Earnhardt gets love, gifts entering final Kentucky Cup start

Dale Earnhardt Jr. barely had time to bond with Kentucky Speedway, and now he’s saying farewell to the track and the sport.

Fortunately for NASCAR’s most popular driver, he’s leaving with a lovely parting gift along with lots of love from Bluegrass racing fans.

As Earnhardt prepared to start Saturday night’s 400-mile Cup race from 13th , track management gave him a deluxe jukebox on Friday as a token of its appreciation. Adorned with Junior’s No. 88 and his signature, the large jukebox will be donated in his name to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, an organization he supports.

“That’s awesome because I know the kids are going to love it,” said Earnhardt, who visited with kids there earlier this week. “We got them a little stereo, but this is going to take the cake . ... It will make a lot of kids smile when they are around this jukebox and enjoying it together. I appreciate that.”

Other gifts are sure to follow as Earnhardt finishes his final circuit of full-time Cup duty. The ongoing farewell tour has made him reflect on his experiences, even at a track in which he’ll start for just the seventh time.

Kentucky is somewhat notable for Earnhardt’s final 2016 start before complications from concussion symptoms ended his season. Healthy now, he’s hoping the 1.5-mile oval can yield a victory and start a climb from 22nd in points into the playoffs.

“A win is going to be great any week, but this is a hero-one-week, zerothe-next sport,” said Earnhardt, who has earned two top-fives and the 2013 pole in six Kentucky starts.