By Sarah Handy
NASCAR driver Bobby Dale Earnhardt made three starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019 at Kansas, Texas and Phoenix for MBM Motorsports.
Aside from an unfortunate crash at Texas relegating him to a 37th place finish at Texas, Earnhardt finished 31st at Kansas and 28th at ISM Raceway outside of Phoenix.
Earnhardt told Kickin’ the Tires he learned a lot in the races he was able to compete in this past season and continues to learn every time he sits in the driver’s seat of the race car.
“I learned a lot; I’m learning every time I get out on the track. We had a rough start at Kansas and Texas during the race. We learned from it. We wrecked during practice at Kansas and the team gathered together and rebuilt the back end of the car for me to go out, qualify and race. Pretty awesome job,” said Earnhardt.
Earnhardt credits a few fellow NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers as ones he’s gone to for race advice and so forth.
“Normally whenever I’m at the track it’s the MBM (Motorsports) crew; Timmy Hill, Chad Finchum, Tommy Joe Martins all those guys I’ve gone to them and talked about the races, how to drive, how they drive the track and they’ve given me really great advice,” said Earnhardt.
However, Earnhardt’s younger brother and fellow racer Jeffrey Earnhardt is someone Bobby Dale has gone to for advice this past season.
“This past year I’ve relied on my brother’s advice a lot because I know he’s been there, and he’s raced at these tracks. He actually a has VRX Simulator in his house so whenever I get the chance and he’s home I get to go over there, and get on the simulator,” and Earnhardt. “He’ll (Jeffrey) give me advice on entry, gas, brake points and things like that. It actually really helped me this year as far as being more comfortable going to the track.”
Read more: Bobby Earnhardt returns to the Xfinity Series for final four races of 19: https://kickinthetires.net/bobby-earnhardt-returns-to-xfinity-series-for-final-four-races-of-19/
Earnhardt would like to run more races in 2020 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but it comes down to that one important factor…sponsorship.
“Every year I get to run more and more races and just trying to build on stuff for next year,” said Earnhardt.
With that said though, Earnhardt’s 2020 plans are still up in the air heading into the New Year.
“I talked with a couple different sponsors about doing some stuff next year,” said Earnhardt. “I’m hoping that I can get out and run some more races next year. That’s all going to be dependent on whether we can get financial backing and as everyone knows that’s always the hardest part.”
Earnhardt had sponsorship for the races he ran with MBM Motorsports in 2019 but more financial backing is always a plus when it comes to tires. Earnhardt elaborated on that.
“We had sponsorship to run those races (in 2019) it’s just always better to get more. It’s better to get sticker tires then scuff tires from other teams,” said Earnhardt. “With it being a low budget team, we ran the races on one set of stickers and the rest on scuff’s. Where as JR Motorsports has five sets of stickers. It’s a challenge but you do what you can with what you’ve got.”
Earnhardt indicated there is a chance that Hyatt Life Sciences will be back on one of his race cars again in the future.
“It’s a possibility. There’s some interest there with those guys along with a couple other new sponsors that we’ve been talking with,” said Earnhardt.
Earnhardt has now made seven starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since his 2017 debut in the fall race at Richmond Raceway. In addition, the 32-year old has three starts in the ARCA Menard’s Series as well with all three coming during the 2017 season.
It’s a series that Earnhardt wouldn’t rule out returning to at some point in his career if the right opportunities came about.
“I would love to go and run the ARCA Daytona race if I’m going to run the Daytona race in the Xfinity car just to get that seat time,” said Earnhardt. “We’ve actually been talking with a couple different people about that, so if it’s there then yes, I would love to go back and run some ARCA. That’s always a fun class to run with, fun group of guys, but if it doesn’t then my main goal is to go and run in the Xfinity Series.”
While most if not all drivers in NASCAR dream of making their NASCAR Cup Series debut, Earnhardt told Kickin’ the Tires he is no rush to make his but if it ever happens, he’ll be sure to enjoy the moment.
“That’s one thing that all racers strive for is to make the big debut in the Cup Series, but right now I think the best thing for me is to focus on the seat time in the Xfinity Series, make laps, get seat time and not to rush it too much,” said Earnhardt. “If it’s going to happen, it’ll come and whenever it does I’ll enjoy it.”
In addition to his time spent racing, Earnhardt works a regular full-time job and while racing full-time would be something he is open to Earnhardt said his family and being able to financially provide for them comes first and foremost.
“If racing full-time isn’t going to take care of my family then I’d probably not do it,” said Earnhardt who has two children with his wife Kimberly. “I’ve got to make sure my family is taken care of. Of course, I would love to go race full-time, it’s just a matter of if I can do it and take care of my family.”
Earnhardt has a work ethic in NASCAR that goes beyond just driving the race car that many might not know about and he elaborated on that to Kickin’ the Tires, telling us, “With the MBM guys I’ve run with them the past three years. A lot of people don’t know that I’ve worked in the shop on those cars three years before that. Just going to the track, getting the cars through tech, help set them up,” said Earnhardt. “I even went over the wall and changed tires one year which was really pretty awesome and I’ve spotted for them too. Work ethic is always there.
With a last name that anyone that follows or doesn’t follow NASCAR has most likely heard of, Bobby Dale said people think because of his last name he should automatically be in top equipment, he disagrees with them.
“We’ve always been taught to work for what you want. That’s what we do. A lot of people look at me like ‘You’re an Earnhardt, you should be in top equipment and up there winning races.’ No, I’m not my grand-dad, I’m not my uncle, I’m myself,” said Earnhardt.
“I’m going to go do what I can do in a race car and if it’s not win a race then it’s not win a race. I enjoy going out there and being behind the wheel and that’s the biggest thing,” said Earnhardt.
With the last name, Earnhardt said there is always pressure and people will always have expectations but he stated it’s a matter of if you let it get to you or not.
“The added pressure is always there, it’s just whether you let it bother you or not. I’ve had people mad because I didn’t do any better then I did, but it is what it is. I’m myself, I can only do so much with what I have,” said Earnhardt.
Great article. I like the authors style of writing. Good information about Bobby being what I call a throwback driver. One who works on and understands the car and doesn’t just show up and get in and drive on the weekends. Great read