Dale Earnhardt Jr. "very pissed" from double setback in his Xfinity Series return to Bristol

Dale Earnhardt Jr. entered his maiden Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. However, his welcome to the 'World Fastest Half Mile' oval hasn't been optimistic, as the legendary driver's run was marred by radio issues and a following penalty for speeding on the pit road.

After retiring from the full-time NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2017, Junior ensured running at least one Xfinity race every year for his co-owned venture, JR Motorsports. The 49-year-old competed twice in 2023, at Bristol and Homestead-Miami Speedway, and returned to the 0.533-mile oval for this season's first run.

The two-time Xfinity Series champion stood 13th fastest in the qualifying run. But as the Food City 300 kicked off, Dale Earnhardt Jr. experienced issues in radio communication, especially, when maneuvering from Turn 2 to Turn 4. As a result, the #88 Chevy driver pitted to address the issue on Lap 4.

However, another calamity struck the veteran as he was found speeding in the pitlane and was slapped with a penalty. According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Earnhardt Jr.'s disastrous start at Bristol has left the legendary driver "very pissed."

"Dale Jr.'s night is off to a disastrous start with the radio. He's thinking he is going to have to change helmets. And he is very, very pissed," Gluck wrote via X.

Ignition issues plagued Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 2023 Bristol race, and he fell to a 30th-place finish despite starting in 15th.

"I'm not planning on racing next year": Dale Earnhardt Jr. opens up on his NASCAR future

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has sported several stock cars during his decades-long tenure in NASCAR. From his first Xfinity race at Myrtle Beach Speedway in 1996 to his 2024 Bristol race, the North Carolina native has run only two full seasons, in 1998 and 1999, and bagged the title in both years.

Junior was more inclined to dominate in NASCAR's Premier Series and began his journey in 1999, fielding part-time entries for his father's venture, Dale Earnhardt Inc. Since the year 2000 until the end of the 2017 season, the #88 Chevy driver ran full-time schedule, except his partial 2016 season. After racing for nine years at DEI, the 49-year-old moved to Hendrick Motorsports stable.

On April 25, 2017, Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that he would no longer race full-time from next year. However, there wasn't any season thus far, that the 16-time Most Popular Driver Award winner let go without racing at least once.

However, according to his latest revelation, Junior isn't planning on returning to the Xfinity Series next year. But his future doesn't seem to have ended as the 26-time Cup Series race winner thinks it'd be foolish to say he was never going to run again.

During a presser at Bristol Media Center, Earnhardt Jr. opened up about his NASCAR future and outlined his willingness to return provided it's beneficial for his organization.

"Well, I'm not planning on racing next year. I'll be foolish to say I'm never gonna run again because I don't know well enough to stay away from it and I'll probably miss it next year and be absolutely willing to sign up for anything that might be beneficial to JR Motorsport," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said (0:08).

"I don't have requirement to run next year so, I may just not do that, you know. I will miss it terribly and regret that I didn't race, and probably in 2026. Finally, I can go somewhere and compete in the Xfinity Series again," he added (0:52).

Until further developments, Junior isn't planning his 2025 return to NASCAR.