Revving Up for the Iconic Bud No. 8: Earnhardt's Late Model Comeback

The news of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser reuniting to bring the legendary red No. 8 car back to the race track for the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway has ignited excitement among racing enthusiasts. With this reunion set to take place in November, the question on everyone's mind is whether this iconic car could make more appearances in Late Model Stock Car races in 2025.

Nostalgia and Grassroots Racing: Earnhardt's Passion for the CARS Tour

Exploring the Possibility of More Bud No. 8 Appearances

Earnhardt has expressed his enthusiasm for the potential of running the Bud No. 8 car in additional events next year. "We've talked about possibly doing another event next year," he revealed on his "Dale Jr. Download" podcast. "We don't know exactly where that might be." While the specific location is yet to be determined, Earnhardt hinted that the CARS Tour is likely to be the stage for these future appearances."I want to strictly run CARS Tour events next year," Earnhardt stated. "My calendar has always been anywhere from three-to-five events, so somewhere between three-to-five events with the CARS Tour is what I'm going to try to do again next year, at the start of the year and towards the back end of the year. But we're hopeful we'll have another opportunity to drive the Bud brand around the race track next year."

Earnhardt's Commitment to Grassroots Racing

Over the past couple of years, Earnhardt has been actively involved in a mix of CARS Tour-sanctioned races, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series events, and occasional NASCAR Xfinity Series competitions. This diverse schedule reflects his dedication to supporting and promoting grassroots racing, particularly the Late Model Stock Car discipline.Earnhardt's connection to Florence Motor Speedway has grown stronger, with the South Carolina 400 marking his sixth appearance at the track since the fall of 2022. This year's event will be his third South Carolina 400, in addition to two Icebreaker races in February and a summer CARS Tour race in 2023 and 2024. Earnhardt has also competed at other short tracks, such as New River All-American Speedway and Langley Speedway, further demonstrating his passion for the grassroots racing scene.

The Importance of Streaming Partnerships

Earnhardt recognizes the critical role that streaming platforms, such as FloRacing, play in the success of grassroots racing and the CARS Tour. He emphasized the significance of these partnerships, stating, "Our streaming partners, like Flo, are so critical to the success of grassroots racing, to the success of race tracks like Florence, Langley, all the tracks the CARS Tour goes to. Flo, the streaming partner, is extremely critical to the success of the CARS Tour. Getting their numbers up and getting people to see how easy it is to access these races live, because I think there's a ton of people out there that want to watch them and just don't know how or where it's at."

Bringing Nostalgia and New Fans to the Sport

Earnhardt's decision to reunite with Budweiser and bring back the iconic red No. 8 car is not just about nostalgia; it's also about growing the sport of Late Model Stock Car racing. "I know this is going to be great nostalgia for a lot of folks," he said. "I know it will hopefully draw a lot of folks to the race track in Florence (South Carolina) to see it in person, some maybe seeing a Late Model Stock race for the very first time. Some will more than likely fall in love with the discipline and the style of racing and the grassroots atmosphere that I love so much."Earnhardt's goal is to rekindle the passion for grassroots racing and inspire new fans to discover the thrill of these events. He hopes that the return of the Bud No. 8 car will not only captivate longtime enthusiasts but also introduce the sport to a new generation of racing fans.

The Highly Anticipated South Carolina 400

The much-anticipated return of the Bud No. 8 car will take place at the South Carolina 400 on Saturday, November 23, at Florence Motor Speedway. Racing fans can witness this iconic moment live on FloRacing, with a FloRacing subscription providing access to the event. For those who have not yet subscribed, the opportunity to be part of this historic occasion is just a click away.