“Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said these words ecstatically in December last year and enthralled his fans. That is because the 26-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner was bringing back his iconic car number that he had worn since 1999. As he overcame a 16-year-long legal fight with his stepmother, an NFL star is now standing in his way. Yet fans remember Teresa Earnhardt even in this mess.

The late Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s wife drummed up a sketchy reputation in the NASCAR community for holding onto something dear to Dale Jr. She finally let go of her possession last year, with Dale Jr. softening his approach towards her. But fans have yet to take that soft stance.

After the Intimidator passed away in February 2001, a rift appeared in DEI. Dale Earnhardt Jr struggled to find common ground with his stepmother, as Teresa held onto the No. 8 car’s trademark rights. She refused to yield it to her stepson even as he won with the No. 8 between 1999 and 2007. But last year, Teresa surprisingly let the rights of the No. 8 expire without any effort to renew them. That prompted Earnhardt Jr. to make a claim for his old familiar No. 8, which he continues to race in short-track late-model races. But even as the veteran cherishes a nostalgic reunion, a Teresa 2.0 has emerged to muddle up his plans.

On 3rd April, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took legal action to block Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s trademark attempt of the No. 8. According to Jackson’s attorneys, Dale Jr’s mark would conflict with the two-time NFL MVP’s “Era 8” brand. This covers a variety of bags as well as “bottoms as clothing, footwear, headwear, tops as clothing (and) undergarments.” The filing added, “(Earnhardt Jr.’s) mark falsely suggests a connection with persons, living or dead, namely, Lamar Jackson, who is well known by the number 8.”

Apparently, Lamar Jackson has no issue with the old familiar No. 8 logo that Dale Earnhardt Jr raced between 1999 and 2007. A second No. 8, also slanted but in a different font, has emerged. This is what Jackson’s filing said would lead purchasers to “Earnhardt Jr.’s registration could falsely imply a connection between the two athletes and infringe on his established right” If that No. 8 is registered, Jackson argued, Earnhardt Jr. would receive a “nationwide exclusive right to use a mark that is likely to cause confusion” and “create a false suggestion of a connection” with Jackson.

Dale Earnhardt Jr wheeled the legendary red Budweiser No. 8 scheme last year. He put up a spectacular performance at the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway. Despite Lamar Jackson’s legal complaint, Dale Jr has already lined up his next plan. He will pilot the No. 8 JR Motorsports entry at Tri-County Speedway in October. The zMAX CARS Tour races at the Granite Falls, North Carolina facility on October 4.

And NASCAR fans are all in to watch him compete. In addition to dissing Lamar Jackson’s legal move, they also compared him with Dale Jr.’s old rival – his stepmother.

NASCAR community detects a similarity

Well, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s army of fans has always disliked Teresa Earnhardt. Her strained relationship with the 15-time Most Popular Driver in NASCAR has not exactly contributed to a healthy reputation. The memories of Teresa denying Dale Jr his rightful No. 8 ownership are still fresh in fans’ minds, so they could not help linking her to Lamar Jackson. One fan wrote, “Did Teresa put Lamar up to this?” Lamar Jackson has already filed a lawsuit against Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who applied to trademark the word “EIGHT.” So another fan rubbed their eyes in disbelief that this time it is somebody else and not Teresa who was bothering Dale Jr. “Hilarious!!!! You mean Teresa isn’t to blame!?!?”

Another fan dissected this legal matter intensely. As mentioned before, Lamar Jackson’s attorneys are not challenging Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s use of his old logo. So the fan wrote about how impossible Jackson’s argument would have been in that case. “If my understanding of trademark is correct, Dale’s only trademarking the stylized version of the 8 which was previously held by his step-mom. Unless Jackson is trying to use that same stylized 8. And if so, he’d have to prove he’s more associated with that version of the #8 than Dale Jr was. Honestly he had a better chance fighting Teresa over it.” 

Lamar Jackson has a solid NFL reputation himself. He recently became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 800 yards in a single season. Despite this formidable presence, a NASCAR fan still scoffed at his ability to challenge the Earnhardts, jokingly referring to Teresa’s grit. “Evil laughs in Teresa….”You think you’re going to stop this legacy i’ve built??!?! Hahahaha!!” 

Evidently, fans still cannot shake off the notion that Teresa Earnhardt is at loggerheads with Dale Jr. Now, the NASCAR veteran is facing an NFL star – let us wait and see where this legal suit proceeds.