What Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s race did for Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. not only brought a race to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, he competed in it to support the historic venue.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. , who often raced at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, took a step back in time to help the future of the historic track . Earnhardt, a retired NASCAR Hall of Fame driver, climbed back into a race car and competed in the Tootsie's Music City Showdown in a zMAX Series CARS Tour race on April 11.
It was his first time racing at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 26 years, and an enthusiastic crowd of more than 12,500 welcomed back NASCAR's 15-time Most Popular Driver. They watched a field of 31 drivers in a 125-lap late model stock car race and stayed on their feet for the final 10 laps as Earnhardt's teammate Caden Kvapil from Mooresville, North Carolina, took the lead in his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevy on a late restart and held on for nine laps for the victory.
Kvapil's older brother, Carson, drives for JR Motorsports, owned by Earnhardt, in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Parker Eatmon from Wilson, North Carolina, was second, and local favorite Dylan Fetcho from Lebanon, Tennessee, was third. DALE EARNHARDT JR.
ON THE FAIRGROUNDS: Why Dale Earnhardt Jr. says Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway must survive Earnhardt, who qualified 25th, brought plenty of excitement by picking off 13 drivers to finish 12th on the 0. 596-mile track.