Unless you have lived under a rock this past week, you know about the latest superstar who wants to add his name to the ownership ranks of the NASCAR Cup Series. That’s right, it’s Dale Earnhardt Jr.
After running his JR Motorsports team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for years with little to no interest in moving to Cup, the 26-time Cup Series race winner has been expressing interest in moving his program to the premier division of NASCAR over the last year.
The organization has been extremely successful in the Xfinity Series and in 2022 has dominated the division. Yet, with NASCAR’s new car providing the financial stability team owners have longed for for years, JR Motorsports wants to make the jump soon.
But should it make the jump in 2023?
Luken Glover and Anthony Damcott debate whether or not 2023 is the year for the organization to make the jump.
The Time is Now
JR Motorsports has been a force to be reckoned with in the Xfinity Series ever since its full-time inception in 2006. Now, it is time to take that charisma to the Cup Series.
JRM has collected 64 trophies as an organization, including six of the 16 races this season. In the process, it has won three titles, and may very well seal another in 2022. It knows how to find talent and develop them well for the next level. Just take a look at Chase Elliott, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski and several others.
2023 is the perfect time to dip their feet in the Cup waters.
Even if it is part-time, there are several benefits. Examining fellow Chevrolet newcomers to the Cup Series in Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse Racing Team, they proved the transition can bear quick fruit. Kaulig earned its first win part-time with AJ Allmendinger at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in 2021.
Trackhouse already has three wins this season and is a legitimate championship threat with Ross Chastain. With how much parity the Next Gen car has displayed, and likely will for an extended time, one can argue there has been no better time than now.
As far as drivers go, JRM has an advantage that most newcoming teams have: drivers to pick from in their Xfinity stable. Noah Gragson has consistently improved in his career and now sits a title favorite in the NXS.
Additionally, he brings sponsorship dollars and has tested the Cup Series on his own with Kaulig Racing.
Next is Justin Allgaier. Allgaier was never given a fair chance to thrive at the Cup level, and he has absolutely whipped the field…
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