Fourth Generation of Earnhardts to Hit the Track in Dover

If you have missed it, or just plain overlooked it, a fourth generation of Earnhardts will attempt to make his series debut this weekend as Jeffrey Earnhardt, son of Kerry Earnhardt, grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr., and nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr., will attempt to qualify the No. 31 Chevy for Rick Ware Racing in the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover.

J. Earnhardt is scheduled to run seven races in the No. 31, which will all be prepared by Dale Earnhardt Inc. as they look to make their return to the Nationwide Series next year with the young Earnhardt.

J. Earnhardt finished fifth in the 2007 NASCAR Camping World Series East standings as a rookie and finished 15th last year.

Father and son will pair with former NASCAR champion crew chief Paul Andrews until they do battle at Atlanta Motor Speedway this fall. At that juncture, Clyde McCloud will serve as crew chief for the younger Earnhardt.

For more on the Atlanta Race, check out my article: Three Earnhardts to Attempt Atlanta.

J. Earnhardt, who remains a development driver for DEI, will also race in Montreal to become the first Earnhardt to race in one of NASCAR’s three national series in Canada.

DEI still exists, K. Earnhardt said, and still owns Nationwide Series cars and equipment. Seven of those cars will be used by Ware’s team as part of the alliance between the two.

A sponsor has yet to be named, but I'm sure there will be no problem with a company putting its name next to Earnhardt.