They hailed him as “the intimidator,” and rightfully so. Dale Earnhardt earned that moniker for a compelling reason—an unwavering determination that defined his racing career. Perhaps that’s precisely why he remains an indelible legend, etched into the collective memory of all who witnessed his prowess.

While many recall his on-track persona, a select few hold his memories even closer to their hearts. Naturally, the list encompasses his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and his daughter, Kelley Earnhardt. However, there’s one more name on that list, one who is committed to preserving the legacy of Dale Sr for eternity: Rick Hendrick.

Dale Earnhardt Jr and Rick Hendrick share a priceless connection through a unique keepsake

Even though Dale Earnhardt Sr spent the majority of his illustrious career with Richard Childress and never had the chance to collaborate with Hendrick Motorsports, it’s heartwarming to discover that Rick Hendrick maintains a deep reverence for the legendary driver.

In a recent episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, a captivating revelation emerged regarding the same. It turns out that Dale Jr is the proud owner of something incredibly rare, a commodity that he shares with Rick Hendrick alone.

It is a racing uniform worn by Dale Earnhardt Sr. during the 1981 season in the Cup series. These uniforms were in limited supply back then, with only a handful in circulation. Remarkably, one of these uniforms is now in the possession of Rick Hendrick, shedding light on another facet of his character, and the other one is with Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr elaborated, saying, “Most recently, I acquired one of Dad’s 1981 season cup uniforms. Rick Hendrick also has another 1981 Cup uniform. So two of possibly the only 2 in existence. Back then, how many did they have, right? They had two, maybe three. So, I believe that Rick Hendrick and me own the only two 1981 uniforms in existence. So Rick sent me a text; in that text was the 1981 Dale Earnhardt Cup uniform, a 1982 or 1983 white Dale Earnhardt uniform. And then there was another uniform, that was Dad’s Suzuka AC Delco uniform when he went to Japan. So, pretty cool to see those types of uniforms popping up from time to time.”

However, it seems that Dale Earnhardt Jr’s journey to preserve his father’s legacy is far from over. He harbors a desire to acquire another significant item that was once a part of his father’s life, one that he intends to proudly display in his office.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr has discovered a way to add his father’s cherished memorabilia to his office

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While Dale Jr possesses Dale Earnhardt Sr’s racing suit, he has expressed a heartfelt desire to acquire his father’s helmet as well. During a conversation with his sister on his podcast, he shared this heartfelt aspiration. However, given the rarity of helmets used during that era, Dale Jr had to think creatively to fulfill his wish.

He explained, “I don’t have the helmet. There’s a fan out there that comes from time to time, and he has built a replica Magnum helmet from 1981, dad wore. […] This very incredible fan has made a perfect replica of the same. Now I am going to bring it in here, and set it in here, and put the helmet up there on the shelf.”

The endeavor showcases Dale Earnhardt Jr’s unwavering admiration for his father. In an age where most enthusiasts might opt for diecast replicas of their favorite cars or drivers, the personal connection forged through possessing an authentic uniform or helmet worn by a racing legend reveals a deeper and more sentimental side of the sport, as well as Rick Hendrick’s involvement in preserving racing history.

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