Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to Budweiser reunion, return of iconic No. 8

“Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years,” Earnhardt Jr. posted on X. “It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

It remains to be seen if the return will stay in the Late Model world or if Earnhardt could run an Xfinity race with the colors, but either way it’ll be a must-see event when the dynamic duo comes together again on Nov. 23.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. iconic Budweiser scheme set for return after 17-year hiatus

The return of Earnhardt’s OG scheme comes after a 17-year hiatus, as he and JR Motorsports spent the better part of the last year working to acquire the rights to the DEI font, per Matt Weaver of Short Track Scene. Earnhardt, the NASCAR Hall of Famer, saw the bulk of his Cup Series success come inside the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. 17 of his 26 wins came while piloting the Budweiser No. 8, including his first career victory at Texas Motor Speedway on April 2, 2000. 

Anheuser-Busch has had several collaborations over the years from Kevin Harvick and the Busch Light No. 4 car to Kasey Kahne in the Budweiser No. 9 car, but none come more iconic than Earnhardt’s No. 8 car. 

“There are names that when mentioned, draw on the significance of their place in American history. Among them, Budweiser, and Earnhardt,” said Matt Davis, Vice-President of Partnerships at Anheuser-Busch. “This return to the racetrack alongside Dale with the Bud King of Beers paint scheme is another chapter in Anheuser-Busch’s long and storied sports history.”

JR Motorsports is giving fans the opportunity to purchase Budweiser x Dale Jr. merchandise at ShopJrNation.com.

On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this article.