Dale Earnhardt Jr. focused on fun, not winning in his potential last NASCAR race

Heading into what could be his last time in a NASCAR race car, Junior isn’t about to put too much pressure on himself.

Despite saying that he could return in 2019 or beyond for one-off appearances for JR Motorsports, there’s a definite chance that the Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway could be the last time Dale Earnhardt Jr. is behind the wheel in a NASCAR race. With that in mind, no victory could possibly be more popular than if Junior figures out a way to take the checkered flag on Friday night.

Considering he’s driving for his own XFINITY Series team, which is a powerhouse, there’s every chance Earnhardt could pull it off. He knows it, and rest assured his legions of fans know it too.

Still, Junior isn’t putting any pressure on himself. He knows all too well how difficult it is to win on any given night, even when you’re in top notch equipment. As he told ESPN’s Bob Pockrass, his goal is a lot simpler and not so results-focused.

"I’m not dying to win. If I go dying to win and I don’t win, man, you can’t do that. You have to go in there and have fun.We could win. The last time I raced there, I won. I know I’ve got a great shot at running well and having success, but it’s not worth doing if you don’t enjoy it. I’m going in there to make sure that I have fun."

Earnhardt’s memory is playing tricks on him, but just a little. He actually finished ninth the last time he drove an XFINITY Series car at Richmond, which happened last fall. But he won the time before, in the spring of 2016, and he’s always done well there, owning multiple Cup Series victories at the 0.75-mile track as well.

Adding to his chances of pulling off a victory is the fact that no Cup Series regulars will compete in the Go Bowling 250 since it’s a playoff race. Certainly, drivers like Justin Allgaier (on Earnhardt’s own team), Christopher Bell and perhaps Ross Chastain will be the favorites since they’ve been driving all year, but Junior has to be considered right below them. He’s got more than a puncher’s chance.

It’s natural to wonder if Earnhardt would state definitively that he wouldn’t drive again if he won on Friday, because what better way would there be to drive into the sunset of a NASCAR career than right after a victory at one of your favorite tracks? There will undoubtedly be a lot more eyeballs than usual on an XFINITY Series race on Friday night hoping that’s exactly what happens, but believe Dale Jr. when he says having a good time matters to him most of all.