JR Motorsports is one of NASCAR’s most notable organizations and that is not surprising at all. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a co-owner of the race team and owns one of the powerhouse organizations in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Due to JR Motorsports’ success, Earnhardt “absolutely wants” to bring the organization to the NASCAR Cup Series. However, there have been hurdles due to the ongoing negotiations involving the TV and charter contracts.
Alongside the organization’s desire to make the jump to the Cup Series, it must figure out its Xfinity Series lineup as Josh Berry will replace Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing next year. What are the latest updates on JR Motorsports as NASCAR silly season rolls forward?
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Latest updates on JR Motorsports’ plans for the No. 8 car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series
JR Motorsports is working on its driver lineup for the 2024 season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as the organization is set to lose one of its best drivers. Berry, 32, will replace Harvick in the No. 4 car for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
This will represent the second straight season that JR Motorsports will need to replace one of its star drivers. Last year, Noah Gragson moved to the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series as Brandon Jones replaced him in the No. 9 car.
Now, JR Motorsports will be tasked with replacing the driver of the No. 8 car. Earnhardt Jr. gave an update on his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, about the process of moving forward without Berry after the announcement in June 2023.
“Obviously, if JR Motorsports was going Cup racing, we would have did everything we could to put (Josh Berry) in a race car. He would have been my pick to drive our first Cup car…I tried to encourage it as much as I could. I’m pretty excited about it, to be honest with you. As far who fills the seat next year in the No. 8 car JR Motorsports, there’s a long list of drivers we’re talking to…(Jeffrey Earnhardt) is one of the drivers we’re talking to (for 2024). If you wanna name any of the guys that you think are really talented, they are probably on this list. We’re at the early stages.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on replacing Josh Berry at JR Motorsports
Jeffrey Earnhardt is a surprising driver on the surface but is one that could make sense considering his relationship with the NASCAR Hall-of-Famer. Earnhardt, 34, is the grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The 34-year-old driver is running full-time for Alpha Prime Racing in the Xfinity Series this season; however, his most notable achievement is finishing in second place at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 3 car for Richard Childress Racing last season.
Meanwhile, Carson Hocevar represents one of the best young drivers that JR Motorsports could pick up for the 2024 season. Hocevar, 20, runs part-time with Spire Motorsports in the Xfinity Series but the cars come from JR Motorsports’ shop.
The 20-year-old driver is ready to move to the Xfinity Series and the NASCAR organization represents his best fit. Speaking of moving up in NASCAR, what are the latest updates on JR Motorsports’ pursuit of the Cup Series?
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JR Motorsports provides big update on possible move to the NASCAR Cup Series
JR Motorsports is still looking to make the move to the NASCAR Cup Series and it is one that would excite many people in the sport. The Earnhardt name deserves to be in the Cup Series; however, what are the hurdles the organization is currently facing?
The new TV deal and a possible new charter agreement are set to begin in February 2025. As of now, organizations in the Cup Series have the charter market set at a very high price with the latest number being around $30 million in November 2022.
Earnhardt Jr. jumped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and discussed the process of moving JR Motorsports to the Cup Series. The answer may not excite those who are wishing for an announcement soon.
“There is zero movement on our end. Me and my sister (Kelley Earnhardt Miller), (L.W. Miller), and everybody at JR Motorsports are always looking forward for an opportunity to get into the (NASCAR Cup Series). We’re interested in that but it has to make sense. I think beyond just trying to get into the Cup Series, I think about my own family, my kids, and their future and what I need to do, what’s smart for me personally, financially, to make sure that long after I’m gone everything is in good order. For me personally, to take such a large risk financially, I feel like I’m being a bit selfish…
Me and Kelley, I think, would be more interested in a partnership of some kind to get ourselves to that level. There’s opportunities there but they haven’t felt just right. Another key component for me and JR Motorsports is that we want to manage the team. We don’t want to slap our name on a current product or a current organization that have their own shop and all that. We don’t want to do that. We want to run the team out of our building and mange the decisions on personnel and all of those things.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on JR Motorsports’ future in the NASCAR Cup Series
It is understandable from JR Motorsports’ perspective. If Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller are more interested in a partnership, it would need to be the perfect scenario where they are able to make the decisions for the race team.
The difficult thing in that process would be finding a way to make it happen. Plus, the money would still be a major hurdle as the prices are through the roof right now. Hopefully, for everyone involved, the price decreases so it gives them an opportunity.
So, the easiest way for the Earnhardt name to make its way to the Cup Series is through a partnership. One idea could be forming it with Andretti Autosport as the organization has looked into forming a team for NASCAR.
As of now, JR Motorsports doesn’t seem likely to move to the Cup Series for the 2024 season. It is unfortunate for those who want to see the most popular names on NASCAR’s biggest stage; however, the door is not closed for a potential move in the future.