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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – APRIL 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250 powered by Call 811.com at Martinsville Speedway on April 07, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
via Getty
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – APRIL 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250 powered by Call 811.com at Martinsville Speedway on April 07, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. got his entry into the Cup Series with his dad’s team, Dale Earnhardt Inc. Everything was going great for him, until his father passed away while he was fighting his teammate at Daytona. And Dale Jr. completely lost his way.
He didn’t even know how he can build himself ever again.
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Junior credited a lot of his success to his father and everything he taught him. He even complimented how successful they were together as he said in an interview with ‘I Am Athlete’ in 2021, “He knew how to treat people. He knew how to he just did everything right in my eyes. And then I thought, we were gonna do this together, right? And I was racing with for him. I drove his car, he owned my car, I was racing for him, and I was winning. We were celebrating. We got tight. We weren’t real tight for a long time.”
It really looks like the father-son duo patched some holes in their relationship when he started racing. However, when The Intimidator passed away, Junior’s life turned upside down.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost his way completely
Of course, losing his father put him in a very tough spot. But things went so far that Junior was unsure whether he could even bring himself and DEI the same glory his father did. He possibly even entered a rather dark state of mind, clouded by his doubts.
PHOENIX, AZ — November 6, 1999: Although he finished second to Jeff Gordon in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (L) and his dad Dale Earnhardt (R) had plenty of reason to celebrate, as the younger Earnhardt clinched the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series championship even though there was still one race to run the following week at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ — November 6, 1999: Although he finished second to Jeff Gordon in the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (L) and his dad Dale Earnhardt (R) had plenty of reason to celebrate, as the younger Earnhardt clinched the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series championship even though there was still one race to run the following week at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
He confessed, “and so, when I lost the man, it was like I thought I was on this path that was gonna be just this linear, smooth ascension to something great. And I thought, now I’m not sure you know what I’m gonna do? I could screw this up, right? I don’t know that I have the wisdom and the ability to do what he did.”
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WATCH THIS STORY: Resurfaced Video of Chase Elliott With Dale Earnhardt Sr. Before 2001 Tragedy Sends NASCAR Fans Into a Frenzy
Junior later made a name for himself after his father passed, becoming the most popular driver in NASCAR. But what do you think? Could Dale Jr. have achieved greater success if his father were by his side? Let us know in the comments.
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