“I’m Holding a Grudge From ‘96” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals His Only Enemy

Being competitive runs deep in the blood of NASCAR drivers. With just one winner who can claim the title, the drivers are ready to take the extra mile to see their names shining bright on the highest platform of American motorsports. And in doing so, the drivers often have to take the aggressive road to reach their goal, even if it is at the cost of others getting wrecked. And the history of NASCAR is replete with such instances.

While wrecking other fellow drivers is a common scenario on the tracks of NASCAR, however, the wrecked driver more often than not holds a grudge and seeks a way to pay back the dues on track. Apparently, Dale Earnhardt Jr didn’t get to do so as he is still holding on to a grudge against a particular driver. He revealed this on the latest episode of The Dale Jr. Download.

Dale Earnhardt Jr reveals the person on whom he still holds a grudge

Dale Earnhardt Sr was known for having his way on the tracks. He was always led by his aggressiveness on the track. However, his son is among the most mellow drivers in NASCAR’s history. However, it seems NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver of this century, known for his calm demeanor, still holds on to a grudge from 1996.

In the latest episode of his podcast, while conversing with Steve Letarte and co-host Mike Davis, Dale Junior divulged, “I am holding a grudge from ‘96, with a particular driver who is long retired, but if I ever see this a**hole on the track … Carl Edwards has not been to the racetrack or watched the race in 15 months. I don’t know, a long time, right?”

He went on to share the recent event in Darlington where NASCAR unveiled the updated list of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. In his characteristic storyteller tone, he said, “We have these 75 greatest drivers of NASCAR doing at Darlington, bringing a lot of us together. I am sitting on this stage with the other 74 greatest drivers. And so Carl is sitting next to me, so I am like damn Carl! I haven’t seen you so long. What have you been doing? He is like I am building a boat, sailing over to Europe.” 

Junior added that he and Carl talked at length as they waited for their turn to receive the honor when Carl was caught by surprise.

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Carl Edwards is taken aback after fans cheer at Kyle Busch in Darlington

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Continuing along the same lines, Dale Junior shared, “We are standing there and I am like yeah Carl; he is telling me about this boat, he has learned how to sail, and they introduce Kyle Busch and everybody in the stands started cheering.

“Everybody old here booed, and everybody at Darlington was cheering. And Carl looked at me and goes, ‘What the hell is all that about?’

“And I was like, damn you haven’t been here for a while. I was like Carl, Kyle Busch drives for Richard Childress now and everybody loves him, all forgotten. I laughed so damn hard.”

As far as booing goes, Kyle Busch has certainly turned the tables this year. With his move to RCR, several fans who used to consider him arrogant and brash have had a change of heart. Busch is surely matured and it shows.

Nevertheless, as Junior puts it, all incidents are forgotten, if not forgiven. Times have surely changed, and these drivers have shed their hostility. But these incidents are ingrained in the memories of the driver as well as the fans, and they don’t forget.

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