Last year, Kyle Larson set the motorsports world on fire with self-proclaimed comments. In a conversation with FloRacing, he claimed, “I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver.” The “him” in question? None other than Formula 1’s four-time champion, Max Verstappen. Larson explained, “There’s no way [Verstappen] can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. There’s no way he can win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.”
While he admitted he likely couldn’t win a Monaco GP himself, Larson believed the balance tilted in his favor due to NASCAR’s unique challenges. The quote set the internet on fire. Was Larson right? Could Verstappen hold his own outside of his F1 comfort zone? Fans were divided. Some backed Larson’s versatility, others laughed off the idea that Verstappen couldn’t adapt. When asked about it, Max kept calm. “That’s fine. Everyone thinks their own way, right? We should not have that debate because everyone is good in their own right. I wouldn’t be good at dirt. Maybe if I practice… I don’t know. I think at the end of the day, a good racing driver picks up things quite quickly.”
The back-and-forth sparked debates across every corner of the motorsports fanbase. Could Max ever prove Larson wrong? Could he ever hop in a stock car and show what he’s got? Fast forward to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. A simple crossover between NASCAR and Formula 1, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., ignited the rumor mill. With Dale Jr. beside Max and NASCAR’s garage doors wide open, fans are now wondering: Is Verstappen heading to ovals to settle the debate?
Dale Jr. ignites a frenzy on the internet!
Dale Jr. has long loved Formula 1 from afar. But this spring, he finally got up close. He and his wife Amy attended the Miami Grand Prix, hosted by Red Bull Racing and Hard Rock Bet. It was his first time at an F1 race. “I’ve never been to an F1 race. We got an invitation from the Red Bull folks and Hard Rock to come out there, so I think Amy and I are definitely going to do it. Never seen it before, so I know that’s a big deal,” Dale Jr. said before arriving.
He added, “People tell me I’m not prepared for what I’m going to witness in terms of what a spectacle it is. So we’re excited.” When he arrived, the contrast to NASCAR couldn’t have been clearer. Gone were the beer coolers and BBQ smoke. Instead, he found luxury suites, global celebs, and the glamor of F1’s American showcase. He shared on social media: “Our first @F1 event. Thanks @HardRockBet @redbullracing.” But while Dale Jr. soaked in the atmosphere, fans had other thoughts. A photo of Max and Dale Jr. together was all they needed to dream up something bigger.
.@DaleJr with Max Verstappen at Miami just before F1’s Miami Grand Prix (via u/Altracing34) https://t.co/JfmRg6IxSP #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/YcYKQFEdVK
— r/NASCAR on Reddit (@NASCARonReddit) May 5, 2025
One comment set the tone: “Max to the #8 car…confirmed.” That was the mood across social media. Fans saw this F1-NASCAR blend as more than just a photo op. The Red Bull driver has been a dominant force in F1 over the last few years by winning four back-to-back titles. While some argue that his dominance makes F1 a boring sport, others see Max as a once-in-a-generation talent. Maybe now, he’s ready to try the oval world. And remember: Dale Jr. owns JR Motorsports. They’ve been sniffing around a Cup Series entry for years. Mix that with Red Bull’s reach and Verstappen’s star power, and the fantasy doesn’t sound so far-fetched.
Notably, Dale Jr. has long admired Verstappen. In 2024, Verstappen had won 22 out of 26 races since the start of the 2023 season, many accused him of making the sport boring. It was the time when Dale Jr openly admired the Dutch driver and praised his abilities. On the “Drive to Wynn” podcast, he said, “I’m a big fan of Max. I like to see Max succeed, I love to see him dominate… Why aren’t we amazed and just in awe of what he accomplished tonight? But instead, we thought ‘Oh man, this is the worst. Gosh, I hope that never happens again.’”
While Verstappen’s NASCAR cameo is still in jeopardy, there are a couple of other F1 drivers who want to test the oval field. Verstappen’s former teammate Daniel Ricciardo has been a long-time Dale Earnhardt fan. In 2021, he drove Dale Sr.’s No. 3 Monte Carlo at COTA after a bet with then-McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Recently, FOX’s Bob Pockrass predicted Ricciardo may go further: “Daniel comes to NASCAR in more than just a one-off move… There would be teams and sponsors that want him racing stock cars.”
Additionally, Australian driver Oscar Piastri has also expressed his enthusiasm for stock car racing. According to his team CEO, Zak Brown, the 23-year-old driver has expressed his excitement about it often. “Oscar’s kind of knocked on my door a little bit about his excitement around NASCAR… If we were to do something with Kyle [Larson] and one of our Formula One drivers, it’d probably most likely be Oscar,” he told Dale Jr. last year on his podcast.
The crossover floodgates are creaking open. For now, it’s all talk. But one weekend in Miami lit a fuse. Verstappen and Dale Jr. together gave fans just enough to dream. Whether it’s Max, Ricciardo, or Piastri, the worlds of F1 and NASCAR seem closer than ever. Now let’s talk about the fans, the ones turning whispers into full-blown conspiracy theories.
Social media goes nuclear!
Social media lit up the moment Dale Jr. appeared with Max Verstappen in Miami. But this wasn’t just about selfies and champagne. The fans connected the dots, and then some. One bold tweet shouted: “JR MOTORSPORTS TO CUP WITH HONDA, RED BULL, MAX, AND SVG!” That’s a dream team of global motorsports talent and brands. But will Max leave the successful world of Formula 1 to wheel the stock cars in America? He once said, “The cars look heavy and hard to control, and it’s a different world. I enjoy watching, but I’m more of a European racing guy.”
While this crossover looks impossible theoretically but fans aren’t keeping calm. “I hope Max is on the DJD [Dale Jr. Download], I’d enjoy that episode,” a user posted. This sentiment was echoed by many as they want Dale Jr. to have an open-heart conversation with Max Verstappen. Similar to Zak Brown’s 2024 convo fans expect this to reveal key insights from a modern-day racing legend.
Some fans are dead serious. “After the whole Kyle Larson ‘I’m the best driver in the world’ thing, I really would like to see Max run some laps in a stock car. People think he’d be nowhere near the Cup Series lap time, but I’m willing to bet he’d compete very well if he transitioned to NASCAR,” a user posted. Fans want closure to the debate that rocked the NASCAR world last year. Not to forget, there’s the OEP, which would allow Verstappen to go toe-to-toe with NASCAR’s best on track of his choice.
Another fan took the theory further: “Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Junior held a surprise news conference in a few months with an announcement that Max Verstappen will be driving for Junior Motorsports in 2026.” While this looks far-fetched but it is not impossible. Verstappen has reportedly been unhappy with Red Bull’s progress in the last couple of years. Many believe that he might take early retirement to compete somewhere else. That destination could be NASCAR, but for the time being, it’s all speculation.
The post “Max to the 8 Car Confirmed?”: Dale Jr.’s F1 Cameo With Max Verstappen Leaves Fans With Wild Speculations appeared first on EssentiallySports.