Despite an announced contract extension in Oct. that was supposed to keep Jeffrey Earnhardt aboard the No. 33 Chevrolet for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. was notified this week that he has been released from that contract extension.
The news came shortly after it was announced that The Motorsports Group and Circle Sport split and will not continue a joint-partnership that saw the No. 33 Chevrolet own one of 36 available Cup charters during the 2017 season.
Circle Sport owner Joe Falk who owns the charter advised the fourth-generation racer that his services were no longer needed for the ’18 Cup season leaving Earnhardt’s future as a Cup driver potentially in jeopardy.
ESPN.com first reported on Earnhardt’s release from Circle Sport.
With Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Jeffrey Earnhardt, the son of former racer Kerry Earnhardt was expected to draw some of Earnhardt Jr’s. fanbase despite competing for an underfunded organization.
The team, however, gained some momentum in June from a partnership with Hulu, an American subscription video on demand service.
Despite a clouded future, the former wrestler is optimistic about his future.
Well this comes as a shock to me just as much as everyone else but hey like your parents always tell u don’t cry over spilt milk one door closes for another to open so let’s see what’s behind this door #NeverGiveUp #comeback #aintscaredofhardwork 💪🏼 thanks for everyones support
— Jeffrey Earnhardt (@JEarnhardt1) December 12, 2017
Earnhardt immediately gained social support with a tweet from his uncle Dale Jr.
Hopefully @hulu stays with this kid. If they paired with a @Team_FRM or someone like that it would be a solid union. https://t.co/jl3U0O9VmH
— Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 13, 2017
In 58 Cup starts, the 28-year-old has a career-best finish of 26th earned on three different occasions including twice in 2017 in the Daytona 500 and the fall Playoff race at Kansas Speedway.
The divorce of Circle Sport and TMG blindsided some and TMG announced on their Twitter that the team is seeking a driver and sponsorship for the 2018 season.
“This is sudden for us, but we put a plan together rather quickly,” TMG owner Curtis Key said in a release. “We’ve had discussions with potential drivers, but it’s only been a day since the news and we have more calls to make. We look to have a driver announced in early January.”
Veteran crew chief Eddie Pardue will remain with TMG.
Falk’s plans for 2018, however, have not yet been announced. In 275 Cup starts, The Virginia-entrepreneur has just two top-five and four top-10 finishes.
Todd Bodine finished fifth in the season finale at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in 1998 for Falk, while 16 years later Landon Cassill wheeled to his personal best of fourth at Talladega (Ala.) Speedway in October 2014.
Hulu’s plans for 2018 are also unknown.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
