"Didn’t have a radio for about 50 laps": Dale Earnhardt Jr. underlines his "frustrating" Bristol race after becoming the best JRM finisher

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returned behind the wheel of a race car in the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season finale. The Food City 300 was scheduled for Saturday, September 21 at 2:30 PM ET at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Following in the footsteps of his late father, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., Earnhardt Jr. made his NASCAR debut in 1996 in the Busch Series (now Xfinity). The 49-year-old earned back-to-back championships in 1998 and 1999 and has secured 50 race wins across NASCAR’s top two divisions. Despite his celebrated career, Dale Jr. could not capture a Cup Series title, unlike his father, who won seven.

Earnhardt Jr. piloted the #88 Chevy for JR Motorsports, a team he co-owns, in the Food City 300, starting in P13. Despite securing a P7 finish, outperforming his JR Motorsports teammates, the veteran faced persistent radio issues throughout the race.

Reflecting on his struggles at Bristol, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said (via Frontstretch):

"We had a radio harness or something went out under the pace laps and didn’t have a radio for about 50 laps,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “Swapped out the earplugs, still didn’t work. Swapped out the helmet, still didn’t work. So probably ran about 120 laps without really much communication with TJ(Majors). And finally, they stuck a radio with a short harness in it and a button I could clip to my chest, and I could hear them and talk back under caution, but it worked out, and we didn’t lose any lap or anything."

“So just as frustrating as that is, it was important not to give up and lose a lap or anything and try to salvage what we could because we had a top-10, top-five car. And I’m glad we were able to get a good result with those issues.”

Besides a rare appearance in a competitive race, Earnhardt is the co-owner of the zMAX CARS Tour grassroots series, with NASCAR veterans Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, and Justin Marks. Moreover, Dale Jr. was also confirmed as the broadcaster for TNT Sports and Amazon Prime in the 2025 season.

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Ryan Truex opens up on Dale Earnhardt Jr. duel at Bristol Motor Speedway

Martin Truex Jr.'s younger brother Ryan Truex, was appearing in his final race in the 2024 season at Bristol Motor Speedway. He pilots the #20 Toyota, competing part-time in the Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. He had started the Food City 300 in P16.

Sep 20, 2024; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) races during the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Navigating his way through the race, the 32-year-old found himself battling with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in stage three. Following the end of the race, he commented on the experience of competing against Earnhardt (via Matt Weaver):

"He made me work for it and I made him work for it. I knew when he was behind me he was probably just like, 'Damn it, this #20 car will not get out of my way.' And I was thinking to myself, I'm not just gonna give it to you. I know everybody loves you, but I love you too. But it was fun to race him hard, and obviously he races with respect," Truex said.

Truex crossed the finish line in P5 while Earnhardt Jr. secured a P7 finish, better than his JRM drivers.