By Andy DeLay, Seriously Fast Motorsports Staff Writer
I’ve had the privilege of watching a lot of racers come up through the ranks over the years, but very few stories have unfolded quite like Bobby Dale Earnhardt’s. None of them has hit as close to home, either.
I first met Bobby back in 2010 at Pocono Raceway. At the time, he wasn’t wheeling ARCA cars or making NASCAR national series starts. He wasn’t even running Late Models. He was racing lawn mowers… Yes, lawn mowers… On the grassroots circuit while chasing a dream that ran deep in his DNA. He told me straight up that he wanted to make it in NASCAR one day, just like his grandfather, the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr., had done before him. He wanted to make it on his own merit, without family influence or money having anything to do with his success or failure. Believe me when I tell you, it’s been a tough row to hoe.
There was something about the kid… Quiet but determined, humble but hungry… that stuck with me. Before long, he was appearing as a guest on my radio program, Burning Rubber Radio. Those early interviews quickly turned into regular appearances, and before I knew it, Bobby had become part of our team, offering insight, humor, and the kind of passion for racing you simply can’t fabricate. On top of that, Bobby Dale became one of my closest friends
Seeing where he is today, nearly 15 years later, makes this announcement all the more meaningful.
A Full-Time Return to National Competition
Bobby Dale will compete full-time in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series with Rise Motorsports, marking his first full-season campaign at the national level and a long-awaited chance to show fans what persistence and heart can build over time.
Bobby Dale isn’t just another driver getting for a full-time ride. This is a man who stepped away from his own racing dreams as a teenager to help his brother Jeffrey pursue his career. A man who fought his way into the sport by taking any opportunity available. He’s also a man who has carried not just an iconic last name but the weight and responsibility that comes with it.
A Career Built on Determination
Some will remember Bobby Dale’s standout year in 2013, when he captured the ARCA Truck Series Rookie of the Year title and finished sixth in the overall standings. That season established him as a true competitor and earned him the Most Popular Driver Award, proof of the connection he forged with race fans across the country.
From there, Bobby Dale picked up starts in both the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, continuing to gain experience at the national level. His path hasn’t always been a straight line either, it’s been built on late-nights, long drives, budget stretching, sponsor hunting, and a fire inside that never went out.
Now, with Rise Motorsports, he finally has the full-time platform he’s fought years to earn.
Rise Motorsports + Earnhardt: A Partnership Built on Purpose
Rise Motorsports is built on the very same foundation Bobby represents… Family values, determination, humility, and a love for the sport that goes deeper than checkered flags. Their mission is rooted in connecting racing with community, creating accessible sponsorship opportunities, and promoting small businesses, agriculture, and veterans’ causes.
It’s fitting that Bobby, through his work with Earnhardt Shearer Racing and their long-running support of the Kansas Honor Flight program, has spent years proving he’s not just racing for himself. He’s racing with purpose.
The Earnhardt Legacy Continues—But on His Own Terms
Bobby’s story has often been overshadowed by the magnitude of his last name. He is the grandson of “The Intimidator,” and that will always come with expectations. But Bobby has carved a different kind of Earnhardt path. It’s one defined not by instant success but by grit, resilience, faith, and an unbreakable love for the sport.
Off the track, he’s a devoted husband, a father of four, an outdoorsman, and a man grounded deeply in his Christian faith. On the track in next season, he’ll be a full-time ARCA competitor with a team committed to helping him write the biggest chapter of his racing career.
From Lawn Mowers to a Full-Time National Ride
When I think back to that afternoon at Pocono, I remember a young man with big dreams and a quiet confidence. The thought of it makes me smile! I’ve interviewed hundreds of drivers over the years, to include those at the top echelon of the sport, but none have left an impression like Bobby Dale Earnhardt.
Now he’s finally getting the full-time shot he deserved many years ago.
For all of us who’ve followed his journey, supported him on Burning Rubber Radio, and watched him grow as both a racer and a man, the upcoming ARCA season with Rise Motorsports is more than just another schedule announcement… It’s the culmination of a dream that started on a lawn mower, built itself on faith and heart, and now comes to life on one of the biggest stages in American motorsports.
The Earnhardt name is back full-time. Bobby Dale Earnhardt is ready to prove he belongs.
About the Author: Andy DeLay’s day job is that of a long-time law enforcement officer in the Tampa Bay Florida area. He’s written for SpeedSport, and other publications as freelance writer. He’s travelled with, and called the Hoosier Tire SCCA Super Tour for several years on the Performance Motorsports Network. Andy is also the founder of Burning Rubber Radio which has been around since 2008 and is syndicated across the United States and Canada.
Image Credit: Andy DeLay