Jeffrey Earnhardt to run first Cup plate race at Talladega

Jeffrey Earnhardt will be making his restrictor plate racing debut at the Cup level this weekend when he gets behind the wheel of the No. 83 BK Racing Starter Toyota.

It will mark his 20th NSCS start with the previous 19 all coming in the GoFAS Racing No. 32 Ford. However, it was predetermined that 2000 premier series champion Bobby Labonte would pilot the car at the four plate events, including this weekend's Chase cut-off race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Labonte scored the team's best result of the 2016 season when he finished 19th in the spring Talladega race.

For Earnhardt, this is new territory as a third BK Racing entry. Matt DiBenedetto is the usual driver of the No. 83, but he will move to the No. 93 for this race alone.

"I'm really excited to drive the No. 83 Starter Toyota Camry for the fall race at Talladega," said Earnhardt.

"It's my first Cup Series race at Talladega, my first race with BK Racing, the first time anyone from our family competes in a Toyota and it's the 25th anniversary of my grandfather's victory at Talladega. Having this opportunity with an iconic American partner like Starter is an incredible honor. I can't remember being so pumped up for a race and sincerely appreciate our friends at Starter for their support."

A reunion of sorts

Doug Richert, who served as crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Sr. for 18 of 31 races during his 1980 championship run, will now sit atop the pit box for his grandson.

"I'm looking forward to once again returning to the track as crew chief with an Earnhardt behind the wheel," said Richert. "The Earnhardt family has played such an important part in my racing career; starting in 1978 with Dale Sr. and then winning a championship with him in 1980, it's very cool to work with the fourth generation of the family."

"Doug (Richert) was with my grandpa when he won his championship, and now he's with me at Talladega, so this race is pretty special," added Earnhardt. Talladega is a place the Earnhardt name has absolutely dominated with 16 Cup wins between Sr. and Jr. In fact, Jeffrey's best Xfinity Series result came at the famed superspeedway (12th).

The fourth generation racer earned a career-best result in his most recent start at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing 26th.