“Drank a Lot of Beer”: Dale Jr Unmasks His Unconventional Ways That Set Him Apart From Today’s ‘Smarter’ NASCAR Drivers

NASCAR racing is a physically and mentally demanding sport. Just like any major stick-and-ball sport, NASCAR drivers also have a strict regime that they follow daily to be fit and ready for race days. Especially in the modern era of parity racing, drivers putting in the extra effort off-track truly make a difference. So, even if a driver has won a race, it’s rare to see them go all out partying. Rather, they are back on their recovery schedule to be race-ready the very next day.

However, back in the day, drivers didn’t have to worry about their physical or mental conditioning as much as they do today. Rather, everyone had their own unique way of preparing themselves for the next week. And for Dale Earnhardt Jr it was hydrating after going buck wild on the weekends.

Dale Earnhardt Jr was certainly a kind race car driver

The Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway was a real test for driver’s endurance and physical fitness. The treacherous hot weather, combined with the challenge of keeping up with the race, was indeed a tough ordeal for the drivers. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important for modern-day NASCAR drivers to take good care of their bodies to remain focused and sharp.

However, Dale Jr never had to undergo such demanding schedules in his racing days. Rather, he had a fun way of recovering after a race weekend, “Well, everybody’s different. I went home and drank a lot of beer. And I spend Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday hydrating. I wasn’t going to go home and try to drink a bunch of water and Gatorade and try to get it all back in one day.” He said this via DJD’s special segment, Ask Jr.

But he went on to explain why modern-day NASCAR drivers can’t afford to kick back and have a good time after a race weekend. “Today, drivers are different. You can’t go home and drink beer after a hot race like that. You gotta take better care of your body, and there’s not enough places to find advantages anymore, and I think the drivers have to be a little more smarter these days than maybe I was or a lot of us were back in the 2000s and so forth.”

So how exactly do today’s NASCAR drivers keep up with the challenges of racing? And what does their fitness regimen look like?

Chase Elliott shed light on a demanding schedule for a NASCAR driver

Trending

Kelley Earnhardt and Denny Hamlin’s Fiancee in Awe as Kyle Larson’s Mother-In-Law Enjoys Special Day

NASCAR’s New Victoria’s Secret Driver Has the Potential to Be Better Than Hailie Deegan as She Preps for Her Awaited Debut

Weeks After Suspension, NASCAR’s Notorious 18-YO Forced Dale Jr to Hit Back at His Tantrums

Martin Truex Jr’s Reliance on Joe Gibbs for His Daytona Dream Could End in Shambles With NASCAR’s New Rulings

Richard Petty Makes a Nearly $100K Investment Backing Jimmie Johnson Supported Sponsor for the Team

It has to be noted that a NASCAR driver has to undergo a serious amount of stress without any breaks or timeouts like in other major sports. Therefore, they must prepare their bodies and minds well in advance of a major event, which comes every weekend. As far as Chase Elliott is concerned, he prepares for a race by keeping himself hydrated to avoid cramps and fatigue.

“If you’re coming off a really hot race, you want to spend your week trying to catch up before the next one. You need at least three or four days after a hot one. If I get dehydrated, it’s my calves that cramp up fast.” The HMS star said this in an interview with GQ. He further added what he does to keep his body in shape and fit, and it’s not all about muscle-building or strength for them, rather, the emphasis is on endurance training.

“It’s not about benching or squatting the most, so if you lift, it’s about endurance. A low-weight, high rep regimen. You work your upper body pretty hard during a race, especially from your shoulders to neck. I never really know how to describe it, but there are certain muscles that we use that you just don’t use if you’re doing anything else,” Elliott explained.

So it is fair to say that Dale Earnhardt Jr’s recovery and race week schedule are just not something modern-day NASCAR drivers can follow. And that just goes to show how the sport has evolved, which demands ever more from the drivers.