Bobby Dale Earnhardt, the son of former NASCAR competitor Kerry Earnhardt and grandson of legendary seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, will compete full-time in the ARCA Menards Series in 2026.
Earnhardt, 38, will contest the full season for Rise Motorsports.
The fourth-generation stock car racer has competed in the ARCA Menards Series previously, as he made three starts in 2017 and two starts in 2025. Earnhardt also contested seven races in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly NASCAR Xfinity Series) from 2017 to 2019.
The Rise Motorsports team, which has attempted to rise through the ARCA ranks over the last few seasons, is excited about the opportunity to pair with one of the most well-known last names in the sport’s history.
“We’re thrilled to have Bobby join our program for the 2026 season,” Tim Goulet, Rise Motorsports team owner, said in a press release. “He’s hungry, he’s focused, and he connects with fans in a way that fits perfectly with the vision of our team. This is a big move for Rise Motorsports, and we’re ready to take the next step together.”
Earnhardt, who made his two ARCA starts last season for the Rise Motorsports team, where he averaged a finish of 28th, is optimistic about what they can achieve together in the upcoming campaign.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity with Rise Motorsports,” Earnhardt explained. “This team believes in what we can accomplish, and that fires me up. We’re building something strong for 2026, and I can’t wait to hit the track and show what this group is capable of.”
It’ll be interesting to see if Earnhardt, who has struggled to find his footing in stock car racing despite his famous last name, and the team can band together and rise through the field together during the 2026 ARCA Menards Series campaign.
