Dale Earnhardt Jr., a renowned NASCAR Hall of Famer, surprised everyone during the off-season by announcing his departure from NBC as a broadcaster. After spending six years as a valuable member of the NBC Sports team, he chose not to renew his contract, which expired in the 2023 season. Instead, he has set his sights on joining two different streaming services, Amazon and Warner Bros Discovery, as a race analyst starting in 2025.
This decision comes as part of a new broadcasting deal worth $7.7 billion that NASCAR signed this year, which will see Amazon and Warner Bros Discovery become the official broadcasters for 10 races each season from 2025 to 2032. Dale Jr.’s deal with these streaming platforms is similar to the one signed by an NFL legend, ensuring his presence in the telecasting team once the 2025 season commences.
While he is committed to the streaming platforms, Dale Jr., a two-time Xfinity Series Champion, is free to pursue any broadcasting opportunities in 2024. This means he may still appear as an analyst on either Fox or NBC. However, it seems unlikely that he will return to NBC, as there have been no significant negotiations between the two parties. Fox, which already has a strong lineup for the 2024 season, also appears to be less interested in bringing Dale Jr. onboard.
This lack of interest from both NBC and Fox can be attributed to Dale Jr.’s reported decision to take a break in the 2024 season and focus on his other commitments, such as his podcast. After dedicating himself to NASCAR media for a considerable amount of time, the veteran deserves some time off to recharge and pursue other endeavors.