The Dale Jr. Download

Dale Earnhardt Jr welcomes in his father's championship-winning crew chief Doug Richert for a special edition of the Dale Jr Download. On the heels of the Becoming Earnhardt: 1980 series, the two dive into Dale Earnhardt's sophomore season & first Cup Championship. Doug was only 20 years old at the time, but he has plenty of stories to tell. Doug's relationship with Dale Earnhardt went beyond the race track, as he shares stories of the two of them spending time waterskiing on the lake in between race weekends. The #2 team started the season swinging, winning the Busch Clash in Daytona. From there, the team won races at Atlanta & Bristol and were early contenders for the Winston Cup Championship. In the middle of the season, Crew Chief Jake Elder leaves the team, suddenly putting Doug in charge. He talks about the abrupt transition to the Crew Chief role and what challenges he and the team faced. Dale and Doug discuss the #2 team's main opponents and how they weren't afraid to ruffle feathers along the way. Doug also shares the story of winning the championship at Ontario and why he got in trouble for taking an unauthorized victory lap in Dale's car. If you loved the newest season of Becoming Earnhardt, you're going to love this. And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Arby’s: Arby’s Cheesesteak is Here! Use code DALE to redeem $0 Delivery on any order in the Arby’s app.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns from Wine Country for a brand-new episode of Dirty Air. He joins co-host TJ Majors to unpack everything that went down when NASCAR took over Sonoma: During the Ask Jr. segment of the episode, listeners wrote in questions regarding: And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Consumer Cellular: "New customers get a $5 credit on first five monthly invoices. Visit ConsumerCellular.com/DJD for details. Arby’s: Arby’s Cheesesteak is Here! Use code DALE to redeem $0 Delivery on any order in the Arby’s app.

Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough surely won’t be exchanging Christmas cards in 1980. The three-time champion has had quite enough of the overzealous sophomore from Kannapolis, but as the season comes to a close, he continues to stand in the way of crown number four for Cale and the Junior Johnson team. Dale and the Osterlund team are going to have a difficult day in Atlanta, and his late race effort to gain his lap back will bring his rivalry with Cale to its absolute breaking point. The two exchange blows in the media, and the points margin stands at 29 as they head to Ontario, California for the season finale. Before making the trip out west, Dale is going to ink a sponsorship deal that he will become synonymous with for most of the 1980s: Wrangler Jeans. With a major brand behind him and his future secured in a five-year deal with Osterlund, the sophomore needs to go into the last race of the season and perform. Wouldn't you know it, Dale and Cale lock up the front row for the race at Ontario, and the dash for the 1980 championship is on. Will it be four-time championship glory for Cale, or can Dale Earnhardt become the first driver in NASCAR history to win a championship in his sophomore season after being crowned Rookie of the Year?

Dale & Amy Earnhardt are back in the studio this week for another episode of Bless Your 'Hardt! The two recap their 4th of July weekend in South Carolina, where they discuss the current state of their golf cart, the annual Independence Day parade, and how Dale gets the vacation blues when leaving to work the NASCAR race in Chicago. But first, Amy has a story about Isla and her "crush" at the pool. After that, we play a new game called "Poetry For Neanderthals" - a game where you must only use one-syllable words to describe the key word you are trying to get your partner to guess. This leads to one of the funniest stories we've heard yet from our very own Dale Earnhardt Jr. - the curious case of a hamster's broken heart. Last but not least, Ask Amy is full of fun questions this week, including: For more Bless Your 'Hardt content head to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@BlessYourHardt High Rock Vodka Drink of the Week – High Rock Mimosa. Must be 21 and over. Please drink responsibly. FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts, or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with one of the most polarizing figures in the NASCAR Cup garage, Carson Hocevar, on this week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download. Carson has become known for his unique approach to Cup stardom, be it weird hats or streaming on iRacing during rain delays. He fills Dale in on what drives this approach, specifically how he managed to get an iRacing rig onto the Spire Motorsports hauler, and how he has even gone into the garage after hours to sim race. Dale and Carson discuss social media content and their respective styles of creation. Carson recently came into hot water for comments he made on a stream surrounding the NASCAR trip to Mexico City. The guys discuss Carson’s growth from the incident and how this is part of the process of growing up in the spotlight. Carson talks about his path to the Cup Series, which began at home in Michigan in the quarter midget division. He explains that through help from former NASCAR driver Johnny Benson, he found his way into the late model world, and eventually landed a ride with Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series. Dale and Carson discuss his time at Spire Motorsports and how he seems to be helping the team elevate to the next level, as he has found himself running at the front this season in contention for wins. The interview also covers some of Carson’s on-track incidents, learning to rein in his aggression, and his social life amongst other race drivers Arby’s: Arby’s Cheesesteak is Here! Use code DALE to redeem $0 Delivery on any order in the Arby’s app. FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Shop Merch: Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff YouTube: And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns from the Windy City for another fresh edition of Dirty Air. He joins co-host TJ Majors to discuss NASCAR’s latest trip to the streets of Chicago and all the latest storylines in the world of stock car racing: During the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners wrote in questions regarding: And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Consumer Cellular: "New customers get a $5 credit on first five monthly invoices. Visit ConsumerCellular.com/DJD for details. Arby’s: Arby’s Cheesesteak is Here! Use code DALE to redeem $0 Delivery on any order in the Arby’s app.

