Did you know Dale Earnhardt had a brief, wild stint with Stacey Racing before his legendary time with Richard Childress Racing? It didn’t last long, as there was a falling out just four weeks into the partnership. The separation was imminent as both thought and worked on different frequencies. But that begs the question: What was Dale Earnhardt’s breaking point?

Well, to be honest, there were quite a few, as ‘the Intimidator’ was not one to hold back his opinion. During his time there, he made it clear that the team was not doing him justice, and when it came to his first race, the signs started to show. Recently, an old newspaper article from back in the day surfaced on X where Dale Earnhardt made it clear that he would be doing something about the situation, giving us a throwback to how well-planned the racing legend was.

What led Dale Earnhardt Sr to leave Stacey Racing?

Recently, an article resurfaced from back in 1981, when Dale Earnhardt was ticked off at his new boss, Jim Stacy. Stacy had just bought Earnhardt’s racing team from the previous owner, Rod Osterlund, and the driver had been keeping quiet about the whole thing. However, after his car blew an engine during practice, he lost it and started going off on Stacy. At this moment, it was pretty clear that their partnership might not last much longer.

Earnhardt was vocal about his issues. He mentioned he hadn’t even seen a paycheck from Stacy yet, which is never a good sign. Plus, he was super frustrated because Joe Ruttman, another driver under Stacy’s team, had three of their engines. Earnhardt showed up with one, and of course, it blew up. So now he was stuck with an old engine from earlier in the season. Despite the engine trouble, Earnhardt still managed to qualify third for the Talladega 500, which was pretty impressive. His fellow Stacy drivers, Ruttman and Lennie Pond, didn’t do too badly either, but Earnhardt had a bit of a better showing.

Earnhardt said, “Something is going to happen soon,” when he realized things were not going his way. Earnhardt didn’t stop there. He also talked about how the team was falling apart—losing their truck driver and a secretary.

Things were not looking great for the team, as Earnhardt even joked that the sponsor, Wrangler, might have bailed if not for him still being around. The post on X shows how vigilant Dale Earnhardt was when it came to knowing what was right for his career. That’s how he became the legend he is known as today.

What made Dale Earnhardt such a legend in NASCAR?

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Dale Earnhardt was a legend in NASCAR, as he kicked things off by winning Rookie of the Year in 1979. Then, boom, the very next year, he went on to win his first NASCAR championship in 1980. But he wasn’t just a one-hit wonder; he went on to win a whopping seven NASCAR championships, tying with Richard Petty for the most ever. He racked up 76 wins throughout his career, and his aggressive, fearless driving style made him a fan favorite and a nightmare for other drivers.

One of his most epic moments was winning the Daytona 500 in 1998 after 20 years of trying. Off the track, Earnhardt was just as influential as he helped make NASCAR more popular by attracting fans to the sport. His iconic black No. 3 car is still one of the most recognized symbols in the world of motor racing. Even after he tragically passed away in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001, his legacy lived on. His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., carried the torch, and fans still honor Dale Sr.’s memory at every race.

Did you know about Dale Earnhardt Sr. driving for Stacey Racing? Let us know your thoughts on their partnership in the comments below.