“Feels like it’s been forever”: Jeffrey Earnhardt makes his feelings known amid return to NASCAR Xfinity Series

Modified Mar 28, 2025 19:59 GMT

NASCAR Xfinity: Food City 300 - Source: Imagn — Jeffrey Earnhardt at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sep 20, 2024. Image: Imagn

Jeffrey Earnhardt shared his thoughts about returning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the No. 26 Toyota this season on social media. Jeffrey is the grandson of racing legend Dale Earnhardt and the nephew of JR Motorsports owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. He will return to the series with Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) for the second straight year and compete in multiple races. His first start of the year will be at the 2.66-mile tri-oval Talladega Superspeedway on April 26th.

In a post on X, Earnhardt shared his excitement alongside an image of the ForeverLawn Toyota GR Supra and wrote:

"A month away from hitting the banks [Talladega] in our [ForeverLawn] #blackandgreengrassmachine for [Sam Hunt Racing]. Feels like it’s been forever since I been in the car and I can’t wait to get back to hauling grass!!!"

Expand Tweet

Jeffery Earnhardt will continue racing with support from long-time sponsor ForeverLawn. The synthetic grass company first partnered with him at JD Motorsports in 2020 and moved to SHR in 2022.

Jeffery has collected six top-10 finishes in 174 Xfinity races over 12 years. Some of his best results include finishing eighth at Atlanta last year and second at Talladega in 2022.

"It only made sense to run it back" - Jeffrey Earnhardt on SHR return

Jeffrey Earnhardt, a fourth-generation NASCAR driver, debuted in the Xfinity Series in 2009 and has since raced part-time in the series for several teams, including Go Green Racing and JD Motorsports. His first full-time season was in 2014 with JD Motorsports, where he finished 18th in the overall points standings.

Last year, the 35-year-old made six starts with the SHR and his best finish was eighth place at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"I'm very excited to have ForeverLawn back as a partner this year. They are family to me, and I know Sam [Hunt, SHR team owner] and everyone on the team feels the same way," Jeffrey Earnhardt said in a team release.

"After last season’s races with the Sam Hunt team and the speed they showed, it only made sense to run it back. I can’t express how thankful I am to be able to drive their cars. I’m grateful for the support Toyota has given SHR to grow as a team and to me to continue developing as a driver. We have several races on the calendar, and I look forward to the first race," he added.

ForeverLawn sponsored Earnhardt for four races last season. He also competed in one Truck Series race in the No. 67 Toyota Tundra for MBM Motorsports last year. Aside from part-time racing in NASCAR, Earnhardt runs the Jeffrey Earnhardt Racing Experience, where fans can drive race cars at local tracks. His website offers late models, open wheel modifieds, and super late models at 13 tracks across the US.

About the author

Palak Gupta is a dynamic motorsports writer with a unique blend of experience in economics and a passion for storytelling. Her enthusiasm for writing and a keen interest in racing steered her toward this field. With two years of professional writing experience, Palak has previously worked with Bhoomi, a non-profit organization, and as a content executive at MoreTasks Business Solution.

To maintain accuracy and uphold journalistic integrity, Palak relies on reputable sources such as official websites, trusted news outlets, and credible channels, while also keeping an eye on trends across social media platforms and forums like Reddit. She actively follows developments in motorsports, constantly seeking unique angles for her stories to deliver fresh and engaging content to her readers.

Inspired by Ross Chastain’s unconventional yet spectacular wall ride during the 2022 NASCAR season, Palak appreciates daring moves that defy norms and capture the spirit of motorsports. Although she doesn't have a favorite driver, she admires such moments that make history.

While she recognizes that NASCAR may never reach the global prominence of Formula 1, Palak suggests expanding internationally and investing in technology to grow its audience. Palak is also an avid movie and documentary enthusiast, enjoys gardening, and loves to sketch and paint in her spare time.

Know More

Edited by Tushar Bahl