Dale Earnhardt Jr. loves the quote, “Do it for Dale.” It’s a comforting thought for the 50-year-old that his father’s legacy remains well and truly alive when he hears those four words from fans. After all, the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr. is arguably the most iconic NASCAR driver of all time, with seven Cup Series titles to his name. Despite the Intimidator’s passing in 2001, fans continue to keep a special place in their hearts for the racer, whose unparalleled influence has changed the sport forever.

However, despite Dale Earnhardt’s stature, Junior has some fears regarding his father’s legacy. Speaking on YouTuber with racer Cleetus McFarland, the 50-year-old revealed his insecurities in a candid conversation on the latest iteration of his podcast.

A legacy that will stand the test of time

The world of NASCAR has not seen a finer driver than Dale Earnhardt. Known for his aggressive style, ‘The Intimidator’ dominated the stock car racing world for years, building a larger-than-life persona after achieving tremendous success on the track. While he remains etched in the memories of fans despite his passing over two decades ago, Dale Jr. fears that time may erode the memories of his father’s contributions to the sport.

Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, the veteran racing driver revealed, “My fear is that he’ll one day just be forgotten with time. My worry would be that he would just disappear into the distance right? As we get further and further removed from his career, I was like, ‘Hey I just hope he’s never forgotten’ because he left such an impact on the sport.” Revealing how words like, “Do it for Dale” make him feel, Dale Earnhardt Jr. candidly said, “So that kind of thing is the staying power. That is the reminder to me, like that he resonated with people.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fears are not unfounded. While ‘The Intimidator’ remains one of the biggest icons of the sport, there is a very real challenge of keeping the legacy of past legends alive for the next generation of motorsports fans. However, it’s hard to believe that the iconic black No. 3 Richard Childress Racing car will be forgotten anytime soon, especially with NASCAR and the existing fanbase doing all they can to ensure that the Hall of Famer is regularly featured on social media, especially leading up to the Daytona 500.

Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s influence extends beyond his on-track contributions. His tragic death in 2001 sparked a significant change in NASCAR’s safety standards, which has ensured not a single fatality has taken place in any of the sport’s major events since then. His passing shook the motorsports world to its very core, and scenes from Daytona International Speedway from that day will remain in the memories of fans for years to come. If there is one driver whose legacy will remain protected for generations, it’s Dale Sr. and it’s not hard to see why.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the biggest surprise on his father’s death anniversary

Time flies… February 18, 2025, was the 24th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death. To think that ‘The Intimidator’ rounded Turn 4 of Daytona International Speedway for the last time almost a quarter of a century ago is mind-boggling. While the NASCAR community collectively looked back on the iconic driver’s illustrious career and many contributions to the sport on the day, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the biggest surprise from a random fan that tugged his heartstrings.

Sharing the story, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “I had a surprise today. There was a gentleman, that owned a race car, that was an RCR Dale Earnhardt car from the 90s. And he passed away and willed it to me. And the car is here today for the very first time. So I’m very thankful for that. What an incredible surprise. It was an RCR car still has the original orange interior. Dad raced it somewhere.”

While the specific history of the vehicle is currently unknown, Dale Jr. said that he would reach out to Richard Childress Racing to uncover more details about the No. 3 Chevy. In a bizarre coincidence, the previous owner of the car had removed the original hood, which was safely tucked away in Junior’s uncle’s garage for 40 years. The part was uncovered and passed on to the racer, who now owns the entire car just like his father drove it.