Dale Earnhardt Jr “Sorry Not Sorry” About 14-Year-Old Daytona Altercation Against Tony Stewart’s Former Driver That Angered His Own Fans

The reputed voice of modern-era NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr is undoubtedly the sport’s most beloved icon. Having charmed fans with his driving prowess, Dale Jr continues to enchant the community with his cheerfully mellow persona even in retirement.

Now a commentator for NASCAR on NBC, Dale Earnhardt Jr recently spoke about the one incident in his racing career that angered his own fans and how he is still not sorry about it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is not sorry!

How can fans turn against NASCAR’s golden boy? Let’s travel back in time to the 2009 Daytona 500. Racing against former Stewart-Haas Racing driver, Brian Vickers for the ‘Lucky Dog’ position, Dale Jr was looking forward to making up a lost lap. The event that then transpired left fans and the NASCAR community vexed at Junior.

In a recent episode of the Dale Jr Download podcast, the Pied Piper of Daytona said, “This is often cited as probably the one moment in my racing career when fans of our car were most disappointed in me or most embarrassed by me.

“We had a really fast car, rain’s coming, we lost a lap because of a battery issue or something. And I’m racing Brian Vickers for the lucky dog. And I know I got to get in front of him. We could have a wreck any minute.”

“I got a run off the corner on Brian and we have talked about this before. Sorry I have to do this, but he comes down the race track and I’m like, ‘I’m not going below the line, buddy.’ And he forces me below the line and I’m like, ‘You took my spot, you pushed me away, you pushed me down the track. I’m coming back up the racetrack’. Turned him, he overcorrected back into the field, big crash.

“Honestly man, I feel hardly little or no remorse for that ever since. We get on the phone and he’s like, ‘What the hell?’ and I’m like, ‘You ran me below the line, I’m coming back up to the racetrack to get back in line or get back on the track. I’m under you and you forced me down. Move, move up. Do you want me to lift and get behind you? This is not how racing works. And I no longer care what happens to you. You put yourself in this situation and whatever consequences come are because of what you did.’”

“I feel like I did what I needed to do in the moment. If I’d lifted in that moment, then Vickers gets away with doing that and everybody’s gonna race me that way from that moment on”, Junior added, revealing how he was not sorry for causing the wreck.

To this, podcast co-host Mike Davis said, “So, the point is, he’s still not sorry! Still not sorry!”

Dale Earnhardt Jr then quipped, “Sorry not sorry.”

With Junior now speaking out regarding the incident, let’s take a closer look at the 2009 Daytona 500 incident.

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Dale Jr causes the “Big One”

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Embroiled in a race for the beneficiary with Brian Vickers, Dale Earnhardt Jr attempted to pass Vikers on the inside line during the 124th lap. Not wanting to let Junior grab the lucky dog position, Vickers attempted to block the #88 car. With NASCAR implementing a ‘no-pass under the yellow line’ rule, Junior attempted to rejoin the horde of drivers. In the heat of the moment, the front lip of the #88 nudged Vickers’ car. 

Trying to keep his car under control, Vicker turned into the track, causing a massive wreck. The ensuing carnage then claimed eight more cars, also completely mangling the car of race dominator, Kyle Busch.

Matt Kenseth then went on to win the 2009 Daytona 500, becoming the only driver to win in a 17-numbered car in 20 years. Post the race, Dale Jr claimed the wreck was unintentional, saying, “Yeah, it was accidental. I didn’t want to wreck the field.”

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While the 2009 events may have left fans vexed, it is safe to say that Dale Jr has over the years won over the enthusiasts’ hearts.