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Daytona 500: Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing?

By Brittany Frederick

Feb 18, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing in the 2017 Daytona 500? We tell you if the NASCAR favorite will be back in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports entry at Daytona.

Fans who have been waiting for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return to NASCAR won’t have to wait any longer. Earnhardt will be racing in Sunday’s 2017 Daytona 500 and plans to race the full 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

Earnhardt was in the broadcast booth for last weekend’s Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway. He served as a guest analyst alongside his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon.

That was more than a little ironic since Gordon had been Earnhardt’s fill-in driver at the end of the 2016 season, but the two made a wonderful team for the preseason Clash along with Gordon’s new colleagues Darrell Waltrip and Mike Joy.

It’s time for Earnhardt to get back to what Dale Earnhardt Jr. does best, though, and that’s race.

He qualified second for the 2017 Daytona 500, getting narrowly bumped by super sophomore Chase Elliott (who, making this even more fun, replaced Gordon last year). But still, Dale Jr. showed some serious speed and if he can carry that into the race on Sunday, he could make his return in the biggest possible way.

The Daytona 500 will be Earnhardt’s first race since July 9, 2016 when he finished 13th at the 2016 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.

He’ll be looking for his third Daytona win and his second in four years. Earnhardt previously won the 2014 and 2004 editions of the Great American Race.

But perhaps the biggest victory will be just having him back on the racetrack. There’s no denying that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most well-known and most beloved names in NASCAR. Even with Gordon as a substitute, he was still very much missed.

Next: Joey Logano wins the 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash

And everyone will be watching to see how he recovers from the concussion symptoms that subsequently prompted the league to tighten its concussion protocols. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the best drivers in NASCAR, and everyone wins with him returning to action.

The 2017 Daytona 500 takes place Sunday, February 26 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

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