JR Motorsports to Attempt Daytona 500 with Chris Stapleton Partnership

JR Motorsports, one of NASCAR's most popular Xfinity teams owned by Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., will make an entry into the Great American Race with 2024 Xfinity champ Justin Allgaier. It marks the first time in JRM history the team has entered a race in the Cup Series, powered with a Hendrick Motorsports engine. 10-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton will provide sponsorship for the team's first foray into Cup racing.

Allgaier will enter the Daytona 500 as an "open car," meaning he is not guaranteed to race in the 500-miler. He will need to advance to the race on either speed in time trials or via one of the Daytona Duel races.

Earnhardt Jr. has had success at Daytona before, winning the crown jewel event in both 2004 and 2014.

Allgaier's last Cup start was during the Coca-Cola 600 in May 2024, filling in for Kyle Larson, who opted to race in the Indianapolis 500 instead. Allgaier finished 13th after the race was called for rain. In total, he has ran just over 80 races in NASCAR's premier series, including a full season in 2016 with HScott Motorsports.

Stapleton's involvement

Reportedly, Chris Stapleton, known for hits such as "Tennessee Whiskey," approached Rick Hendrick about a collaboration featuring Stapleton's whiskey brand, Traveller Whiskey. Stapleton was then able to strike a deal with JR Motorsports, and played a large role in designing the #40's paint scheme.

This will be Stapleton's first time attending the Daytona 500.