“Right Down the Middle” – Honours Even Between Popular “Because of His Death” Dale Sr. and “Universally Loved” Son Dale Earnhardt Jr

A strong case could be made for The Earnhardts being the Royal family of NASCAR, perhaps even of American motorsports history. There was Ralph Earnhardt who laid the seeds for success, then came Dale Earnhardt who became the defining anti-hero persona of the word successful, and then came Dale Earnhardt Jr, the man who redefined the word success.

Having said that, despite it being nonsensical to a point, what if one was made to choose between the two Dales? Of course, not everyone can be liked, and not every question has to have a singular objective answer.

But still, who would be the better Dale between the father, who won seven Cup titles rolling straight into the Hall of Fame’s first class, and the son, who won the Most Popular Driver award 15 times, but never a Cup title, and still ended up in the Hall of Fame?

Well, NASCAR fans reached a rather interesting conclusion when confronted with a choice between the two.

NASCAR fans agree Dale Jr. and Dale Sr. are incomparable or else, equals

Reacting to a tweet posted by Racin RoundTable, a majority of NASCAR fans agreed that both Dale Jr. and Dale Sr. are “two different generations“, two very different personalities with two very different, but crucial legacies in the sport.

There were some who were able to pick one over the other, but for most, this battle was either a tie or a demand for a refund.

Watch This Story: Perennial Fan-Favorites Dale Earnhardt Jr and Chase Elliott Have This NASCAR Legend to Thank for Their Superstardom

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals the “breakthrough” conversation he had with his dad

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Was Caught Off-Guard by Ken Schrader’s Boozy ‘Bargaining’ Tactic

In an episode of his podcast, the Hall of Fame inductee spoke about an incident from the early days of his racing career in the Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) team.

This one time, an upset Dale Jr. faced the wrath of his father because he wasn’t in the garage fixing the car with the mechanics. Instead, he was sitting inside a room, sulking, having vodka and cigarettes.

After the senior Earnhardt tried talking some sense into his son in his usual way, unusually, the son talked back to his father. And instead of the Intimidator shutting him down; he replied to his frustrated son with humility. 

“It was the greatest conversation we ever had,” Dale Jr recalled. “It was the first conversation, first real talk we had. And he went from, ‘You’re f*****g up…you gotta get you a** in gear,’ to, like, explaining to me.”

“It was the first time he really let me understand like, ‘This is for you, man,’” Earnhardt Jr continued.

This, for Junior, was “a breakthrough”, post which their relationship got better, for the better until what happened, happened.

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