CONCORD, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports and sponsor Nationwide Insurance unveiled the new-look No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet on Tuesday, ahead of Earnhardt’s anticipated return to NASCAR Premier Series competition in 2017.
The updated paint scheme features the same silver-patterned numbers that Earnhardt carried on his Nationwide car in 2016, but with more white in the base of the paint scheme, across the base of the front fenders and in upper and lower stripes across the sides of the car.
The hood of the car remains metallic blue, carrying the traditional Nationwide eagle logo with the “On Your Side” slogan below it.
Earnhardt competed in 18 Sprint Cup races this season before being sidelined with concussion-like symptoms following the July 9 event at Kentucky Speedway. The symptoms were later traced back to a June crash at Michigan Int’l Speedway.
The 26-time Cup winner had a best finish of second in a Nationwide-sponsored Cup car this season, with runner-up efforts at Atlanta, Texas and Bristol. His last Cup win, at Phoenix in November of 2015, also came with Nationwide colors onboard.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as both the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series and the co-track announcer at Millbridge Speedway.
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