The interview discusses his time spent in the NASCAR ranks over the last 16 years and the path that has led him to be in a full-time ride in the Xfinity Series, driving the No. "When we were tossing around ideas like hey what do we want to do next," he explained. The Earnhardt name is synonymous with stock car racing, but what many fans dont know is that there are some similarities that run in the family, beyond just their love of the sport. I had a pair of cowboy boots and whatever was sharp was under that thing slit my cowboy boots from the top to the bottom like a razor. Kyle Petty: Were out in Riverside (in 1980) riding go-karts with all the R.J. Reynolds people one night. We raced. Jeffrey also matured while training four hours daily in jiu-jitsu and other disciplines for two months before his MMA debut last May. John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer said of the rule changes: We saw incredible racing throughout the 2022 season, especially at the intermediate racetracks. When DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing late in 2008, the organization released him. The changes to the car were made after complaints about the difficulty Cup drivers had with passing at many short tracks and road courses last year. Logano came within a few feet of winning the Daytona 500 and led 19 laps Sunday at Auto Club. Richard Childress: Not only did he impress me on the race track, he impressed me with so many things that hed done for people away from the track that people would never ever know about. After ranking fifth as a K&N rookie in 2007, Jeffrey finished 15th in 2008, the final year for DEI, and his career stalled out. Man, we found ourselves talking about what they had done at Myrtle Beach or what this had happened because they raced together some times. Dale Jr. certainly understands that feeling. You got the Toyota relationship and you look at what Christopher Bell did last year and it was pretty impressive Its just incredible what they have available for drivers thru TRD and Toyota.". Obviously the Cup opportunities just werent there and I said alright, what better place than Gibbs? But he remembers the vulnerability. He literally drove the same way. I compare him to Elvis. He definitely didn't know much about Jeffrey. Earnhardt, 32, will start the season with Sam Hunt Racing at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19 and end it at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 16. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. I just bought these cowboy boots. We laughed about it and we joked about it and he never said anything. Jeffrey explained that the relationship began last year when he drove a Toyota Camry for the Gaunt Brothers in select Cup races. She said, There are similarities in our family, all the way from Dad down, that weve all been through and grown up with.. 5 on Friday night at Richmond Jeffrey says of his uncle%3A %27We definitely . You know, I know Burt Reynolds, that probably is a good comparison. But with that last name comes high expectations and Jeffrey has felt that pressure quite a bit as he struggled to find a competitive ride to showcase his abilities. Wallace has failed to finish both races to date, parking after an accident at Daytona and losing an engine at Auto Club. So, somewhere it bothered him that he had messed up those cowboy boots. ' he said. Earnhardt and co-host Mike Davis raise the bar with unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and fascinating, first-person insight into the "Obviously, expectations are high, and people automatically assume just because of your last name, youre going to win races. He admits he threw away early opportunities that could have changed his path. For more on the Kyle Petty Charity ride, visit the rides website. 3 that his grandfather Dale made famous to a second-place finish in the Xfinity . He said, Come here, I want to ask you about that trip youre going to take Taylor on. We talked for a few minutes about just being dads and how its very important that Taylor was going to be somewhere she was going to be secure, who all was going to be there. Jeffrey Earnhardt, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, appeared on the Dale Jr. Download this past week with his famous uncle to discuss his current season, what lies. Its been 44 years since NASCAR opened a racing season without an Earnhardt behind the wheel in one of its national divisions. Its something that is certainly on his bucket list as a broadcaster and will come to fruition at some point down the line. Earnhardt didnt tiptoe in. