For the first time in nearly a year, one of the most popular drivers in the history of motorsports was back in the driver’s seat for a NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“I’m not planning on racing next year,” Earnhardt said of the Xfinity Series. “I’ll be foolish to say I’m never going to run again because I don’t know well enough to stay away from it, and I’ll probably miss it next year and be absolutely willing to sign up for anything that might be beneficial to JR Motorsports.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. opened his Friday noting the evening’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway may be his final foray in a NASCAR national series race. The course of the 300-lap event threw him about everything imaginable: ongoing radio issues,