“Put Dad to the Path of Greatness”: Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals NASCAR Hall of Famer Behind Dale Sr’s Legacy

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is filled with names of drivers and crew chiefs who took the sport by the scruff of the neck and completely dominated it. Dale Earnhardt was, deservedly, the first inductee to this prestigious club. But one of the most important persons behind his success was yet to receive the same honor.

Earnhardt had been a brilliant driver before Kirk Shelmerdine came onto the scene. However, the Dale Earnhardt that 1created history was a product of Kirk’s hard work as well. After the two became a team, they won 4 Cup Series titles together and 46 wins in the top competition of the sport.

Creating history with Dale Sr

Shelmerdine was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in its latest ceremony. Fittingly, it was Dale Earnhardt Jr who announced his induction with a beautifully written short speech. “Kirk would pair with Dale Earnhardt, who was a really good racer at the time, but Kirk put Dad on the path to greatness,” Junior said.

“So on behalf of Earnhardt fans around the world, it’s now my honor on this 20th day of January 2023, to represent the NASCAR Hall of Fame and induct Kirk Shelmerdine.”

Shelmerdine received a rousing round of applause for his mindblowing list of achievements. He set a number of records during his time with Dale Sr at Richard Childress Racing, such as being the youngest crew chief to win a Cup Series race. Shelmerdine is also the youngest crew chief to win the title.

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Shelmerdine’s 16 years at the top deserved this kind of recognition. Some would say it has come late, but that won’t matter to Kirk now.

Going full circle with Dale Earnhardt Jr

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2023 was not the first time Shelmerdine made it to the list for consideration to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 2019, he was on the long list, but couldn’t make the cut to the final list.

On Dale Jr’s podcast, his perspective was sought about the omission. But Shelmerdine had zero grudges. Zero. He described his thought process, and how he was just honored to have made that list itself.

He said, “The way I look at it, the list of names—if you look at the record books for crew chief stuff—my name is next to Smokey Yunick and Junior Johnson. All these people were heroes to me, were like Gods to me, bigger than life people.”

For Shelmerdine, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame would be a great achievement – but it was no end all. As a kid who aspired to make it to NASCAR, he had achieved all he had wanted to. Hall of Fame would’ve only been a cherry on top.

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The cherry on top was something he deserved, and he finally got it. If not in 2019, in 2023 but he got it. Congratulations legend!