DARLINGTON, S.C.: 15-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular driver and two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out of retirement in style on Saturday afternoon at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in a throwback No. 8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet Camaro paint scheme in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200.
Earnhardt initially finished sixth but when original race winner Denny Hamlin was disqualified, Earnhardt Jr. was lifted one position to fifth, his second top-five finish at the “Lady in Black” in five career Xfinity Series start.
After qualifying 14th, Earnhardt Jr. quickly found himself on the move and headed to the front. Climbing from 14th to eighth in the first 12 laps – Earnhardt Jr. finished seventh in Stage 1.
Throughout Stage 2 hovering between fifth and eighth, Earnhardt Jr’s. car began to battle a tight condition in Turns 1 and 2 which hindered his opportunity to maneuver in the closing laps of Stage 2 before settling for seventh.
During Stage 3, Earnhardt Jr’s. car came to life with adjustments and methodically during the 50 lap sprint to the finish marched his way forward – crossing the line start-finish line sixth before Hamlin’s disqualification
After the race, the grandstands came alive.
As Earnhardt Jr. climbed out of his No. 8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet Camaro Saturday evening, Jr Nation erupted into cheers and a loud roar while Earnhardt Jr. gave a post-race television interview with NBC Sports pit reporter Dave Burns.
“I had a lot of fun, I really appreciate the fans coming out.” Earnhardt Jr. said after the race. “Proud of Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and the whole team bringing a great racecar. Thank you for Hellmann’s wanting to do the throwback paint scheme this year”.
Earnhardt’s paint scheme in his lone Xfinity Series start of the season dated back over 44 years ago when Ed and Norman Negre were the owners Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s car back in 1975 when the elder Earnhardt made his first Cup Series start in the World 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Earnhardt Jr. gave thanks to the Negre family for the chance to relive the moment nearly half-a-century ago.
“Shout out to my dad and the Negre family,” added Earnhardt Jr. “Just Thanks to everybody’s support and I hope they enjoyed the race. It was a fun one.”
With the constant roar of Jr. Nation from the grandstands, Earnhardt was asked if he was pleased with his performance back behind the wheel of a racecar.
“Yeah,” Earnhardt spoke. “You just never know how good you are until you come back and try it.
“This is elite, these guys are elite. All these guys do this every single week and are very talented. To take a whole year off and be good is overthinking it so you just never know. We did alright.”
Earnhardt said earlier this week that racing once a year is like “reliving his past” and has hopes to possibly compete in next year’s Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway should Hellmann’s re-up their partnership commitment.
“Hellmann’s needs to pick up the option,” Earnhardt pleaded. “I’d love to run Homestead if they want to sell Mayonnaise in Florida.”
CATCHFENCE.com senior writer Chris Knight contributed to this feature.
