Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the few NASCAR personalities whose legacy can’t be defined by wins and stats alone. Earnhardt is just as well known for his voice off the track as he is for his racing résumé.
Since retiring from full-time racing in 2017, he’s stayed connected to the sport as a team owner, analyst, podcaster, and outspoken advocate.
Earnhardt is known for speaking his mind, whether he’s praising or critiquing NASCAR. He’s also compared the sport to Formula 1, which continues to grow rapidly in popularity. Most recently, the NASCAR Hall of Famer attended the Miami Grand Prix and shared some thoughts on Red Bull’s renewed interest in NASCAR.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Red Bull’s NASCAR Return
After attending the F1 race in Miami, Earnhardt reflected on Red Bull’s massive influence in motorsports.
He recalled Red Bull’s first attempt to break into NASCAR roughly 15 years ago, saying the brand was welcomed with excitement.
“We were like, ‘Hell yeah, NASCAR is cooler. We got a Red Bull team,'” he said. “Red Bull’s everywhere. It was cool.”
Earnhardt admitted that many drivers from other teams were motivated to beat Red Bull’s new team, but also wanted the brand to succeed.
He added that if he and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt, had been involved in managing Red Bull’s NASCAR entry, things might have played out differently.
Now, with Red Bull making a return, the approach is much more measured.
“They’re getting back into NASCAR. They’re kind of dipping their toe in the water instead of just diving in.”
As co-owner of JR Motorsports, Earnhardt noted that Red Bull is now backing individual drivers and not operating full teams.
“Well, they’re really more behind the athletes themselves than actually owning the entire property of the race team. So, it’s interesting.”
Red Bull currently supports drivers like Shane van Gisbergen and JRM’s Connor Zilisch.
Red Bull’s First NASCAR Run
Red Bull first entered NASCAR in 2006 and began testing with various drivers. In 2007, Red Bull Racing USA launched a full-time effort with two cars driven by AJ Allmendinger and Brian Vickers.
In 2009, Vickers delivered the team’s first Cup Series win. Kasey Kahne joined in 2011 and won one race as well, but couldn’t deliver consistent results.
Red Bull shut down its NASCAR operation at the end of the 2011 season. A mix of factors — including difficulty connecting with core NASCAR fans, budget issues, unstable driver performance, and lack of long-term success — contributed to the decision.
This time, however, Red Bull seems to be learning from its past. The brand is re-entering NASCAR with a more cautious, athlete-focused strategy in hopes of building a lasting presence.