Dale Earnhardt has been leading the NASCAR Cup season points for most of 1980, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing. In fact, stock car legends Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and Cale Yarborough have all been within striking distance at one point or another, but attrition has kept the field even. Engine failures, crashes, injuries, and team disharmony have plagued everyone in the Cup garage, and it appears the 1980 crown will come down to whoever can manage the chaos best. And thanks to Jake Elder’s untimely departure, Dale has to depend on a young, inexperienced, newly promoted Doug Richert to help keep things on track. As the season wages on, the championship contest really comes down to two: Dale and Cale. The two can’t stop finding each other on track, and things are getting tense. This will be Dale’s first real taste at a Cup series rivalry, and neither driver is willing to back down. Dale is going to again pick up back-to-back wins, including a triumphant hometown victory in Charlotte, but a disastrous showing in Rockingham allows Cale to close in as the season winds to a close.

Amy Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are back for another episode on Bless Your ‘Hardt. Amy and Dale are recording from the beach today, and this week has been full of surprise adulting moments. First, they managed to tame the courageous battle against poop in the pool…twice. Dale learned how to navigate the treacherous waters of a potential gas leak, and we played a fun game called “Name That Guy Thing.” Plus, we have Ask Amy and more! High Rock Vodka Drink of the Week – High Rock Mimosa. Must be 21 and over. Please drink responsibly.

It’s a trip down memory lane this week as Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with his long-time best friend Josh Snider on the Dale Jr. Download. Josh is one of the original "Dirty Mo Posse" members and has a brand on his arm to prove it. It's an episode of never-before-told stories from their young and wild days. The guys originally met at a mutual friend’s party in the late 90s and soon after became inseparable. The two shared a double-wide trailer where they raised all kinds of hell. From there, “Camp Chaos” was born, and the two would live out their 20s having house parties and enjoying Dale’s budding success as he progressed in his NASCAR career. Josh recalls his first encounters with Dale Earnhardt Sr. and how intimidating the Intimidator truly was. The two relive their hilarious prank war, which culminated in 2,000 crickets being placed in Josh’s bedroom and a fake pregnancy test spooking Dale. The conversation also details an epic road trip to pick up TJ Majors and help him move to North Carolina, Josh’s career doing PR for Martin Truex Jr., and how Josh got into the motorhome manufacturing industry. Arby’s: Arby’s Cheesesteak is Here! Use code DALE to redeem $0 Delivery on any order in the Arby’s app. FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Shop Merch: Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff YouTube: And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back behind the mic for another episode of Dirty Air. He joins his co-host, TJ Majors, remotely to catch up after the electrifying race at Atlanta over the weekend: Race winner Chase Elliott calls in to the show During the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners sent in questions regarding: Consumer Cellular: New customers get a $5 credit on first five monthly invoices. Visit ConsumerCellular.com/DJD for details. Arby’s: Arby’s Cheesesteak is Here! Use code DALE to redeem $0 Delivery on any order in the Arby’s app. FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff YouTube: And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia

