Dale Earnhardt Jr. will add another star to the already bright Nashville lights this weekend, making the trek to the Music City for Saturday’s Tootsie’s Music City Showdown for the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car division.
The CARS Tour co-owner will make his first start of the season on the venerable .596-mile oval at the Fairgrounds, driving the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet out of the JR Motorsports stable. The event continues the 15-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver’s quest to compete in the series he co-owns in the division where he got his start.
Series points leader Caden Kvapil is also entered, and the second-generation star will pilot his familiar No. 88 Jerky Boys Chevrolet in hopes of expanding his 10-point lead in the LMSC standings.
Earnhardt Jr. is no stranger to the Fairgrounds oval, competing in Late Model and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events. He made three NOAPS starts there from 1997 to 1999, leading laps and finishing third in 1998 before going on to claim the series title later that year.
“I raced there a dozen times in the mid 1990s when it was a hotbed for Late Model Stocks,” Earnhardt Jr. shared on social media following a test at Nashville in March. “You’d have 30 cars for a weekly 100 lap feature. It was amazing.”
As well, it’s an opportunity for the team owner to get out and get some laps at one of his favorite tracks.
“Like visiting an old friend and realizing they still were the same person you always admired,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Fans can tune into the action this weekend from the Nashville Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 11th at 8:30 PM ET on FloRacing.