NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be returning to his NASCAR Late Model roots on November 18-19 at Florence Motor Speedway. Earnhardt announced Tuesday on the Dale Jr. Download podcast that he will be competing in the enhanced Charlie Powell Memorial South Carolina 400. 

The race, which was previously contested as the Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway, will receive a big boost in 2022 as a result of a partnership between FloRacing and NASCAR. 

With $30,000 added to the race purse through the partnership, plus additional prize money from the track and race sponsors, the total purse will be double what it was in 2021. 

While the increased purse will pay additional money to the race winner, the majority of the investment will be spread out through the middle and back of the field. Drivers finishing in the back half of the field will receive more than double the purse from last year. 

Earnhardt, who made his return to Late Model racing earlier this year at North Wilkesboro Speedway, is excited to be a part of the event and compete against many of the best grassroots race car drivers.

“Grassroots racing is a huge passion of mine and I’m honored to support the South Carolina 400,” Earnhardt Jr. said in a press release. “I grew up competing at Florence and have been looking forward to taking the wheel there again against some of the best short-track racers in the world.”

The @DaleJr Download: DIRTY AIR - Dale Announces A Return to Driver's Seat THIS YEAR

🏁Dale Jr. racing at @FlorenceMSpdwy!
⭐️Monday Night Raw
😂@JRMotorsports shop pet

LISTEN
Web: https://t.co/Bifc95Ap7o
Apple: https://t.co/yWSE7hUpCq
Google: https://t.co/AOrz0D7d7i pic.twitter.com/BP1gqfchPz

— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) October 25, 2022

This year’s version of the South Carolina 400 will be the 30th anniversary of the event. Steve Zacharias, who previously served as general manager of Myrtle Beach Speedway, purchased Florence Motor Speedway after Myrtle Beach closed in 2020. 

Zacharias has worked hard to make the track a premier destination for racers and fans across the country, and he believes this year’s magnified event will help showcase the track to fans around the world. 

“We are extremely grateful for the commitment from NASCAR, FloRacing and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to make the South Carolina 400 even bigger and better than ever,” Zacharias said. “Florence Motor Speedway is a premier destination for short track racing, and we can’t wait to showcase it to the world on FloRacing and to the fans in attendance on November 18-19.”

One year ago, 52 Late Model Stock Cars entered the South Carolina 400, with even more expected for this year’s boosted version of the event. 

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship contender Ty Majeski is the two-time defending winner of the race. Other winners at Florence Motor Speedway over the years include Earnhardt Jr., Joe Nemechek, John Hunter Nemechek and Josh Berry. 

For those unable to attend this year’s South Carolina 400 in person, a live broadcast will be available on FloRacing, the home for NASCAR grassroots racing. 

In addition to streaming the South Carolina 400, FloRacing provides subscribers with a large offering of over 1,500 motorsports events including the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ARCA Menards Series, Bowman Gray Stadium, Eldora Speedway, the Virginia Triple Crown and much more. 

If you’re not already a FloRacing subscriber, click here to sign up today.