and public appearances, the organization quickly evolved to become a competitive racing team.
By 2006, JR Motorsports expanded its operations to enter the professional racing sphere, specifically the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR’s second-tier racing series. This move was pivotal in shaping the team’s future, positioning it as a serious contender on the racing circuit. From its humble beginnings in a small shop, the team moved to a state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, in 2007, marking a significant investment in its competitive future.
Under the leadership of Earnhardt Jr. and co-owners including his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and Rick Hendrick, a NASCAR Hall of Famer and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, JR Motorsports has cultivated a reputation for nurturing young talent. The team has been instrumental in the development of several notable drivers who have gone on to achieve significant success in NASCAR’s premier series.
JR Motorsports achieved a milestone victory in 2014 when Chase Elliott, a rising star driving for the team, clinched the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now Xfinity Series) championship. This triumph underscored the team’s ability to compete at the highest levels and marked them as a breeding ground for future NASCAR stars.
Today, JR Motorsports continues to thrive as a key player in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, consistently fielding multiple competitive entries and seeking out new opportunities to grow and succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of stock car racing. The team’s commitment to excellence not only honors the legacy of the Earnhardt family but also propels it forward, setting new standards in the world of motorsports.
NASCAR XFINITY
Since its entry into the series in 2006, the team has consistently demonstrated its prowess on the track, fielding multiple cars and securing numerous victories over the years.
JR Motorsports made a significant impact in the Xfinity Series early on. The team achieved its first Xfinity Series victory in 2008 at Kentucky Speedway with driver Brad Keselowski, setting the stage for future successes. Keselowski’s win was an important moment, proving that JR Motorsports had the capability to compete and win against established teams.
The team’s most notable accomplishment came in 2014 when Chase Elliott, then a rookie, won the Xfinity Series championship. This victory not only marked JR Motorsports’ first championship in the series but also highlighted its role in developing young drivers who could perform at high levels. Elliott’s success was a testament to the team’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent, a philosophy that continues to define its operations.
As of the latest racing seasons, JR Motorsports fields several full-time entries in the Xfinity Series. The lineup includes well-established drivers as well as promising newcomers, all competing in the distinctive JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaros. Each season, the team also features part-time entries, including appearances by Dale Earnhardt Jr., which are highly anticipated by fans and add an extra layer of excitement to the races they participate in.
Out of total 615 races competed in its lifetime they have won over 82 races and have secured about 30 pole positions. These stats presented lay out a very interesting notion of how the culture and improvement in the team has improved throughout.
CAR NO |
DRIVER |
CREW CHIEF |
1 |
Sam Mayer |
Taylor Moyer |
7 |
Justin Allagier |
Jim Pohlman |
8 |
Sammy Smith |
Jeff Meendering |
9 |
Brandon Jones |
Mike Bumgarner |