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. That was just over a year ago. Our goal is to have the best racing possible everywhere we race, so during the offseason, we went to work on adjustments to strengthen the racing on short tracks and road courses. "I sat there and let the kid hit me about five times before I hit him back," the 23-year-old grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt says. When JR Motorsports fields a No. Drivers to watch in NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR suspends pit crew members for wheel coming off car, NASCAR makes rule changes for road courses, many tracks 1 mile or less, Kyle Petty Charity Ride scheduled to visit Nevada, Utah, during the 2001 broadcast of Earnhardts memorial service, MORE: NASCAR Power Rankings: Kyle Busch is No. Remembering Alan Kulwicki: NASCAR's tragic maverick champion, Dale Jr. on Next Gen's 'surgical' steering and the challenge it presents, Dale Jr. tests Next Gen at Daytona The trip is scheduled to begin and end in Salt Lake City, Utah. The surprise call Jeffrey received to drive for JRM a few weeks ago was the latest of increased interaction this season with his uncle (who texted, "Nice beard" after watching Jeffrey in a TV qualifying interview at Phoenix). "The MMA stuff was a huge step in learning who I am and how hard I'm willing to push to be successful in something the whole dedication it takes to go in the gym and get beat up, and wake up the next morning knowing you've got to go back in there and get beat up again," Jeffrey says. (22:55) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Jeffrey was driving an all-black No. ", There is some irony here. Earnhardtwill run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at 2:30 p.m. at Nashville Superspeedway. The fight was the easiest. Kelley opened up about their familys background, We Never Talked About It Afterwards Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals He Never Talked About Death Threats Again With Sterling Marlin After Doing Him an Initial Favor. A graduate in Direction from "There's really no better combination than to be driving for your family and being involved in the family business," says Kelley, who says there's open inventory on the car for a few more races this year if sponsorship can be found. The Daytona 500 features a unique qualifying format that is not used anywhere else on the NASCAR calendar. Jeffrey would like nothing more than to advance someday to the Cup level, where his grandfather won seven titles, and be good enough to carry the Earnhardt name in the sport long after Dale Jr. retires. They are making major moves to strengthen their program and they made me feel welcome, Earnhardt said. I was young and I was stupid. You've got to be focusing on your car, around your car, understanding who you're working with, dealing with the people you're working with. Just five years ago, Rajah Caruth had zero racing experience. In 15 Nationwide races the past five years he has an average finish of 25.5 with no finish better than 19th for Rick Ware. Thats tied for his longest streak of top-10 finishes. Earnhardt Jr. drove the last decade of his racing career with Hendrick Motorsports, where he became teammates with Jeff Gordon. NASCARs 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of two Daytona 500s, Dale Earnhardt Jr., hosts his very own podcast, The Dale Jr Download on Dirty Mo Media. Larson has started the season slowly, but Vegas should be a salve. When Dale did a good deed for somebody, he tried to do it as quietly as possible. "I will be the first to admit I didn't appreciate the opportunities I had in the past," says Jeffrey, the son of Dale Jr.'s half brother, Kerry. Then another. 44 Chevrolet Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing. Kshitij is a NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. He. This is the first in an oral history series that remembers The Intimidator though the voices of those who knew the seven-time Cup Series champion, who remains one of the biggest icons in NASCAR history. He made his Nationwide debut in 2009 but has made only 15 starts since. Really enjoyed Jeffery.Great podcast!! Open the gate. I said, Dale, I dont know who it is. He said, I know who it is, I cant believe it. Gordons duties have squarely laid with taking the first half of the seasons schedule, while Earnhardt Jr. has taken over the second half. Ricciardo would have cried if hed heard Earnhardts comments, Jimmie Johnson to join Danica Patrick on Indy 500 coverage, Jimmie Johnson part of Indy coverage Can the Lions fix their defense? That was the kind of guy he was. "I've never really been the fighting type, but I guess once someone hits you hard enough and makes you mad enough you're going to hit him back, eventually. When it comes to what the family name means to the now 33-year-old Jeffrey Earnhardt, one word sums it up perfectly: legacy. " Jeffrey said. Others compared him to James Dean, whose time ended well before it should have. It was just like, OK, theres another guy that we got to race against that is good that we got to beat.. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices, Recapping the Daytona 500 with Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joined by his fellow NBC commentator and host of Dirty Mo Dough, Steve Letarte this week for episode 415 of the Dale Jr. Download. Meanwhile, Gordons experience driving in place of his teammate in the 2016 season gave him a greater understanding of the pressures that come with that territory. This is the 27th anniversary ride. I tried to emulate it and thats what got me in trouble early in my career. Just the openness of them to give me the opportunity to develop myself and make myself a better driver meant a lot to me.". 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