Dale Earnhardt Jr Admits to Daytona 500 Envy Few Weeks After Asserting He’s “Done Taking Risks”

“I’m old, 47 years old…I’m done taking risks.” This is what Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to say when he was asked about making a comeback or even a prospect of a comeback to the NASCAR Cup Series in the future.

Earnhardt Jr, who filled in as a substitute driver for his former team Hendrick Motorsports for the Next Gen testing at the Daytona International Speedway, made it clear that he is happy in his retirement.

However, recently, a few weeks later after his previous comments, Dale Jr. is struck by good old nostalgia just in time for the Daytona 500.

“I miss it so much,” he said in a recent interview. “Wish I was strapping in and getting ready to run Daytona 500 this weekend.”

But Earnhardt Jr admitted that this is how it’s going to be every year for the rest of his life. That he is always going to miss the anxiety, the excitement, and the thrill, the lure of racing at the Daytona 500.

“I think that’s the way it’s gonna be every single year,” he continued.“Even when I’m way beyond, you know, the age of driving, when I’m in my 80’s, I’m still gonna be wishing, ‘Gosh, I’d love to be out there.’”

Dale Earnhardt Jr opens up on the nerves and anxiety

The two-time Daytona 500 winner admitted that throughout his career, he was “always bottled up” with nerves and anxiety, something “not super pleasant to be around.” 

“I really wish I would have enjoyed the moment more than I did, but I was just so, you know, I lived with this fear of failure every single minute of the day.”

Irrespective of whether in his own eyes Dale Earnhardt Jr lived up to every race and every moment of his career, there is not an ounce of doubt in fans’ minds that his impact, his career was that of a legend.

He might not be a part of any future Daytona 500s, but he’ll always be a part of NASCAR’s history, its present, and hopefully, the future.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr Dismisses the Family ‘Gene’ Factor With Kyle Larson & Kyle Busch Examples