Jeffrey Earnhardt eyes 2027 NASCAR return

NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 23, 2026

Earnhardt return plan

Jeffrey Earnhardt is working toward a full-time NASCAR return, with 2027 as the target and one of the sport’s top three national divisions in view. He said he wants the comeback to happen with competitive equipment and a car capable of winning, a clear step up from a part-time arrangement. The plan remains unfinished, but the direction is clear. Earnhardt said he already has some sponsorship partners in place and is still working to add more support to make the return full-time.

Earnhardt series options

Earnhardt has not chosen a series for the comeback. He has left open the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and no team, car number or ride has been announced. That leaves the return tied to both funding and fit, with sponsorship still the key piece. Earnhardt wants the move to land in a competitive setting, and he has said the goal is a ride that can contend at the front rather than simply get back on track.

Earnhardt racing background

The planned return would add another chapter to a career that already includes 76 Cup starts, 177 starts in what is now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 11 Truck Series starts. Earnhardt is the son of Kerry Earnhardt and the grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr., a lineage that has kept his name in the NASCAR conversation for years. He made one start for JR Motorsports at Richmond in 2013 and did not move into a full-time role there after that race. His most recent outing came at Bristol for Sam Hunt Racing, and he did not compete in a car during the most recent NASCAR season.