NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will return to the track on Saturday, September 11, 2021, to compete in the Go Bowling 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway. This special appearance commemorates the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, honoring the victims and first responders through a tribute-themed race car and event activities.
Driving the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Earnhardt Jr. will showcase a “United for America” paint scheme developed in partnership with longtime sponsor Unilever. The design draws inspiration from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s Tribute in Light, featuring four spotlights representing the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 Memorial site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The phrase “Never Forget” is emblazoned on the car’s rear quarter panel, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since that terrible day,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The spirit of unity and togetherness our country felt on Sept. 11 is just as relevant now as it was then. I’m honored to be driving this car and championing Unilever’s United for America program.”
Richmond Raceway will further honor the anniversary with a series of commemorative events. These include the display of a 1,100-pound steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center, a Wall of Remembrance provided by Toyota, and coordinated flag displays by race teams and fans during laps 9 through 11 of the race.
Earnhardt Jr. has a storied history at Richmond, boasting seven career victories at the track—three in the Cup Series and four in the Xfinity Series. His most recent Xfinity win at Richmond came in 2016. Since retiring from full-time competition in 2017, he has made select starts in the Xfinity Series, including a fourth-place finish at Richmond in 2018.
The Go Bowling 250 is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NBCSN, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
