DARLINGTON, S.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in NASCAR on Friday afternoon: he’s coming back to the Xfinity Series for a one-off effort again this year.
After qualifying second, leading 96 laps and finishing fourth at Richmond (Va.) Raceway last season, Earnhardt will take his talents to ‘The Track Too Tough To Tame’ on Labor Day weekend in August.
Earnhardt made the revelation in response to a fan question on Twitter.
Come to @TooToughToTame this year. I’m running the @XfinityRacing race.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 1, 2019
The third-generation driver-turned-NBC Sports analyst will compete in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 on Aug. 31, piloting a throwback paint scheme that Earnhardt noted will be announced at a later date.
With Earnhardt’s confirmation to the Darlington race, that leaves JR Motorsports’ No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro with only one race left to be filled on the 33-race schedule this year, the road-course race at Road America on Aug. 24.
Zane Smith, Jeb Burton, Ryan Truex, Spencer Gallagher and Ryan Preece will combine to race the JRM all-star car in 31 of the 33 races this season, with Gallagher piloting the car in the upcoming season opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 16.
JR Motorsports recently acquired the No. 8 from B.J. McLeod Motorsports, which will field the No. 5 formerly run by Earnhardt’s Xfinity Series team this season as part of a straight-number swap between the two organizations.