NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. is strapping back into a Late Model Stock Car this weekend, making his first appearance at New River All American Speedway in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Earnhardt will compete in the zMAX CARS Tour event on Saturday, April 13th as part of the revamped Ronnie Hetu Memorial Weekend at the historic bullring.

This will mark Earnhardt’s third career start in the CARS Tour, but his first race outside of North Wilkesboro Speedway where he finished an impressive third in 2022. Since stepping away from full-time NASCAR competition in 2017, the 15-time Most Popular Driver has stayed busy competing in selected Late Model and Xfinity Series races to keep his driving sharp.

“I’m a huge fan of the CARS Tour and local short-track racing,” Earnhardt said. “The competition, the tracks, and the drivers are some of the best around. These regional series are vital to the quality of racing you see at the top level – it’s the heartbeat of motorsports in North America.”

The CARS Late Model Stock Tour will headline Saturday’s action at New River, along with the Grand National Super Series, Legend Cars, and Bandoleros. On Friday, the Ronnie Hetu Memorial Race Against Cancer kicks off the weekend featuring Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Rumblers, and Bombers.