"It’s going to be really special" - Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals major reunion with legendary beer brand in a nod to NASCAR’s rich past

JR Motorsports on Tuesday announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will reunite with Budweiser for the first time in 17 years when he takes to the Florence Motor Speedway for the South Carolina 400. Reacting to the partnership, Earnhardt Jr. said the opportunity he received was "incredible" and "special."

Earnhardt Jr. competes in the limited series of Late Model Stock Car Races in 2024 and 2025 and will drive the #8 Chevrolet with the Bud King of Beers paint scheme on November 23, 2024. The red #8 Chevrolet with Bud King of Beers is an iconic paint scheme that was synonymous with Earnhardt Jr. during his NASCAR days, from 1999 to 2007.

“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No.8,” Earnhardt Jr. said (via JRMRacing). “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

Matt Davis, Vice-President of Partnerships at Anheuser-Busch, the company that owns Budweiser also shared his reaction to the historic tie-up with the former Cup Series driver. Here's what he said:

“There are names that when mentioned, draw on the significance of their place in American history. Among them, Budweiser, and Earnhardt. This return to the racetrack alongside Dale with the Bud King of Beers paint scheme is another chapter in Anheuser-Busch’s long and storied sports history.”

The Anheuser-Busch and its brands Budweiser, Busch, and Busch Light have been long-time sponsors of NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Busch has been the title sponsor for a NASCAR series, and Budweiser sponsored Earnhardt Jr for nine years.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. once opened up about his retirement feeling

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during driver introductions for the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a full-time Cup Series driver until 2017. While he retired at the end of that season, he kept racing part-time in the Xfinity Series. Earnhardt Jr. initially enjoyed his time, but things changed drastically with each passing year.

"I had a weird deal where I was fricking awesome with being retired my first year. I was so glad to be out of the grind, but each year it's gotten worse," Earnhardt Jr. said in a recent episode of his Dirty Mo Media podcast. "I really miss being that guy. That was my identity."

During the course of his NASCAR Cup series career, Dale Earnhardt Jr. raked in 631 races in 19 years. He claimed 26 race wins, 260 top 10s, and 15 pole positions. Besides this, he has 147 Xfinity Series races, where he picked up 24 wins, 96 Top 10s and 10 pole positions.