One name that almost rings on cue when discussing the 1980s–1990s NASCAR is Dale Earnhardt Sr. He’s a true legend in motorsports, known for his unique style that perfectly matches his nickname, ‘The Intimidator.’ Earnhardt’s aggressive racing was a big part of his persona, but he also had some personal quirks that added to his intimidating image.

One of those quirks? His bushy mustache. Can you even picture Dale Earnhardt Sr. without that iconic facial hair? It’s hard to imagine, right? Well, recently, NASCAR fans were stunned to see a photo of him without his trademark mustache. And they quickly pointed fingers at the alleged culprit behind the missing mustache, but it turned out they weren’t to blame after all.

Dale Earnhardt gave up his signature look only twice

Owning 76 Cup victories and a record seven Cup Series championships, Dale Earnhardt was a motorsport icon. As fellow drivers and fans looked up to him as a racing idol, The Intimidator had to harbor a signature look. He donned big sunglasses perched above his dense mustache. But Earnhardt let go of that snazzy look only twice in his career.

In 1982, Dale Earnhardt’s fourth year as a full-time racer, his long-time barber made a blunder. But with consent, of course. Steve Ellsworth narrated in an ESPN story in 2015: “The first three times I cut his hair, I couldn’t touch the mustache. He liked that big bushy mustache. I finally talked him into it, and he said, ‘Oh Lord! Wrangler’s gonna fire me!”

In 1980, Dale Earnhardt was on fire, winning five races and snagging a Cup championship. That same year, he was partnered with a long-time sponsor who has since moved on. But it was in 1981 when Earnhardt started attracting some big names, like Wrangler. The apparel brand jumped on board and made Earnhardt the face of their “One Tough Customer” campaign, thanks to his brash and rugged persona.

However, things took an interesting turn when Ellsworth decided to steal Earnhardt’s iconic bushy mustache. Wrangler actually seemed to like this new, less intimidating look. So in 1984, they decided to feature a clean-shaven Earnhardt in an ad alongside Ricky Rudd. It was quite a switch from the tough-guy image they had originally embraced!

However, Dale Earnhardt was skeptical about his barber’s fashion sense. He even looked a little uneasy in the Wrangler ad. But soon after, the Intimidator shaved off his intimidating signature himself. In 1999, Earnhardt found his mustache a nuisance on a snorkeling trip with Michael Waltrip. So he immediately trimmed it off and was ahead of the Brickyard 400 race, and Earnhardt’s new look made headlines.

As the iconic 1984 Wrangler ad captured the attention of fans again, they were far from happy. They didn’t hesitate to fire shots at the sponsor itself.

But now, the NASCAR community feels enraged

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Over two decades have passed since Dale Earnhardt’s tragic passing at the 2001 Daytona 500. However, his memory is as fresh as a ripe apple in NASCAR fans’ hearts. Dale Sr keeps residing as a timeless legend, and his bushy mustache is a symbol of his legacy. Hence, a fan was offended when they saw the Wrangler ad: “Dale Sr. without his mustache? Sacrilege.” Another fan chimed in: “Dale Sr. without his mustache is just wrong.”

As aforementioned, Earnhardt’s barber set off the mustache-less trend in The Intimidator’s life. Yet fans directed their cannons at Wrangler for publicizing this oddity. One fan fumed, “Is it too late to boycott Wrangler for this?” Another fan sputtered in disbelief, as Dale Earnhardt’s sponsor was not new then. “Seems weird they’d get him to shave it. He’d driven for them for a few years already.”

When Dale Earnhardt shaved it off himself in 1999, he justified it, saying it would grow back soon. So one fan wished that the mustache grew back a tad bit sooner. “Legend says the mustache regrew before he even left the photoshoot.” Another fan denounced the look outright: “Thanks, I hate it 😂”

Evidently, a mustache-less Dale Earnhardt shocked the NASCAR audience. Being the symbolic look of his racing image, a bushy mustache will always be associated with the Intimidator.