Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR driver brings in F1 legend inspired Lego set on Christmas

Sammy Smith, driver of the No. 8 for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR team, recently took to X to reveal the newest addition to his range of collectibles; a brand new F1-inspired LEGO set. Created in collaboration with McLaren and the SENNA brand, the kit epitomizes pure racing thrill.

The set contains 693 pieces, including movable steering, rod suspension, mirrors, tires, gearshift, and a turbocharged V6 engine. Also included in the pack is a mini Ayrton Senna figure. Fans can get their hands on this keepsake at f1store.formula1.com for just $75.

A native of Johnston, Iowa, Smith drives full-time in the Xfinity Series under the banner of JR Motorsports. His most recent win came in the United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. This past season, Smith wounded up 11th on points, picking seven top-5s and 16 top-10s in 33 starts.

As of today, Smith has two wins in the Xfinity Series. He won the ARCA Menards Series East championship with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2021. Not long ago, he signed a multi-year contract with JR Motorsports that will keep him behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevy through 2025 and beyond.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reflects on the return of the iconic No. 8

The No. 8 has been associated with the Earnhardt family for ages. Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s grandfather Ralph Earnhardt drove it during the 1959 and 1960 NASCAR Limited Sportsman championships. Dale Jr. himself drove it from 1999 to 2007 in the NASCAR Cup Series and recorded 17 of his 26 career wins with that car.

However, when Dale Jr. left Dale Earnhardt Inc. and joined Hendrick Motorsports, the No. 8 fell into the hands of Teresa Earnhardt, the then-owner of DEI and Dale Jr.‘s stepmother. Recently, Teresa handed the exclusive rights for the No. 8 over to the two-time Xfinity champion and he couldn’t have been happier.

The number appeared on Dale Jr.’s iconic Budweiser car at Florence Motor Speedway in November 2024, marking its return for the first time in 17 years. Unfortunately, he finished 28th due to mechanical failure.

Now, Sammy Smith will carry the number on his JR Motorsports Camaro starting in 2025. Reflecting on the same through a recent post on X, Earnhardt Jr. said:

“It’s awesome to have this number and this font back at JR Motorsports. I can’t wait to see it on the car in Daytona. Man, that’s gonna be pretty awesome feeling for me personally. Sammy is going to do a great job with it. So excited to have that number out there.”

Action resumes on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. Named United Rentals 300, the season-opening event will begin at 5 pm ET and stream on CW. Fans can watch the live stream or listen to radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.