The bond between a father and a son is truly special. From arriving into this world to learning everything about it to growing old together, the relationship goes through different phases of life with unwavering strength. But sometimes, it can also undergo some complications, making things tough for both sides. Dale Earnhardt Jr. understands it very well, having faced it with his legendary late father at times.

However, breaking his age-old beliefs about his father’s feelings toward him, one of Dale Sr’s long-time friends makes a heart-touching revelation that moistens Junior’s eyes.

Hank Parker reveals the Intimidator’s love for Dale Earnhardt Jr

Former professional fisherman and one of the best to do it in the country, Hank Parker, joins the Dale Jr Download as a guest in the latest episode of the podcast. Parker is a two-time Bassmaster Classic winner and is among the only four people to have won it twice. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always been vocal about his feelings for his dad and often sits down to reminisce on the golden and unforgettable memories that he shared with him.

However, according to Parker, the one thing that Senior was not particularly good at was expressing his love for his children. Having to endure a tough spot with his wife, Earnhardt was sure about his feelings but wasn’t strong enough to express them.

“He opened up to me at my farm one day.” began Parker, recollecting a story of a deep conversation with Dale Sr. “Just he and I, we’d been hunting all day long and I’d talk to Hank Jr. on the phone that’s back in the hardline days where we had no cell phone. When I got off the phone, your dad looked at me and said, I don’t know how to love my kid like you love your kid.”

“I said well we’re different Dale, we’re different. You love him just as much as I love Hank Jr., you just don’t know how to express it. He said, well, you know I’m in a broken marriage, and I’m not married to the mom, and it’s hard. I said you just have to let go. You are who you are, and I know how much you love your kids. You just have a hard time expressing it. “

Despite the hardships, Junior has always felt a strong connection towards his father and has utmost respect and admiration for him.

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Parker unearths an emotional truth

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“He never was able to express to you how much he loved you.” continued Parker. What came next hit as a wave of mixed feelings for Dale Earnhardt Jr. A sensation of happiness and remorse overlapped each other in Junior’s mind as he tried to understand Parker’s words.

“You always felt like he loved you when you won and he didn’t when you didn’t right? I could tell that and I’ve always wanted somehow to get you and grab hold of your shoulders and tell you how hurt he was that he did not know how to express his love to you.”

Being a seven-time champion in the Cup series, a portrayal of aggression and achievement, Earnhardt had always found it tough to open up as a father. Owing to complications in his marriage and having to juggle multiple problems in life, he just couldn’t manage to find a way through them. His awkwardness about talking about it made things worse as well. As the podcast went on, Parker said that merely speaking about it made him understand the love he had for Junior.

“He teared up and for the Intimidator, just he and I sitting in the living room. To share that with me, showed me how much tight we were as friends. But it also showed me a side of him that was sad because he really wanted to have the same relationship I’m outgoing, free to talk and I’m not intimidated to say I love you. All that didn’t fit his demeanor but it was in his heart and he expressed to me that day, I don’t know how to love my kids like you love your kids.”

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Dale Earnhardt Jr then replied that he would have loved to know about it a while back. Trying to get a hold of himself, the two-time Xfinity winner gets emotional hearing Parker’s words as memories of his father run through his mind. Better late than never, at least now Dale Earnhardt Jr. will understand more about the dynamic between him and NASCAR’s winningest driver after trying to emulate his success in his days of driving.