Who is the Greatest Athlete of All-time? The GOAT debate often sees sports fans batting out for their stars. For the most part, the likes of Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Babe Ruth, and Mohammed Ali are the names that often dominate such conversations. However, this sentiment isn’t shared by all, at least not by Supercross Racing star, Aaron Plessinger. For him, the larger-than-life personality and domination of Dale Earnhardt rightly justifies the tag of a GOAT athlete.

The motorsports community was taken aback by a Daytona Supercross champion’s surprising homage to Dale Earnhardt, leaving Dale Jr. perplexed as comments circulated on social media. And ever since Plessinger’s homage social media has been abuzz, with fans demanding a crossover between NASCAR and Supercross on the Dale Jr. Download. Take a look for yourself at how Plessinger tipped his hat to one of the greatest drivers to race in NASCAR.

Dale Earnhardt still remains an influential figure in the motorsports world

In motorsports, the name Dale Earnhardt is still prominent. NASCAR champions award their victory to him, fans celebrate his legacy, and the Intimidator’s legacy endures. But Supercross? Both fan groups went crazy when Aaron Plessinger unexpectedly mentioned Earnhardt in his post-race interview following a fiercely contested top-10 finish at the Detroit Supercross.

Plessinger, known for his wild post-race interviews and never-filtered enthusiasm, in his speech, said, “I love this place and we’re always doing it for Dale. It’s a good night, I’m gonna celebrate with my family and I just gotta give it up to the whole team rebels KTM factory racing, Thor, Porsche unlimited, Alpine store, Oakley. My mechanic J, everybody else I forgot, my mom and dad, my grandma is back at home watching, and yeah my whole family.”  

It wasn’t just his words that showcased his fandom for the Intimidator. Plessinger had the iconic #3 Goodwrench car printed on his t-shirt. Well, his Instagram feed also pays tribute to Dale Sr. from time to time and it goes to show how deep-rooted Intimidator’s influence is on the motorsports world. Plessinger also dedicated this solid performance to his friend who was diagnosed with cancer.

“First off I wanna dedicate this to my buddy who just got diagnosed with cancer Jesse Waters he’s back at home watching ‘This one’s for you dawg’ and yeah I gotta give it up to the whole team they’ve been behind me believing in me and two 22nd place finishes a 7th, 8th, 9th it’s been a ride but we pulled it off and I love this track.”

Reactions from fans swiftly raged in, ranging from demands for an official crossover to laughs. It’s crucial to comprehend the shared past that made Plessinger’s moment so surprisingly appropriate before delving into the reasons it became so popular. Given all the noise and hype that this interview got on social media, Dale Jr. had to intervene. A confused Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to Twitter (X) almost immediately after the clip surfaced, posting: “What is going on!!??!!”   

Well, seeing Jr. react to the interview, fans went on an overdrive and then followed a wave of reactions. Some wanted, Plessinger to be on DJD, while others were simply glad to see NASCAR heroes being celebrated even to this day.

Trending

1

Kevin Harvick’s Son Upset As He Announces 4-Word Exit From Dream Debut With Dale Jr.

2

“Rest in Peace”- Devastated Kurt Busch Left Mourning the Shocking Loss of Dear Friend

3

Fans Out for Austin Dillon’s Blood After He Throws a Wrench in Kyle Busch’s Dream Run at COTA

4

Former Joe Gibbs Driver Launches 5 Word Hateful Diss at Fellow Driver as New NASCAR Rivalry Heats Up

5

Dale Earnhardt Jr Left Worried About JRMs Future Amidst Growing Tensions

Fans react to Dale Sr.’s tribute at Daytona International Speedway

Fans Demand the Crossover—“Put AP on the Dale Jr. Download!”, What began as a moment of confusion swiftly grew into something more significant. All of a sudden, it seemed obvious. Plessinger was the ideal fit for Dale Jr.’s well-liked podcast. The message was loud and clear—this wasn’t just a one-off viral moment. Plessinger’s infectious personality, love for racing history, and now, his unexpected tribute made him a perfect guest for Earnhardt Jr.’s wildly popular podcast.

“Also, Aaron would be a phenomenal guest on your podcast. Genuinely loves people, America, and your dad!” a fan added. At a time when NASCAR is looking to attract more eyeballs to the sport, this crossover does make sense. It will be interesting for fans to know how Plessinger is still influenced by the Intimidator along with different storylines that follow.

“This isn’t new Dale, but glad you’re seeing it. Your father is an icon that transcends motorsports.” This comment comes at a time Jr. wasn’t sure if his father would be remembered by the future generations. “My fear is that he’ll one day 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.” If we are to go by comments, it is clear that Intimidator is here to stay.

Now we know how few ardent NASCAR fans have distanced themselves from the sport. Ever since the parity racing and format started to take center stage, the real heroes and race car drivers became secondary. This wasn’t the case back in the day, which was evident from this fan’s reaction. “I’m 47. Been saying this since I was 16. I remember being a little boy playing with my wrangler Montecarlo. Dale has always been a staple here in the south. Especially NC. Glad to see the newer generation love him as much as we did. It’s awesome.”

Truth be told Dale Earnhardt’s NASCAR legacy is going to be celebrated regardless of the shift towards a new generation.