Report: Racing analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving NBC

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is moving from NBC to Amazon Prime Video and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, The Athletic reported Thursday.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner has served as an analyst for NBC’s coverage of the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series since 2018 but also has contributed to the network’s coverage of special events, including the Olympics and Super Bowl.

Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports will begin their race coverage in 2025. Earnhardt, 49, is expected to sit out the 2024 season, The Athletic reported.

Earnhardt, a third-generation driver, was selected by fans as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver every year from 2003-17.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. is beloved in the NASCAR world and has made numerous contributions to NBC Sports, from his work as an analyst on our NASCAR coverage to his experiences as a correspondent at major events like the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and the Olympics,” an NBC Sports spokesperson told The Athletic. “We thank Dale and we wish him the best going forward.”

NASCAR races will continue to be broadcast on both NBC and Fox, even when the new broadcast partners come on board in 2025. NBC and Fox will share 14 races that year, with Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports combining to air 10 races.

The Athletic reported that the latest NASCAR deals are worth an estimated $7.7 billion over seven years. No contract or financial deals for Earnhardt have been disclosed.

–Field Level Media