$300M worth Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR team, JR Motorsports surprises “unsung heroes” ahead of Bristol weekend

JR Motorsports recently celebrated National Truck Driver Appreciation Week on September 15 by surprising their Pro Series drivers. Dale Earnhardt Jr's team gifted the drivers with gift baskets and also revealed a special car assembled in partnership with Pilot Flying J.

In 2019, JR Motorsports, owned by $300M-worth Dale Earnhardt Jr (via Celebrity Networth), started a development program in collaboration with GMS Racing and Chevrolet, called Drivers Edge Development, aimed at nurturing young talents who would compete in Late Model, NASCAR Xfinity Series teams, and GMS Racing's NASCAR K&N Pro Series, ARCA Menards Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams. Initial members of this program included Noah Gragson, Zane Smith, Sam Mayer, and Adam Lemke.

And now to honor the same drivers and teams, JR Motorsports is showing appreciation for their Pro drivers by providing them with a variety of gifts including sweets, bottles, and other items. The team shared a video of the special event on their official X handle, with a caption:

"Our Pro Drivers are the unsung heroes of our sport. With our partner @PilotFlyingJ and in recognition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we gathered ours together to show our appreciation for their work - and unveiled a special surprise for @ItsBristolBaby weekend."

Currently, all four Xfinity drivers from JR Motorsports rank within the top 15 in the driver standings. Justin Allgaier leads the group in the number one spot with two wins, while his teammates, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, and Brandon Jones, are positioned at 10th, 13th, and 14th, respectively.

Apart from Allgaier, the other three drivers find themselves in the bubble as the NASCAR Xfinity regular season nears its conclusion with just two races remaining. These drivers are set to compete this weekend at Watkins Glen and subsequently at Bristol Motor Speedway in hopes of securing a win.

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Connor Zilisch is set to make his Xfinity debut with JR Motorsports at Watkins Glen

Primarily known for his karting and sports car racing successes, Zilisch will step into NASCAR at the Mission 200 at the Glen race this weekend, driving the #88 car for JR Motorsports. He also recently inked a multiyear development deal with Trackhouse Racing and will continue participating in ARCA and Truck Series events.

Following his initial race at Watkins Glen, Zilisch is scheduled to race at Kansas, Homestead-Miami, and Phoenix for the remainder of the season, paving the way for his full-time entry in 2025.

On the other hand, Dale Earnhardt Jr. hinted on his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, that the last race of the regular season could mark the end of his Xfinity career. Although he has only been driving the #88 car on a part-time basis, Junior indicated that Bristol will "probably" be his final Xfinity Series appearance.