JR Motorsports on Friday used the announcement of a car number change to reveal its driver lineup for a new No. 8 car in the Xfinity Series.
What was the No. 9 team in 2018 will become the No. 8 team in 2019 with an assortment of drivers including Zane Smith, Jeb Burton, Ryan Truex, Spencer Gallagher and Ryan Preece.
Noah Gragson, the rookie who was originally announced to take over the No. 1 Chevrolet, will now drive the No. 9.
Meanwhile, Michael Annett, who has driven the No. 5 since he joined JRM in 2017, will now drive the No. 1.
The No. 1 has history with the Annett family, as sprint-car racing legend Sammy Swindell drove it in a car owned by Michael’s father, Harrold Annett.
Only the car numbers are changing on Gragson’s and Annett’s cars. The previously announced crew chief and roster lineups will remain the same.
Justin Allgaier will continue to drive the No. 7.
MORE: JR Motorsports, GMS Racing join forces on driver development program
The No. 8 has a long history in the Earnhardt family, with team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving it in the Cup Series from 1999 - 2007. His grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, also drove it, as well as Junior’s father, Dale Earnhardt.
“Everybody remembers the number on the side of the car,” Earnhardt Jr. said in a press release. “The No. 8 is very special to me and to JR Nation. There’s a lot of history with the No. 8 in my family and in NASCAR. It’s time to write some new stories and continue to add to the number’s rich heritage.”
Taylor Moyer has been named the crew chief of the No. 8. Moyer, 31, joins JRM after serving as an engineer for Hendrick Motorsports on the cars driven by Kasey Kahne and William Byron.
Gallagher will race for JRM after stepping away from full-time race at the end of 2018 to move into a leadership role at GMS Racing.
Preece drove for Joe Gibbs Racing part-time the last two seasons and will drive for JTG Daugherty Racing full-time in the Cup Series this season.
Smith, a member of NASCAR Next, is making his debut in the Xfinity Series this year.
Truex, the brother of Cup driver Martin Truex Jr., joins JRM after competing full-time for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2018. Truex Jr. won two Xfinity championships for Earnhardt while driving the No. 8 in 2004-05.
Burton, the son of former Cup driver Ward Burton, made three Xfinity starts for Richard Childress Racing last year.
Here’s when each driver will race the No. 8 this season. This makes up only 24 of the season’s 33 races.
Gallagher - Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 16), Talladega Superspeedway (April 27) and the return event at Daytona (July 5).
Preece - Atlanta Motor Speedway (Feb. 23), Auto Club Speedway (March 16), Pocono Raceway (June 1) and Watkins Glen International (Aug. 3)
Smith - Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 2), Bristol Motor Speedway (April 6), both Richmond Raceway events (April 12 and Sept. 20), Dover International Speedway (May 4 and Oct. 5) and Iowa Speedway (June 16 and July 27)
Truex - ISM Raceway (March 9), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Sept. 14), Charlotte Motor Speedway (Sept. 28) and Kansas Speedway (Oct. 19)
Burton - Texas Motor Speedway (March 30 and Nov. 2), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 25), Chicagoland Speedway (June 29) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 16)
Car numbers are as memorable as the drivers who race them. Glad to have a familiar one coming back. I've been ready to announce this for weeks. https://t.co/o3REQeFx35
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 25, 2019
Proud to be at @JRMotorsports in the #8 for 4 races this year.
— Ryan Preece (@RyanPreece_) January 25, 2019
What a Dream year 2019 is shaping up to be. pic.twitter.com/j1oHSZruM0
So excited to be joining @jrmotorsports! Let’s go win some races! A lot of hard work went into putting this all together very thankful for the opportunity!
— Jeb Burton (@JebBurtonRacing) January 25, 2019
Time for a second chance to write more Truex family history with the #8. Let’s do this @dalejr @jrmotorsports #goryan pic.twitter.com/BHvz18A6bx
— Ryan Truex (@Ryan_Truex) January 25, 2019
