Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining NASCAR on NBC in 2018

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t be straying too far away from NASCAR in 2018, joining the NBC Sports broadcast team on a multi-year deal.

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The flood of recent retirements in NASCAR has seen drivers who were fan favorites moving into new roles outside of the garage. Tony Stewart went from driver to owner and track operator. Carl Edwards cut ties with the sport almost altogether. Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton moved into the television booths. Now, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will follow their footsteps, moving to NBC Sports in 2018.

Dale Jr., who will retire at the end of the 2017 season from racing for Hendrick Motorsports, joins an all-star lineup with NASCAR on NBC that includes Jeff Burton, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett and his former crew chief Steve Letarte. His exact role with the team is to be determined, as per the press release from the peacock:

"Earnhardt will be utilized in a number of capacities on NBC’s NASCAR coverage, with specifics to be announced in the coming months. In addition, the agreement with NBCUniversal allows Earnhardt a wide range of opportunities in the company’s media businesses, including movies, television, podcasts, and other areas."

The hiring of NASCAR’s most popular driver was expected by one of their TV partners, with FOX Sports being the early favorite to land his services. Dale Jr.’s position in the NBC Sports team would likely be a move to the broadcast booth alongside Rick Allen and Steve Letarte. This would leave Jeff Burton on the outside looking in, as a four-man booth would likely prove too challenging.

While NBC Sports continues to hold a strong lineup of analysts heading into 2018, it is the lineup for FOX Sports that may be in need of some new faces in the near future. Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds have both been with the network since they began covering races in 2001 and could be looking toward retirement sooner rather than later. Michael Waltrip, meanwhile, has been widely panned by fans for being too gimmicky and goofy for network television.

Interesting to note in the press release from NASCAR on NBC is that the deal to bring Dale Earnhardt Jr. aboard is not just for sports coverage, but also partners with his Dirty Mo Radio brand and Hammerhead Productions. This will offer Dale Jr. the opportunity to have roles in other NBCUniversal properties, further expanding his reach beyond stock car racing.

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Are you excited to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. return to NASCAR as a broadcaster in 2018? How do you think he will perform? What role will he take with the NBC Sports team? Comment below with your thoughts on this latest silly season development.

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