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Dover: Jeffery Earnhardt debut preview

JEFFREY EARNHARDT TO MAKE NATIONWIDE SERIES DEBUT AT DOVER MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 26, 2009) - Jeffrey Earnhardt will continue the legacy of the Earnhardt name in NASCAR Nationwide Series racing by making his first start in the Heluva Good! 200 at ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:56 PM

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JEFFREY EARNHARDT TO MAKE NATIONWIDE SERIES DEBUT AT DOVER

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 26, 2009) - Jeffrey Earnhardt will continue the legacy of the Earnhardt name in NASCAR Nationwide Series racing by making his first start in the Heluva Good! 200 at Dover International Speedway. The green flag drops on Saturday, May 20th at 2 p.m. ET. Jeffrey Earnhardt with Stats

Earnhardt, the 19-year-old grandson of Dale Earnhardt, will be racing for Rick Ware Racing in a Dale Earnhardt, Inc. car built and validated at it's facility in Mooresville, NC. Members of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.'s technical staff, including his father, Kerry Earnhardt, will be supporting the No. 31 FastWax Chevrolet at the race at Dover.

The team is a joint effort between Rick Ware Racing and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Rick Ware Racing is providing on-track team support, management and sponsorship.

Earnhardt plans to run a partial Nationwide Series schedule this year depending on sponsorship. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. is currently working on plans to run Earnhardt in a full Dale Earnhardt, Inc. managed Nationwide Series car for 2010 and is pursuing sponsorship opportunities.

Jeffrey Earnhardt on his Nationwide Debut

"I can't wait to make my start in the Nationwide Series and race at Dover," said Jeffrey Earnhardt. "Right now, I'm just working on getting comfortable in the car and getting some experience. I know there's some tough competition in Nationwide, so I'm looking forward to learning a lot from the guys in the field. I want to run a good race and get used to the car."

On Working with His Father

"I've been working on this race car with my Dad for about a month, and it has really helped me understand how the car handles and what happens when different adjustments are made," said Earnhardt. "My Dad believes that you have to know how to build them to be able to drive them, and he's been teaching me that. He's also making me work on repairing them, so hopefully I won't do too much damage to this one.

On His Long-term Plans

"Right now, we're just focused on getting some experience and seat time, and I'm looking forward to working with potential sponsors to run a full season in Nationwide next year," said Earnhardt. "It would be great to be able to race for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. We all have to work hard and earn that opportunity."

Key Career Stats

* Jeffrey finished fourth in the Camping World East/West Challenge in Iowa on May 17

* Had four top-five finishes in the 2008 Busch East Series, including a second place finish at Watkins Glen

* Finished fifth in the 2007 Busch East point standings and had four top-five finishes

* 2007 NASCAR Busch East Most Popular Driver

* First Busch East Series race was the 2007 Greased Lightning 150 (Greenville-Pickens)

* Wythe Raceway Hornet Division Rookie of the Year

-credit: dei

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