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The NASCAR races that are hosted on the iconic track of Bristol Motor Speedways are often a unique spectacle and a treat for the eyes. The track owing to its distinctive structure delivers high-octane drama, a nail-biting thrill marked with climatic conclusions, and both the Xfinity series and the Cup Series lived up to the name.

However, for one driver, it was more of an anti-climactic conclusion to the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s stint in the Xfinity Series was nothing less than being called eventful, but was marked with a tragic occurrence that could turn possibly fatal in nature, if not for the timely intervention. Nevertheless, it seems that the driver himself has prepared the report card on his outing on Friday evening.

After a fiery outing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. delivers his verdict about the race

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Like his fellow counterpart and podcast host Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has adhered to participating and fulfilling his annual ritual of participating in the Xfinity Series. As a result, the driver returned back to the track of Bristol after a hiatus of 6-years. However, the prowess that the driver exhibited on the track, years after retirement from professional racing, was beyond impressive.

Dale Jr. on the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’ led for more than 47 laps and was on the verge of sending his car to the victory lane, but as luck could have it. With just 30- laps to go, the driver had to return back to the pit lane, after smoke bellowed from his car. Moreover, a part of the racing suit of his firesuit had caught fire and burned his suit. 

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Relinquishing his lead, Dale Earnhardt Jr hurriedly exited the car, in order to avoid any major disasters. Thus, axing his chances of earning a victory. Nevertheless, the driver seemed to be elated, even after encountering the horrors of motor racing. As the race unfolded, Junior seemed to be over the moon, which was apparent from his radio conversation with his crew chief.

Owing to this, re-posting a video of the radio conversation between him and his crew chief, Dale Jr claimed, “We had fun .”

Dale Jr. spills the beans on his fiery experience

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It was not the first time that the driver had a fiery encounter which occurred in Sonoma back in 2004. Nevertheless, it was the unexpected fire that threw a wrench at the hard work of the driver and jinxed his chances of winning the race. 

Narrating the incident after retiring from the race early due to the fire, Junior in his post-race interview expressed, “I see a lot of smoke around the dash and above the dash and I thought it was just some rubber build up on the pipes, I was telling the team about it so that they could see through the wheels and they might see a fire in there and that would keep is pretty calm, that would just go out or whatever, right?” 

“And then it was getting a little worse, smoke was getting worse and I had them boys racing for the lead right in front of me and I looked down at the leg brace and so I thought well I can’t keep going if I kept going I think it would’ve burnt me really bad, I don’t know if it went out but I wouldn’t take the risk,”

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Read More: “He’s Probably Pretty P*ssed”- Emotional Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals Touching Tribute to His Father Years After the Intimidator’s Passing

Nonetheless, a timely intervention by the pit crew members on the track prevented a potentially life-threatening incident involving Dale Jr. However, as a team owner, the driver was able to vicariously enjoy victory when Justin Allgaier took the chequered flag.