Dejected Dale Earnhardt Jr Painfully Dissects Sonoma Nightmare Repeat: “I Can’t Keep Going”

All eyes were on Dale Earnhardt Jr who returned to Bristol after a 6-year gap. While the veteran looked like he was in his prime being in front, leading 47 laps at the half-a-mile track, promising the NASCAR nation a treat, things quickly got out of hand for the 48-year-old.

Ever since his retirement in 2017, Dale Jr kept his yearly tradition alive, putting on the helmet and participating in an Xfinity race every year. As the NASCAR extravaganza reached the short track, the packed stands with cheering fans were all set to welcome the #88 Chevy into the victory lane as Dale Jr. looked like he was about to take the throne. But fate had other plans.

With just 30 laps to the checkered flag, what looked like a dream run for #88 fans quickly went down in flames. In fact, Junior had to go through a fiery encounter again as his 2004 Sonoma nightmares came back to haunt him.

Dale Earnhardt Jr relives his ALMS horror in Bristol as the veteran scrambles to safety

Friday’s Xfinity Series race at the Bristol Motor Speedway was certainly anti-climatic. While Dale Jr’s driver got the well-deserved finish, he himself couldn’t finish the race following a fiery mishap that got the 48-year-old scrambling out of his #88 Chevy.

The race was indeed eventful and exciting for fans as Junior took charge, spearing into the front despite starting 15th. The Hall of Famer did not show any rust as he steadily chased down car after other to get into the top-10. Minutes later, after a caution, the #88 Chevy and its driver made the top 5 and looked like it was a grand commencement to his first start of 2023.

However, with just 30 laps to go, the veteran was literally smoked out of his car. During the closing minutes of the race, Junior, as he recalls it smelled something was really off with his car. While he shrugged it off, thinking it was from the car in front of him, a sting in his leg got his attention down, and noticed his leg was on fire.

Soon the veteran became aware of the situation, with smoke filling the cockpit. As Dale Jr details it himself, “I see a lot of smoke around the dash and above the dash and I thought it was just some rubber build up on the pipes, I was telling the team about it so that they could see through the wheels and they might see a fire in there and that would keep is pretty calm, that would just go out or whatever, right?” 

He further added that the heat was unbearable and if he were to continue, it certainly would’ve caused him a grievous burn. “And then it was getting a little worse, smoke was getting worse and I had them boys racing for the lead right in front of me and I looked down at the leg brace and so I thought well I can’t keep going if I kept going I think it would’ve burnt me really bad, I don’t know if it went out but I wouldn’t take the risk,” said the Hall of Famer. 

When Fox’s Bob Pockrass asked him if there was any extra panic given the driver’s vicious ALMS crash back in 2004. The JRM co-owner gave a little smile as if he was going through the fiery ordeal at Sonoma before giving him a detailed chain of events.

WATCH THIS STORY: Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals the tense atmosphere at Hendrick Motorsports after Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson clash

Dale Jr’s fiery escape and his driver’s tribute to his boss

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Though the veteran’s day ended in disappointment, Junior still got to celebrate. 37-year-old Justin Allgaier earned a spot in the next round after acing the playoff opener on Friday evening. Allgaier seized the throne after he led 110 laps to earn his 3rd win of the season.

The JRM driver had high praises for his team and crew. As per bristolmotorspeedway.com, he said, “This team has done such an amazing job at this racetrack since I started at JR Motorsports, we led a lot of laps, and the monkey was definitely on our back.” 

Though his boss got his pants charred in the fire, finishing 29th, the driver made sure that he took the veteran to the victory lane along with his old man on his #7 Chevy.

READ MORE: Moments After Escaping Harrowing Fate, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Crashes Xfinity Prides Party With Special Announcement