Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks about the issue with speculations involving Noah Gragson and Joe Gibbs Racing. The uncertainty regarding the team’s future has been a major concern for NASCAR fans this season. As the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Martin Truex Jr.’s contract is about to expire and he has hinted at retirement since the beginning of the Next-Gen era. However, no final decision has been made yet.
If Truex Jr. decides to retire, Joe Gibbs Racing will need to find a suitable replacement. One option could be an experienced driver like and a young talent like . The latter is currently available in the market after SHR’s decision to end their operations.
Unfortunately, according to NASCAR Hall of Famer , this potential move to the former TRD driver may not work out due to the previous rivalry between and Gragson. The two had an intense championship battle in 2022, with the JGR driver emerging victorious while Gragson was driving for Junior’s team.
There are rumors circulating in the NASCAR community about the possibility of Junior regaining ownership of the iconic No. 8 DEI trademark, which belonged to his father Dale Sr. before his ex-wife relinquished control. Junior has expressed interest in acquiring the trademark, but assures that he does not intend to overuse it. He plans to use it sparingly for significant purposes and also hopes to incorporate the number in his racing series, CARS Tour.
