Nationwide Creates Six-Part Series To Promote Return Of Dale Earnhardt Jr. To NASCAR

Nationwide Insurance has "created a six-part series it will push on social channels" that focuses on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s return to NASCAR racing, according to Bob Pockrass of ESPN.com.

The first 3-minute episode airs tomorrow night, with 90-second episodes "each of the following Tuesdays leading up to the Daytona 500." The series was "filmed primarily over two days in late November, a couple of weeks before Earnhardt's test" to get race clearance following the concussion that ended his '16 campaign.

The series is called "Unfinished Business," and Nationwide Dir of Sports Marketing Jim McCoy said that the company has "close to a six-figure budget for production and promotion." He added that the company "did not pressure" Earnhardt to return. McCoy: "All along, it was always Dale's health first. We have been a partner with him for a long time." Pockrass noted this is the "first time that Nationwide has done a video series focused on one of its athletes." ESPN.com,