NASCAR
Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Field No. 40 Chevrolet in 2025 Daytona 500 Bid
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Announced Wednesday, JR Motorsports (JRM) has unveiled their first attempt at a NASCAR Cup Series entry. The Xfinity Series team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer and two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will partner with 10-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Chris Stapleton for an Open car in the 2025 Daytona 500. Representing Buffalo Trace Distillery, the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery, JRM will field a No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet for their maiden voyage in ‘The Great American Race.’ The number pays homage to the Blend No. 40 utilized in every bottle of Traveller. The driver of this Chevrolet will be defending Xfinity Series Champion Justin Allgaier.
“We’ve been waiting for the right moment for JR Motorsports,” said Earnhardt Jr. “With Justin winning the Xfinity Series championship and Chris Stapleton’s undeniable star power, the planets aligned for this perfect opportunity to enter this year’s Daytona 500.”
“Traveller Whiskey joining JR Motorsports for their inaugural entry into the Cup Series at the Daytona 500 feels like a very natural partnership,” said Stapleton. “I’m honored to be apart of this historic moment with Dale and Kelley, and excited to see Justin race the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet in Daytona.”
Allgaier gets this special opportunity in the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet as JRM’s all-time winningest NASCAR driver. Allgaier, from Riverton, Ill., is the defending NXS Champion, a five-time NXS Most Popular Driver, and the all-time NXS top-10s leader.
Allgaier does have past Cup Series experience, having raced full-time on Sundays in 2014 and 2015. The veteran driver most recently ran Cup in last season’s Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway substituting for Kyle Larson. Allgaier ended that night in 13th-place.
“This is an incredible honor to be driving JR Motorsports’ inaugural entry into the Cup Series, and to do it with not only Dale and Kelley, but Chris Stapleton and Traveller Whiskey makes this even more special,” said Allgaier. “Entering into the Daytona 500 has been a goal of this company for a long time. I know that we are going to have everything we need to go out and contend for the win. This is going to be special for sure.”
JRM’s Daytona 500 attempt will be the first time where Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt-Miller are Cup Series team-owners. Their Xfinity organization has seen repeated and prolonged winning pedigree. JRM currently has 88 wins and four championships with drivers Chase Elliott (2014), William Byron (2017), Tyler Reddick (2018), and most recently Allgaier (2024).
Allgaier’s first outing in the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet starts Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. ET for Daytona 500 Qualifying, followed by the Duels on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. ET, and ideally ends with the 67th running of ‘The Great American Race’ on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
As an Open entry, Allgaier will have to lock in his starting position through either qualifying or his Duel race. Should Allgaier be one of the two fastest Open cars on Wednesday, he’s guaranteed into Sunday’s show. Should Allgaier not secure his spot Wednesday, he will have to beat his Open competitors across the Duels.
At the time of this writing, five Open cars have been confirmed for the Daytona 500. ‘The Great American Race’ will take a maximum of four Open entries, plus Helio Castroneves as a provisional if needed. Open teams who have yet to verify their February plans may push this total close to 10 cars. Allgaier is far from guaranteed into Sunday’s show, and will have a steep hill ahead to put JRM on the grid.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credits to JR Motorsports
