There are many stories of how NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt bullied race car drivers on the racetracks through his intimidating style of racing. However, little is known about his early days of struggle and grind from his dirt car racing days. For example, did you know that Buddy Parrot played a vital role in Dale Earnhardt’s racing career? The legendary crew chief had worked with the likes of Rusty Wallace and Richard Petty.

Now we have seen how ruthless the intimidator was on the racetrack. But it turns out he had this habit of playing with fire since his initial days of racing. Parrot, while revealing details about his relationship with the former NASCAR legend, couldn’t help but shed light on his personality trait. One that got them in trouble and fist fight against a home crowd!

Dale Earnhardt sparked a melee against Billy Scott’s fans

Back in the day, dirt car racing was big on the regional racing circuits. While NASCAR racing was on its route to becoming a mainstream sport, late-model stock car racing fever had already hit the race fans. Billy Scott quickly rose to fame, winning multiple events on the traditional short tracks. The track championship was the highest honor for any race car driver, and Billy Scott was indeed the king on short ovals.

Scott used to compete with both Ralph Earnhardt and Dale, who was in his teenage years. And he certainly created a ruckus with his unapologetic style of racing. Buddy Parrot recalled an incident when Earnhardt wrecked Scott at the Starlite Speedway, which led to a huge backlash from the local fans. Even the incentive of earning $20 wasn’t enough to keep the young intimidator in line.

“We’re going down the road, and he said, ‘Birdy, You got any money? I need some money to eat.’ I gave him $20 and I said you know Dale, here’s the deal: if you don’t get me in a fight tonight, if you don’t run over Billy Scott, you don’t have to pay me that $20. We’re in the race, and who does he spin out, Billy Scott?” Parrot shared this story via the Dale Jr. Download.

The legendary crew chief also revealed the aftermath of Earnhardt’s actions that turned the home support hostile against this crew. “And people are swinging at him and throwing beer cans, and he’s ducking. I see people flying through the air. Ferrel Harris had been there; he had come with me. And Ferrel Harris was a bad man. Ferrel was grabbing people and throwing them off the car. Needless to say, your dad still owes me $20.”

Now, it was indeed a tough task for anyone to contain Dale Earnhardt. However, as it turns out, there was someone from his entourage who straightened up a young Dale after having a near-death experience.

Daryl Cruz stood up to Dale’s antics

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Buddy Parrot, Dale Earnhardt, and Daryl Cruz formed a tight-knit group during the Intimidator’s early years of racing. As Parrot explained in the story above, for some reason or other, Dale certainly didn’t shy from getting his hands dirty. But there was one incident where Daryl Cruz slapped him for nearly crashing all of them in Parrot’s Cadillac.

“So this is a big old Cadillac, and we’re flying down 49, and we get out right about that curve where Love’s Junkyard was. Your dad hangs that old Cadillac, the right rear out on the gravel and dirt and it’s beating all up under the car, and we just know we’re going to die…Dale turns into Hudsmith Road, Cruz reaches over and grabs the keys, and jerks the keys out of the car. We got out the car, and Cruz walks up and slaps your dad; it scared us.” Parrot added further.

It’s fair to say Buddy Parrot and Dale Earnhardt were indeed close. And thanks to him, the fans will be able to hear about young Dale and his antics before he became a legendary driver in NASCAR.