Dale Earnhardt Jr. Regrets Missing IndyCar, Backs NASCAR Package

Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR icon with 26 Cup Series victories and two Xfinity Series championships, recently shared reflections on his storied career during an interview on the "SPEED with Harvick and Buxton" podcast. The 50-year-old racer, who competed full-time for Dale Earnhardt Inc. from 2000 to 2007 and Hendrick Motorsports from 2008 to 2017, expressed a key regret: never driving an IndyCar, particularly at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I've had some chances to just run laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a car, and I should've," Earnhardt said. "I always kind of wondered what that would feel like." He noted opportunities in his 30s to experience the open-wheel machine without competing in a full race, adding, "I just really would love to know what that car feels like going around such a historic racetrack." Earnhardt believes mentioning it now might prompt new offers, but he acknowledged, "that ship has sailed." His comments highlight a missed chance for what could have been a high-profile crossover, similar to those attempted by drivers like Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kurt Busch, who have balanced NASCAR and IndyCar schedules. Most recently,...