Dale Earnhardt Jr. lauds JR Motorsports after all four cars finish in Daytona top 10
Dale Earnhardt Jr. praised a collective performance from JR Motorsports after the team opened the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season with a sweep of top-10 results at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14, 2026 (Eastern Time). While the checkered flag went to another contender, Earnhardt Jr. said the early-season consistency and stage points make this a strong foundation for the months ahead.
Cohesion valued over a single victory
Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged that winning is the ultimate goal, but emphasized the value of finishing well across the board under the current championship format. He noted that stage points and steady finishes are critical early in a long season and that the team left Daytona with useful momentum.
"I’m pretty happy. We came out of here with all our cars in the top 10 and picked up some stage points. Obviously, we’re trying to win the race, but if you can’t win, with the way the point system works, you’ve got to be satisfied with a day like today, " Earnhardt Jr. said. He also pointed out that some entries sustained damage and were involved in incidents yet still managed to salvage strong results, underscoring depth and resilience across the lineup.
The race winner controlled much of the event and proved difficult to reel in late, but Earnhardt Jr. stressed that the gap is narrowing. "We’ve caught up a little bit. We’ve got a bit more power, we’re improving, and we’re getting closer, " he said, while conceding the strength and experience of the day’s winner.
Young drivers show tangible growth at superspeedways
Earnhardt Jr. singled out the team’s younger drivers for praise after a race in which all four entries finished inside the top 10. Justin Allgaier placed second, Sammy Smith finished fifth, Carson Kvapil took seventh and rookie Rajah Caruth closed out the top 10 despite late-race adversity.
Earnhardt Jr. highlighted a stretch late in Stage Two when the four cars ran together in a line, a visible sign of cohesion and draft discipline. "Rajah Caruth looked great and did some things I was pleased to see. Carson looked like he learned a lot. Sammy’s been studying and working really hard to get better, and I’m seeing good things from him at this place, and at Talladega as well, " he said, pointing to steady development among the younger core.
Caruth’s Daytona run illustrated that progress. The 23-year-old started seventh, led a lap and collected stage points, including a fifth-place finish in Stage Two. He spent much of the race learning how the front pack moves in the tight, high-speed conditions at Daytona and said he became more comfortable as the event progressed. A late cut tire and spin with six laps remaining cost track position, but Caruth kept the car running to salvage 10th place, an outcome he called a strong way to start the year.
What the result means for the road ahead
The top-10 sweep gives JR Motorsports a points-rich start and a confidence boost as the series moves on. Earnhardt Jr. framed the result as evidence that the organization’s work in preparation, equipment and driver development is paying off, especially on drafting tracks where timing and unity matter.
Looking ahead, the team will try to turn the consistent finishes into race wins. For now, Earnhardt Jr. and the crew can take satisfaction from a clean opening weekend where multiple drivers gained experience, stage points were banked and the team left Daytona intact and competitive.
