“If Dale Earnhardt Jr Got Arrested” – Infamous NASCAR Legend Junior Johnson Drew Unique Parallel With Fan Favorite To Make Stunning Claim Back in 2013

We perceive sportspersons as the epitome of all good. They perform at top levels, under exceptionally tough conditions, and under extraordinarily high pressure. But sometimes even these demi-gods stray off the course. While Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t in the latter category, he does share a connection with Johnson.

Junior Johnson had a peculiar career in NASCAR, like none other. It was short yet eventful. He achieved a lot but simultaneously lost a lot. Junior’s career was probably the one career that was sui generis. Johnson was able to complete only 10 seasons with at least 20 races, as he began his career with an 11-month prison sentence for bootlegging, and ended it by retiring aged 35.

But he achieved quite a bit during that time, and afterward. While racing, he won 50 races. After retiring, he won 3 straight Cup Series with Cale Yarborough as his team owner. Overall, he spent 30 years as a team owner.

In an interview from 2013, he opened up to Sports Illustrated magazine about his arrest for making moonshine. While that story is quite interesting in itself, what was more interesting was what happened afterward.

The interviewer asked him, “Was it a big story? Can you imagine what would happen today if Dale Earnhardt Jr. got arrested for making moonshine?” Junior replied, “It was that big. They’d been after me for so long. Some of the highway patrolmen were friends of mine. I’d see them at the service station, and they’d say, ‘I about caught you last night’.”

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Truly a colorful character, and probably the once-in-a-blue moon talent (pardon the pun!) that NASCAR would likely never see again.

Has Dale Earnhardt Jr ever thought of making his moonshine?

As Junior invoked the Dale Jr card, it is pertinent to see if Earnhardt Jr ever thought of doing that. The commonalities in name exist. Could there be more in common that the two drivers have?

The short answer is “No”. However, Dale Jr owns a brand of alcohol that he recently started, in the same vein as Junior Johnson. Johnson started his brand, Midnight Moon, in 2007 after taking part control of Piedmont Distillers.

Besides, Dale Jr. and his wife, Amy Earnhardt, started their brand of vodka in 2022. The couple partnered with Sugarlands Distilling Co., to create High Rock Vodka.

The vodka is an 88 percent proof spirit; a symbolic gesture as Dale Jr’s most iconic car was the #88 he drove. During the launch of the spirit, the driver said, “When they decided they wanted to get into the vodka business, they said this might be something you’re interested in and they were interested in having me as part of the ownership team. I was patient and waited for the right opportunity.”

“I wanted to have ownership in it and have something long term that I could pass on to my kids. Everything I’m focusing on now is equity things that should succeed long term.”

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Dale Jr. was associated with Budweiser for a long time in his racing career, but we know now where his allegiances lie when he goes looking for his favorite alcoholic beverage.