Back in the day, appearing on MTV was quite a thing. From showing off a luxurious villa that could turn into a club in no time to open up more about your favorite beer, MTV Cribs was the experience of a lifetime. After all, seeing today Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a father of two beautiful girls, it could be hard to believe that once he had a bachelor pad where he drank a lot of beer!

Given that MTV Cribs is the show with which people connected a lot. There was a notion that this was the show that brought all the young crowds together. And Earnhardt Jr. seemed someone with whom the young crowd resonated well!

The show helped Dale Earnhardt Jr. with his massive popularity

MTV is one name that most people loved during the 2000s. With Earnhardt Jr. making a debut at around the same time, there couldn’t be a better way to launch him indeed. As he made a debut, he took the audience by storm. It was probably one of the most loved episodes of all time, and the men almost turned Earnhardt Jr. into their idol. This is also the time when Budweiser joined hands with Dale Earnhardt Jr., and it seemed to be a collaboration that stood the test of time and lasted decades.

The Crib episodes with Junior aired in 2001, and it is indeed nostalgia at its best. The show put forth that he was one of the most well-known partiers of the time and would get tons of beers delivered. So much so that distributors were under the impression that he sold it. And guess which brand he showcased?

None other than Budweiser! The show also featured his beautiful house that was just 30 minutes outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. What added to his fan experience was a beautiful Gibson guitar that was a dream to own for most people at the moment. Cribs’ showcase of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the ultimate bachelor with all the “cool” things made him a crowd favorite instantly.

As Jade Gurss, the owner of Fingerprint Inc., the PR firm that was handling operations for Anheuser-Busch and the Budweiser NASCAR program with Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat down for a Dale Jr. Download segment, Gurss spoke about the strategy. He said, “We knew because of who his father was because of all the racing media would cover him. We sort of knew that coming in. I could have screwed up a 100 times and we knew he would still be a big story within the racing industry. But my role was to expand that more into the general public.”

Further adding the impact of MTV Cribs on Dale Jr.’s PR and rise in popularity, Gurss added, “Honestly, we were trying to reach young men who drank beer, we wanted them to drink Budweiser. And that became my job, was to get a rolling stone to come out and spend the weekend with us and do a big feature about Dale Jr. That was almost like getting that snowball rolling. Then MTV came out and we did a brief thing with MTV. And then we did MTV Cribs and that was insane. If you weren’t around in that era, I don’t think people understand how impactful Cribs was at that time. And it just created this massive momentum and interest in Dale Jr.” Even his Gibson guitar, which the fans loved so much, had a premium “Budweiser” logo affixed to it.

One of the standout highlights from MTV Cribs was Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s unique bar, showcasing an impressive beer collection—a hit with young, bachelor fans. His association with the iconic No. 8 Bud car was solidified through this popular episode, which aired frequently due to high demand. Fans couldn’t get enough of Earnhardt’s episode, which MTV aired up to 20 times a month, making him a household name and amplifying his appeal among the younger crowd.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fame skyrocketed as sponsors flocked to him, especially after his father’s tragic passing at Daytona, which brought added public attention to his journey.

Dale Jr. to trigger nostalgia once again

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It seems as though the No. 8 Bud car and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are a bond for eternity. With MTV Cribs bringing Earnhardt Jr. to the spotlight, one could not help but spot the camaraderie he shared with Budweiser.

• From 1999 to 2017, Earnhardt Jr. had won 26 races in the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 8.
• The partnership has stood the test of time and ensured that it can add the best value for the audience. Earnhardt Jr seemed to be inseparable from this car.

However, recently the Joe Gibbs team made an official announcement that he will be seen getting back to the Budweiser paint scheme steering after 17 long years again! He will be taking the onus up in the South Carolina 400 at the Florence Motor Speedway on November 23, 2024. Recollecting his experience with the brand and the car, Earnhardt Jr. also mentioned, “It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”  

Budweiser and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a partnership that is for the ages. Can you think of any other driver who has managed to strike such a partnership with any brand?