Dale Earnhardt Jr.
FILE - In this Sunday, May 17, 2020, file photo, Jimmie Johnson (48) and Alex Bowman (88) come down a straightaway during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Darlington, S.C. The most coveted seat in NASCAR went to Alex Bowman in a Hendrick Motorsports lineup shuffle to replace seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson in the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet. Bowman and crew chief Greg Ives will move from the No. 88 into Johnson's ride at the end of the season. The swap announced Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, makes Bowman just the second driver of the team created in 2001 specifically for Johnson.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File
Bowman looks to establish his own legacy in iconic No. 48

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 07, 2020 02:33 AM EDT

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Alex Bowman shuffled to the No. 48 to replace Jimmie Johnson

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 06, 2020 03:46 PM EDT

Tony Kanaan (14) drives into Turn 1 followed by Oliver Askew (7) and Charlie Kimball (4) during the IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
IndyCar: Askew sidelined with concussion symptoms, Helio in

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 24, 2020 05:02 PM EDT

Denny Hamlin (11) battles Josh Bilicki (53) during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Denny Hamlin downright dominant as NASCAR season pushes on

By Dave Skretta Jul. 25, 2020 12:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 15 2019, file photo, the burned remains of a plane that was carrying NASCAR television analyst and former driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife Amy, 15-month-old daughter Isla, two pilots and the family dog lies near a runway at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tenn. Earnhardt Jr. and a pilot struggled to open a crashed airplane's rear exit door as the aircraft began to burn and fill with smoke before the race car driver and his family managed to escape from the main door, according to new details about the 2019 accident released by the National Transportation and Safety Board. (Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier via AP, File)
Details released in crash of plane carrying Earnhardt Jr.

By Adrian Sainz Jul. 17, 2020 01:56 PM EDT

A plane pulls a Confederate battle flag over Bristol Motor Speedway before the NASCAR All-Star auto race in Bristol, Tenn, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Elliott joins his father as winner of NASCAR's All-Star race

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 15, 2020 08:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 1, 2020, file photo, Jimmie Johnson is introduced to the crowd during activities as he carries his youngest daughter Lydia as his oldest daughter Genevieve and wife Chandra follow prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Fontana, Calif. This year has hardly been the farewell tour Jimmie Johnson envisioned when he said 2020 would be his final season of full-time NASCAR racing. The seven-time champion has had to say his goodbyes at empty race tracks absent of all fanfare and now his streak of 663 consecutive races has ended because Johnson tested positive for the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Will Lester, File)
Column: Jimmie Johnson finds voice during last NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 07, 2020 01:27 PM EDT

Kyle Busch drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Pocono twin bill weekend loses luster with no fans at track

By Dan Gelston Jun. 26, 2020 02:15 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2007, file photo, a Confederate flag flies in the infield as cars come out of Turn 1 during a NASCAR auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from its races and venues Wednesday, June 10, 2020, formally severing itself from what for many is a symbol of slavery and racism. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)
Fans and flags under scrutiny as NASCAR heads to Talladega

By John Zenor Jun. 19, 2020 03:28 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr. answers questions during a news conference before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Longtime fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to be the marquee name on NASCAR's 2021 Hall of Fame class, to be announced Tuesday, June 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Earnhardt Jr. headlines NASCAR's 2021 Hall of Fame class

By Michael Marot Jun. 16, 2020 06:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2014, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Longtime fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to be the marquee name on NASCAR's 2021 Hall of Fame class, to be announced Tuesday, June 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
NASCAR-GoBowling.com 400 8/3/2014

Jun. 16, 2020 03:33 PM EDT

Noah Gragson (9) and Harrison Burton (20) battle during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Briscoe finds a way, wins Xfinity race at Homestead

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 14, 2020 02:58 PM EDT

Harrison Burton (20) drives during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Earnhardt returns; Burton wins Xfinity race at Homestead

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 13, 2020 06:24 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2017, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr., front right, prepares to climb into his race car before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is returning to the track Saturday, June 13, 2020, getting behind the wheel for an Xfinity race at Homestead-Miami Speedway -- the place where his Cup Series career ended three years ago. (AP Photo/Gaston De Cardenas, File)
Junior to savor Homestead again, but virus upends routine

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 12, 2020 12:59 PM EDT

Chase Elliott (9), Aric Almirola (10) and Joey Logano (22) drive during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
NASCAR vows to do better job addressing racial injustice

By Paul Newberry Jun. 07, 2020 04:33 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2006, file photo, Chase Miller slides his Dodge past an old Georgia flag and a Confederate stars on bars flag during running of a NASCAR Truck series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. NASCAR has a checkered racial history, from a long-time affinity for Confederate flags among the fan base to a driver losing his job just this season for casually uttering a racial epitaph. (AP Photo/Craig Hellman, File)
NASCAR looks to steer clear of protests over George Floyd

By Paul Newberry Jun. 06, 2020 11:13 AM EDT

Noah Gragson (9) drives to victory past Chase Briscoe (98) during NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway Monday, June 1, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Gragson wiggles past Allgaier to win Xfinity race at Bristol

Jun. 01, 2020 10:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2016, file photo, NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, left, speaks to the media as announcer Mike Joy, right, listens during a news conference before practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR will have a much different feel when it resumes this weekend as the two-man broadcast team for Fox will not travel to Darlington Raceway and instead call the race from a studio in Charlotte. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Safety protocols include Fox calling NASCAR race from studio

By Jenna Fryer May. 13, 2020 04:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, driver Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Hamlin closed NASCAR's iRacing Series virtual auto race with a victory at a simulation of throwback North Wilkesboro Speedway on Saturday, May 9, 2020. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Hamlin closes NASCAR's iRacing Series with another victory

By Jenna Fryer May. 09, 2020 04:50 PM EDT

Mike Tatoian, president and CEO of Dover International Speedway, stands near the finish line while waiting for a news conference at the track, Monday, April 27, 2020, in Dover, Del. The track was scheduled to host a NASCAR auto race this weekend, but due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the race is bring run virtually on NASCAR's iRacing circuit. Sports will eventually start again and all signs indicate NASCAR is racing full speed ahead of the other major leagues in resuming competition. The sanctioning body is currently working on a revised schedule that could have NASCAR back on track in roughly three weeks.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Checkered flag nears for pro drivers in virtual racing boom

By Dan Gelston May. 02, 2020 11:04 AM EDT