Dale Earnhardt Jr Current and Recent NASCAR Teammates
Dale Earnhardt Jr raced full time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports from 2008 until his retirement from full time driving after the 2017 season. During his final seasons, his primary teammates at Hendrick Motorsports included Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson in the No. 88, No. 24, and No. 5 cars, respectively. After stepping back from full time driving, Earnhardt Jr moved into a broadcast and business role while remaining connected to the No. 88 team through ownership and sponsorship ties. He also co-founded Dale Earnhardt Inc. and later worked with JR Motorsports, a NASCAR Xfinity Series team, where he continues to support drivers and crew members in a leadership capacity. For background on his career timeline and team history, see the NASCAR official driver page Dale Earnhardt Jr NASCAR driver profile. His transition from driver to team owner and broadcaster is documented in multiple interviews and official team announcements.
In the 2017 Cup Series season, Earnhardt Jr drove the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, competing alongside teammates Chase Elliott in the No. 24 and Kyle Larson in the No. 5. That season, Hendrick Motorsports finished first in the owner standings, with Elliott capturing the championship and Larson earning multiple wins. Earnhardt Jr scored one victory that year at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. His final full time season included 36 starts, with a best finish of first and a points ranking of 14th overall. After 2017, Hendrick Motorsports continued to field the No. 88 with a series of replacement drivers, including Alex Bowman, who became the full time driver in 2018 and remained with the team through subsequent seasons.
Key Dale Earnhardt Jr Teammates Across Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports
At Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt Jr shared the garage with several championship-caliber drivers, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Chase Elliott. Jeff Gordon drove the No. 24 car before Elliott took over, and Gordon won multiple Cup Series championships during his tenure. Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 Chevrolet and won seven Cup Series titles between 2006 and 2016, often competing directly with Earnhardt Jr in the same playoff field. Kyle Busch, who drove for Joe Gibbs Racing and later Kyle Busch Motorsports, was also a regular competitor against Earnhardt Jr, with both drivers crossing paths in numerous races and playoffs. For a detailed breakdown of Hendrick Motorsports driver history, see the team overview on the official Hendrick Motorsports website Hendrick Motorsports official team page. These relationships shaped the competitive landscape of the Cup Series during Earnhardt Jr's full time career.
In the Xfinity Series, Earnhardt Jr was associated with JR Motorsports, where he served as a team owner and mentor to drivers such as Chase Elliott, Noah Gragson, and Sam Mayer. Chase Elliott drove the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series before moving up to the Cup Series, where he became a teammate of Earnhardt Jr at Hendrick Motorsports. Noah Gragson drove the No. 9 car in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, earning multiple wins and finishing high in the standings during his tenure. Sam Mayer drove the No. 1 car for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, gaining experience under the leadership of Earnhardt Jr and the JR Motorsports organization. For more on JR Motorsports driver development and team structure, see the official JR Motorsports site