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DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 3: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. pose for a photograph after the Pepsi Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2000 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)
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DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 3: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. pose for a photograph after the Pepsi Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2000 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)
Following a crash, Jimmie Johnson injured his hand and will undergo surgery. Recently, he posted a picture of his X-ray and declared that he will focus on recovery. In light of this, former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr recalled that another 7-time Cup champion also broke his hand. Obviously, he was referring to his own father, Dale Earnhardt Sr, though the circumstances were a lot different.
I know another 7 time cup champion who broke the exact same bone punching some asshole in the face over and over.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 13, 2022
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It was no secret to Dale Jr that his father was very fond of deer, but not hunting them. In fact, he liked watching the animals simply roaming around his property. So, it wasn’t surprising that Dale Earnhardt Sr became protective of the deer. One person found that out, the hard way when they tried to poach one of the deer on his property.
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What did Dale Earnhardt Jr say about his father?
He said, “A guy was working on a big tractor during the day on Dad’s property. He saw some deer and went to a bar later that afternoon. Happy hour drinking with a buddy of his telling his buddy about the deer. The more they drank, the braver they got. They decided they were going to come back to Dad’s property around dark, jump the fence, and shoot one of the deer.”
PHOENIX, AZ — November 6, 1999: Although he finished second to Jeff Gordon in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (L) and his dad Dale Earnhardt (R) had plenty of reason to celebrate, as the younger Earnhardt clinched the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series championship even though there was still one race to run the following week at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ — November 6, 1999: Although he finished second to Jeff Gordon in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (L) and his dad Dale Earnhardt (R) had plenty of reason to celebrate, as the younger Earnhardt clinched the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series championship even though there was still one race to run the following week at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
What they did not count on, was for Dale Sr and his farm manager to choose that time to walk around the property. Naturally, the NASCAR legend and the manager heard a gunshot and promptly investigated. What tipped them off, was the sight of the spooked deer running helter-skelter.
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As a result, the two of them opted to hide in the treeline and waited for the poachers. When that happened, Dale Sr truly earned the nickname, ‘The Intimidator’. This is because he chased one of the poachers, who was armed, tackling him. Then, he proceeded to simply lay into the hapless person, even breaking his hand in the process. However, he managed to control himself, when he recognized his victim as his own farmhand.
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