NASCAR rumors: Dale Earnhardt Jr. could keep racing into 2019 and beyond

As Jay Z might say, Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t a businessman, he’s a business, man, and he could keep racing in the future if it helps that business.

With all of the attention Dale Earnhardt Jr. has received for his rookie season as a NASCAR broadcaster and his upcoming appearance in the XFINITY Series race at Richmond Raceway, it’s easy to forget the other important role he has as team owner of JR Motorsports. It’s while wearing that particular hat that Junior could decide that Friday’s race isn’t his last NASCAR start.

No, he’s not harboring any thoughts of a comeback. But he has recently addressed the idea that he could still make XFINITY Series appearances in 2019 or beyond as long as it helps fund his race team.

To Twitter we go (with a h/t to NASCAR.com):

Put another way, if someone want to pony up enough money to not only put Earnhardt in a car for a one-off race but also will splash some cash for the team’s four regular rides, he’d be willing to get back behind the wheel. It’s a totally pragmatic decision that’s easy to understand.

Location could also be a determining factor. It’s long been thought that Dale Jr. preferred Richmond not only because it was one of his favorite tracks, but also because as a short track, it doesn’t lend itself to the kind of high speed impacts that occur at intermediate tracks or superspeedways. In other words, seeing Junior in the draft at Daytona or Talladega is likely a non-starter.

So while you might want to tune in Friday night on NBCSN just in case it is the last time Earnhardt competes in a NASCAR race, there’s also a chance it might not be. We thinks his fans will be just fine with that and will watch as many “possible last races” as he wants to run, for as many years as he wants to run them.