Imagine being a sophomore, leading the NASCAR points with Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough breathing down your neck. That was Dale Earnhardt’s reality in May of 1980. He and the Osterlund Team are fresh off back-to-back wins in hot pursuit of more trophies, but the competition is heating up. The young outfit gets a lesson in stock car excellence from Buddy Baker and Waddell Wilson, as Dale has a rematch with the Gray Ghost at Talladega. After a quiet race at Nashville and an engine failure at Dover, things begin boiling over in the 2-car’s garage. As the Cup Series returns home for World 600 weekend, there was a tension you could cut with a knife between team management and legendary crew chief Jake Elder. The decision is made to turn their focus away from their Cup program to run the Mello Yello 300 Late Model Sportsman race, and Jake declares he’s had enough. To make matters worse, the weekend proves disastrous when a cut tire dashes Dale’s hopes of a hometown victory and slashes his points lead in half. The next day, Dale and the Osterlund team get a harsh reminder of why they call Jake Elder: “Suitcase”.

Dale and Amy are back after a successful trip to Pocono over the weekend and are now enjoying the beach. After telling people last week about losing her phone, fans responded with places they’ve lost their phone. Dale and Amy took the girls to Pocono with them over the weekend and enjoyed a trip to Hersheypark. The weekend was capped off with a win for Dale as the crew chief for Connor Zilisch. Who created the phrase “Yacht Rock”? Dale had an urge for Fruit Rollups the other day, and that took them down memory lane, thinking about nostalgic snacks. Then, Dale and Amy discuss if brunch is overrated, if captions on TV are allowed, if avocados are good, are adults allowed to wear graphic t-shirts, and more. Plus, Ask Amy: Visit High Rock Vodka dot com to find a bottle near you. Please remember to drink responsibly, must be 21 and over.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. welcomes in NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez for the first time on the Dale Jr. Download to discuss his historic win in Mexico, what his future holds, and how he rises to pressure-packed moments. After one of the most meaningful wins of his career, Dale Jr. and Daniel Suarez sit down to discuss Daniel’s Mexico race weekend experience. He shares what it was like to have 90% of the fans in the stands cheering for him, and how he stayed focused during the weekend. He also dives into his journey to U.S. citizenship and what it was like growing up racing in Mexico. He opens up on the challenges he faced moving to the United States and trying to race without knowing the language. Daniel also provides an update on what his racing endeavors will be beyond the 2025 season and shares how the biggest pressure he has faced in his career has been off the race track. It’s an honest, open, and authentic conversation that you won’t want to miss. Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff. And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia FanDuel disclaimer: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts, or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns from the pit box to the studio for a new episode of Dirty Air. After making his debut as a NASCAR Xfinity Series crew chief and helping Connor Zilisch find Victory Lane, Connor joins Dale as a special co-host to relive their remarkable weekend: Plus, during Ask Jr., listeners sent in questions regarding: And, during Dirty Mo Dough, the guys chat about the mid-season bracket challenge. Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff. And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia FanDuel disclaimer: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts, or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. Consumer Cellular disclaimer: New customers get a $5 credit on first five monthly invoices. Visit ConsumerCellular.com/DJD for details.

It’s February of 1980, and Dale Earnhardt is hungry to return to victory lane. The Osterlund-2 car hasn't brought home a win since David Pearson filled in for Dale at the Southern 500 the previous year. Plus, with a new contract and sponsorship comes expectations, so needless to say, he’s eager to hold up his end of the bargain. Thankfully, he won’t have to wait long, as he overcomes adversity at Atlanta for his first speedway win and follows it up with a repeat at Bristol. He quickly goes from a potential flash-in-the-pan, one-time winner to etching his name into the NASCAR history books. But racing is a humbling sport, and his jubilation won’t last long. More engine problems and a lack of speed would relegate him back to the middle of the pack, and that pressure to perform would build up again. Unfortunately, this time, the pressure pushes Dale to make a blunderous mistake on the opening lap of the spring Martinsville event, and he has a run-in with a fella you never want to cross: King Richard Petty.

