PHOTO: Dale Earnhardt Jr. reunites with dad’s 1980 championship crew chief Doug Richert for special moment with iconic car

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently paid a visit to Doug Richert, the former crew chief of Dale Jr.'s father. Richert had served as Dale Earnhardt's crew chief when "The Intimidator" won his maiden Winston Cup Series title in 1980.

Retired driver and JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has maintained an active presence in NASCAR both on and off the racetrack. The two-time Xfinity Series champion and former Daytona 500 winner remains one of the most adored drivers in the motorsport fanbase, successfully carrying forward a racing legacy once built by his father, the legendary Dale Earnhardt.

When not managing his JRM team, Dale Earnhardt Jr. can be seen hosting his podcasts or attending media events. Recently, the 50-year-old paid a visit to former NASCAR crew chief Doug Richert. Earnhardt shared pictures of their meeting on his X handle, writing:

"Had a visit yesterday by Doug Richert, dad's championship winning crew chief from 1980. So naturally we had to take a picture next to the beast that got the job done that day in Ontario, CA."

Doug Richert is a former NASCAR crew chief best known for his stint with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. Richert and Earnhardt worked together and guided the Osterlund Racing #2 to "The Intimidator's" maiden NASCAR championship back in 1980. Richert was just 19 at the time.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks about #8's paint schemes for 2025

In a related development, Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently unveiled exciting news about his JR Motorsports team. The iconic No. 8 font, which he used during his time with Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), will make a return to NASCAR. The design, a hallmark of Earnhardt Jr.'s early career, will be featured on Sammy Smith's Chevrolet in the 2025 Xfinity Series.

Over the summer, Earnhardt Jr. obtained the copyright rights to the font from his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. Sharing a sneak preview of one of the new paint schemes, he expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He said (via Daily Express US):

"All right everybody, we're here in the Xfinity shop for JR Motorsports unveiling the No. 8 here on the Xfinity car for Sammy Smith. It's awesome to have this number in this font back at JR Motorsports, and I can't wait to see it on the car in Daytona.

"Man, that's going to be a pretty awesome feeling for me personally. And Sammy's going to do a great job with it. So, excited to have that number out there. I know everybody else is as well."

Sammy Smith was notably named the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year.