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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, speaks with the media without a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series patch on his firesuit during the Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, speaks with the media without a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series patch on his firesuit during the Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
Every NASCAR driver has had moments they or their fans are not very proud of. And Dale Earnhardt Jr. had one of those back in the 2009 Daytona 500 race when he pushed another driver out to win the race.
Dale Jr. fans joined the others, giving the driver flak for his move in the 2009 Daytona 500. Because Junior quite literally hit Brian Vickers after he got blocked. Of course, that didn’t sit with the fans at all. Even the commentators called him out on the move.
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One would assume things have settled after some 13 years. But it turns out things hadn’t really washed over because Twitter user Nick Paul recalled that very race as the most embarrassing move by his favorite driver.
The 2009 Daytona 500 has always stuck out in my mind as one of the only times I was really like, “what the **** are you doing?” during my many years of living and dying by what @DaleJr did on the racetrack. https://t.co/a0jidCZjUe pic.twitter.com/2QwQGA8JMB
— Nick Paul (@omgitsnickpaul) January 14, 2023
Yikes. That’s a big statement, but that’s one embarrassing Dale Jr. moment that stands out among the rest. But the Hall of Famer didn’t sit back and take the heat because he was compelled to justify his move in reply to that Tweet.
He explained, “Racing for lucky dog, had a winning car and time wasn’t on our side. Got blocked onto the apron and I decided to send him. Unfortunately he corrected back into traffic. Very regrettable. But I still get mad about the block today.”
Well, that is a good reason for it to be fair.
NASCAR fans supported Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the move
Sure, initially, the fans were not really supporting what he did, and even Junior knows it wasn’t really his brightest moment. But the reasoning he gave for what he did, put things more into perspective.
Moreover, a driver in the middle of a race is quite pumped full of adrenaline and in a very high pace, high-pressure environment. Of course, that often compels drivers to make aggressive or poorly thought-through moves in the middle of a race. Fortunately, the fans understood that and supported the Hall of Famer.
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
@DaleJr yeah, I’ve heard you explain it before and I don’t disagree with you at all. Just, in the moment, as a fan, in the 500…it was rough, man haha
— Nick Paul (@omgitsnickpaul) January 15, 2023
Still will defend you for this. Brian shouldn't of blocked at all. This was pay back for spinning you and JJ in my eyes. lol
— HD (@hdmz06) January 14, 2023
I've always defended this as you were just trying to reestablish yourself back on the track above the yellow lines
— 🏁Kolby🏁 (@K_Ray25) January 14, 2023
He deserved it. Never understood why people put all the blame on you. After all, he was the one who forced you “out of bounds” to begin with.
— Cole (@csbog7) January 14, 2023
Vickers def had it coming tho
— Michael Kelley (@real_mk22) January 15, 2023
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I for one was glad you sent Vickers. He wrecked you and Johnson at Talladega for the win and he always drove like a jackass on plate tracks. DW bitched at you on TV and that got goddamned annoying as well…
— Patriot M (@MizzellStorey) January 15, 2023
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WATCH THIS STORY: “Took Too Many Pills… Didn’t Mean to Kill Himself”: Dale Earnhardt Jr Seconded Martha Earnhardt’s Elvis Theory in 2019
So, do you think Junior’s justification is valid? Let us know in the comments.