Amy Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are back in studio this week for another episode of Bless Your ‘Hardt. We kick off today’s show with Dale recapping his trip to Mexico City for the Cup race. Dale was impressed with two things while in Mexico City, and they’re not what you’re expecting. Next, Amy tells us about her spontaneous trip to Las Vegas with Tim Dugger’s wife and let’s just say, Amy found her phone safe and sound. Plus, Amy and Dale preview their upcoming family vacation to Hershey Park and joining Dale while he broadcasts his final race for Amazon Prime in Pocono.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. spends a little extra time with his Amazon Prime broadcast booth partners Adam Alexander and Steve Letarte on this week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download. After an adventurous trip to Mexico City this past weekend, the three had a lot of notes to compare on their respective experiences. The guys marveled at the state of the art Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez facility and how the stadium section provided a unique, grandiose feeling to the race weekend. They also share stories about working with their producers and how gratifying it is to receive positive feedback throughout a production for their racing insight. The three discuss how intimidating a television compound can be and how comforting it is that so many members of the NBC crew were part of the Prime productions. They also look forward to their upcoming time on TNT and anticipate what will be different when the move is made back to a network as opposed to streaming. The conversation takes a look at the Playoffs picture and how its changed with Shane Van Gisbergen’s Mexico City victory, as well as the ongoing RIcky Stenhouse/Carson Hocevar feud. They also answer questions in an “Ask The Booth” segment, sharing what their go-to booth snacks are, thoughts on the In-Season Tournament & the funniest moment that has happened to them on air this season. Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff. And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia FanDuel disclaimer: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts, or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made the epic journey home from Mexico City, and he’s back for a new edition of Dirty Air. He joins co-host TJ Majors to chat about his journey abroad for the NASCAR Cup race and more: Race winner Shane Van Gisbergen stops by the show. Plus, during the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners sent in questions regarding: Dirty Mo Media is launching a new e-commerce merch line! They’ve got some awesome Dale Jr. Download merch on the site. Visit shop.dirtymomedia.com to check out all the new stuff. And for more content check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia FanDuel disclaimer: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts, or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

With the scene set, it’s off to the races in 1980. The NASCAR Cup Series heads out to Riverside, California, to begin the season, and sophomore Dale Earnhardt is hoping to improve his road course performance. He will, in fact, finish runner-up to Darrell Waltrip, who, after a narrow loss in the 1979 points race, is regarded as a championship favorite for this year. Dale caps his successful West Coast trip off with a new season sponsor and a contract extension with Rod Osterlund, and he’s understandably feeling at the top of his game. He rolls that confidence into Daytona Beach, where he shows his first glimpses of supernatural ability on the superspeedway high banks. He makes a last lap pass on the outside of Darrell Waltrip to pick up his first victory at the track, the Busch Clash. But when all the marbles are on the line in the Daytona 500, he has to go toe to toe with Buddy Baker and the fastest stock car in the country: Waddell Wilson’s Gray Ghost. This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you, or online at BassPro.com. This project is in partnership with MRN, the Motor Racing Network, and the Appalachian State University Stock Car Collection.

Another year, another scrapbook. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back on his quest to learn the origins of his father’s legendary NASCAR career, and in this season of Becoming Earnhardt, he is unpacking the 1980 season. With the help of some family scrapbooks and his personal collection of racing artifacts, Dale Jr. is seeking to gain a deeper understanding of who Dale Earnhardt was before his seven championships and numerous wins. In the first episode of this season, we set the scene of 1980, both in the world of motorsports and the world at large. The star of our story, Dale Earnhardt, is fresh off winning the NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year in 1979, ready to take on the mainstays of stock car racing with his Osterlund Racing crew. His path to stardom goes through the legends of the day, such as Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and David Pearson, but with veteran crew chief Jake Elder atop the pit box, Dale is feeling confident in his chances. The goal is a season championship ring, but before he can get there, he will have to weather the storms of competition, attrition, and personality. This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you, or online at BassPro.com. This project is in partnership with MRN, the Motor Racing Network, and the Appalachian State University Stock Car Collection.