Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been attempting a jump to the NASCAR Cup Series with JR Motorsports but it has yet to happen with charter prices going through the roof ahead of major negotiations within the sport.
However, Earnhardt Jr. almost found himself teaming up with a NASCAR legend instead.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals he talked with Jimmie Johnson about NASCAR Cup Series ownership
Jimmie Johnson returned to the NASCAR Cup Series as an owner/driver for Legacy Motor Club after spending two years in the NTT IndyCar Series. Johnson, 47, competed in the first NASCAR race since the 2020 season in this year’s Daytona 500.
It was an unexpected return as there were little rumblings that the seven-time champion was interested in NASCAR ownership. However, it appears that Johnson was looking into it more than previously thought.
Earnhardt Jr. held a podcast with Chip Ganassi, the owner of Chip Ganassi Racing, and discussed a variety of topics. One of them included Earnhardt Jr.’s own involvement in trying to join the Cup Series and you will not want to miss what he had to say below.
“Me and (Jimmie Johnson) were on the Zoom calls nearly close to teaming up (in the NASCAR Cup Series) before he chose to go to (Legacy Motor Club). I was like, ‘Let’s do it together.’…We were going to call it JR Johnson Racing. Just kidding!”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on creating a NASCAR Cup Series team with Jimmie Johnson
Earnhardt Jr. was just joking about JR Johnson Racing but he was serious about the conversations he had with Johnson. It appears that the two NASCAR legends were close to opening their own Cup Series organization.
Obviously, it did not happen as Johnson decided to join Maury Gallagher and Richard Petty at Petty GMS Motorsports which then turned into Legacy Motor Club. It’s hard to not think of the “what if” scenarios.
What if Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson teamed up to create a Cup Series organization? It would have been one of the biggest developments on the ownership side in NASCAR history as they are two of the most well-known drivers of the previous generation.
With Johnson primed to stay with Legacy Motor Club, the question of whether Earnhardt Jr. will jump to the Cup Series still remains. Will it be sooner rather than later or is there still a ways to go for JR Motorsports?
Related: Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes a bold stance on a controversial NASCAR rule
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Xfinity team, JR Motorsports, provides an update on plans for the NASCAR Cup Series
JR Motorsports is one of the powerhouse organizations in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and that has partially carried over into the 2023 season. However, what about their plans for the NASCAR Cup Series?
Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner and chief executive officer of JR Motorsports, went on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio before the season to discuss the chase for a Cup Series charter entering 2023.
This comes after Earnhardt Jr. became part of an ownership group alongside Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Justin Marks to purchase the CARS Tour.
“I mean, (JR Motorsports)’s appetite (for a charter) is still strong. It’s just that there’s not a lot on the table to choose from. I think people are in a wait-and-see mode with the new TV contract and the new charter contract. It kinda cooled off just because there’s nothing out there to purchase unless you want to pay an arm and a leg, and maybe a full body. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Kelley Earnhardt Miller on JR Motorsports’ appetite for a NASCAR Cup Series charter
This is something that is commonly shared around NASCAR. The price to purchase a charter is ridiculous due to the upcoming TV and charter contracts. The price to acquire one was around $30 million a few months ago.
There are plenty of teams that would love to make the jump to the Cup Series; however, it is not financially responsible to attempt it when the market is destroyed for groups trying to buy. It is not a reasonable asking price.
JR Motorsports is still trying to make the jump but it could be a while. Either way, Earnhardt Jr. is still looking to add his name to a prestigious group of NASCAR owners including Gordon, Johnson, and many others.