{"id":259760,"date":"2026-08-27T05:12:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T05:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/27\/dale-earnhardt-jr-s-nascar-driver-announces-exit-from-jr-motorsports-after-2026-oreilly-season-im-incredibly-grateful-for-everyone-at-jrm\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T05:12:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T05:12:33","slug":"dale-earnhardt-jr-s-nascar-driver-announces-exit-from-jr-motorsports-after-2026-oreilly-season-im-incredibly-grateful-for-everyone-at-jrm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/27\/dale-earnhardt-jr-s-nascar-driver-announces-exit-from-jr-motorsports-after-2026-oreilly-season-im-incredibly-grateful-for-everyone-at-jrm\/","title":{"rendered":"Dale Earnhardt Jr.&#8217;s NASCAR driver announces exit from JR Motorsports after 2026 O\u2019Reilly season: \u201cI\u2019m incredibly grateful for everyone at JRM\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5209793\" data-slug-id=\"2828150\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sammy Smith will not return to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/dale-earnhardt-jr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Dale Earnhardt Jr<\/a>.&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/jr-motorsports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">JR Motorsports<\/a> for the 2027 NASCAR O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign. The 22-year-old driver announced his upcoming exit via social media, confirming that his tenure behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet will conclude at the end of the 2026 postseason.<\/p>\n<p>Smith took over the No. 8 ride at JR Motorsports before the 2024 season after making his full-time series debut with Joe Gibbs Racing. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Smith expressed appreciation for team owners Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and the entire JRM organization. He said:<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;New chapter. Same mindset. After this season, I\u2019ll be moving on from @JRMotorsports and into a new chapter. I\u2019m incredibly grateful for everyone at JRM who has been part of the last three years. Being a part of this No. 8 team has given me so much to be proud of, and I\u2019ll always be thankful for the people who have helped me get to this point.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;But the job isn\u2019t finished yet. My full focus is on this championship run, for my team, our partners and everyone who has believed in me along the way. Nothing is given. Everything is earned. I\u2019m excited for what\u2019s next and for the opportunity ahead.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Across four full-time seasons in NASCAR&#8217;s secondary division, Smith has accumulated three career victories, securing his inaugural win at Phoenix Raceway in 2023 with JGR, followed by triumphs at Talladega Superspeedway (2024) and Rockingham Speedway (2025) in the JRM machine.<\/p>\n<p>Despite remaining winless through the opening 23 races of the 2026 campaign, Smith&#8217;s consistent performance has secured his place inside the playoff grid.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Dale Earnhardt Jr. praises Rajah Caruth as JR Motorsports eye 2027 driver lineup shift<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><\/noscript><img class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"NASCAR O&amp;#039;Reilly Auto Parts: Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 - Source: Imagn\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/08\/e2b42-17877995349902-1920.jpg?w=640\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>NASCAR O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts: Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 &#8211; Source: Imagn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Speaking on an episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. praised 24-year-old Rajah Caruth following another strong performance, revealing that negotiations to bring the Craftsman Truck Series standout into the JRM fold for 2027 are making significant headway.<\/p>\n<p>Dale Jr. didn&#8217;t hide his enthusiasm for Caruth\u2019s progression and the ongoing contract discussions behind closed doors. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nascar\/news-dale-earnhardt-jr-reveals-rajah-caruth-s-2027-deal-stands-jr-motorsports-works-finalize-lineup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">said<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Rajah did an awesome job this weekend. Also looking really promising for his deal to come together for next year. A lot of work to do to figure out where we&#8217;re going to line up and end up for 2027, but excited to see how this Chase plays out and whether we&#8217;re going to be going to the banquet or not.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While the deal with Rajah Caruth isn&#8217;t finalized, Dale Jr. made a positive statement on the young driver&#8217;s future with JR Motorsports.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Sashwat Deo<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nascar\/news-dale-earnhardt-jr-s-nascar-driver-announces-exit-jr-motorsports-2026-o-reilly-season-i-m-incredibly-grateful-everyone-jrm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sammy Smith will not return to Dale Earnhardt Jr.&#8217;s JR Motorsports for the 2027 NASCAR O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign. The 22-year-old driver announced his upcoming exit via social media, confirming that his tenure behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet will conclude at the end of the 2026 postseason. Smith took over the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":259761,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-259760","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}