Go Washington! Dale Earnhardt Jr. has repeated this slogan for decades, and more now. The NFL team just made ripples during the National Football Championship, notching their first playoff victory in 19 years. What is more, Dale Jr. will watch his team in the NFC championship game after 33 years – something that made him nostalgic about his past fanboy experience.

Being the son of Dale Earnhardt Sr., you would think only race cars dominated Dale Jr.’s mind when he was a child. However, that does not appear to be the case. In a recent post on X, Dale Jr. revealed a nostalgic photo with his father where he can be seen cheering for the team he loves the most.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. uncovers a glimpse of the past

The latter quarter of the 20th century was a golden era. Dale Earnhardt Sr. majorly contributed to that memorable age, with his aggressive driving style and unbeatable 7 Cup Series championships. However, while the Intimidator was busy carving out a legendary career, his son was growing as a football fan. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always been vocal about his support for the Washington Commanders team. Back in December 2024, the NFL favorite beat the Philadelphia Eagles en route to the playoffs. Dale Jr. was ecstatic to see their win, tweeting: “Hey @Commanders. Hell of a job today. Proud fan.”

Recently on Saturday, the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wildcard round. To many people’s surprise, head coach Dan Quinn and stellar rookie Jayden Daniels did not stop the magic there. They led their team to topple the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional round. Ripples of joy hit Dale Earnhardt Jr., who among his posts congratulating the team, also included a blast from the past. Two vintage pictures featuring a younger Dale Jr. dressed in Washington fanboy attire. And posing beside Dale Jr. is none other than his father, the Intimidator. Dale Jr. wrote, “Still riding high like a jet airplane over last nights @Commanders win. Been on this wagon since at least 1980. What a year it’s been.”

The 2two-time Daytona 500 winner cannot get enough of the Commanders’ victory. Although he ruled out the prospect of having an ownership stake back in 2022, Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains a dedicated fan. He is not the only high-profile celebrity to root for the popular team. Kevin Durant, NBA player for the Phoenix Suns, was seen on Dale Jr.’s Instagram Story posing with Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr.

Besides a memory with his dad, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wanted another sliver of the past resurrected.

Old is Gold?

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The Washington Commanders franchise has transformed dynamically over the years. The first and foremost change is their name and branding. For eight decades prior to 2020, the team was called the ‘Washington Redskins.’ However, due to its racially insensitive nature, people lobbied for a name change reflecting broader social movements. The first suggestion was the ‘Washington Football Team.’ This interim name garnered backlash due to a lack of creativity – but at the same time, a few people appreciated its simplicity. Those people included Dale Earnhardt Jr. So when the team finally changed the name to ‘Washington Commanders’, Dale Jr. protested.

In May 2024, Dale Earnhardt Jr. professed his candid views about the brand image. “I think they should change it back to the Football Team, the Washington Football Team is a really cool name…I think most people who wrapped their brains around it were like I kind of like this, it set us apart in the whole NFL’s industry with that type of a name, and I don’t feel that way at the end of season one around the Commanders. Will I in a few years? Maybe it’ll sort of come normal and feel normalized to me but that Washington Football Team name was kind of cool and had a blank slate with jerseys and everything there and um that would be kind of neat I think to go back.” 

Well, Dale Jr. himself said he would come around to the name eventually, and now that they have secured a berth in the NFC Championship game after 33 years, he might just admit the name spell good luck. Will the Commanders go all the way? Well, their first giant to topple will be the 14-3 Philadelphia Eagles, who look to make their second Super Bowl appearance in three years after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. Interestingly, the last time the Commanders made the Super Bowl was under the guidance of NASCAR’s very own Joe Gibbs! Do you think the Commanders can make their first Superbowl appearance since 1992?