CONCORD, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will experience a lot of finales in 2017.
As he prepares to conclude his NASCAR Cup Series career at the end of the season, he knows each weekend could mark the last time he will race at a track.
And this week, it’s extra special – and the race he would love to win if he could only choose one.
“The 600 would be awesome,” Earnhardt said. “Charlotte is our home track and haven’t won a points race there. So, I would like to win there, but there is a long list. Any of them that we haven’t won at would be great. Any win this year would be good. But if I had to pick, Charlotte – winning the 600 would mean a lot.”
In his Cup career, Earnhardt has earned six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s at Charlotte. And that elusive win would mean a lot to Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick as well.
“It would be so sweet,” Hendrick said. “This is home, this is the track I like to win at. It would be fitting for him.
“He runs well here, hopefully we got some of the bad luck out of the way, and I am sure the fans would really enjoy that.”
With his sights set on Victory Lane, Earnhardt is ready to get back to Charlotte Motor Speedway after participating in the NASCAR All-Star Race for the final time last weekend.
“I always went to that race as a little kid, so I like to win at the places where I spent tons of time at growing up and that was one of them,” the driver said.
As Earnhardt prepares to take on his final 600-mile race, Hendrick said it will be a big week.
“It’s going to be pretty special,” he said.