“I Didn’t Like [Ric] Flair”: Dale Earnhardt Jr Opens Up About His Dislike Toward the “Nature Boy” as He Reveals His Favorite Wrestler

NASCAR veteran and 2-time Daytona 500 winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr has been one of the most popular drivers the sport has ever produced. Even after his retirement from the Oval back in 2017, the 48-year-old has continued to captivate the fanbase without missing a beat.

While The Dale Jr. Download series of podcasts has made him quite a number of young fans, Junior’s presence in NBC’s commentary booth has also played a significant role in his rising popularity. Recently, the JR Motorsports co-owner dropped another fascinating episode, revealing his favorite wrestler while he took a subtle jab at the “Nature Boy,” Ric Flair.

Dale Earnhardt Jr slips in a poke at Ric Flair, sharing his dislike towards the “Nature Boy”

While the NASCAR nation was processing the happenings of an eventful short track action at the “tough to tame” Darlington, veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr dropped a bomb with his new podcast. The community even in its wildest dreams did not expect such a baffling collaboration from the retired driver.

This week’s The Dale Jr. Download podcast featured ever-charismatic Cody Rhodes of WWE. The 38-year-old who rose to prominence in the wrestling circle in early 2006 in WWE joined Dale Jr and his manager, Mike Davis for a wholesome chat. The trio dived into a variety of topics ranging from Rhode’s late father and the iconic wrestler Dusty Rhodes’ love for racing to Dale Jr’s icons in wrestling.

When the conversation took the turn into wrestling, Dale Jr got blunt about Ric Flair back during his NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) days. He said, “When I was watching the NWA as a kid I didn’t like (Ric) Flair, Flair was kind of the bad guy you know he was all talk.” Though the veteran is fan a Flair fan, he did not hide his respect for the wrestler and his larger-than-life persona, saying, “Now there were a bunch of Flair fans I mean you know obviously he’s bigger than life and especially here in Charlotte and a great guy.”

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He then revealed his favorite wrestler, saying, “Your dad [Dusty Rhodes] was my favorite, Magnum (T.A.) was kind of like his protege or sidekick you know as he was coming up and it was them two against the four horsemen you know.”

Cody Rhodes opens up about his late father’s Dale Earnhardt obsession

For ardent NASCAR fans, Dale Earnhardt will always be “The Intimidator.” No matter how many aggressive drivers rise up the ranks, the Jet Black #3 and its stocky driver had a different aura to it. Speaking about his late father’s racing obsession and his love for NASCAR, Cody Rhodes his admiration towards the late great of NASCAR.

“I dont know if you heard this before but my dad was a monster fan, and your dad(Dale Earnhardt) was his absolute favorite,” said the Raw superstar with enthusiasm as he went down memory lane. He further said, “So my sister was so excited I was coming home, my sister Teil because my dad sat there, he watched every race and he had a very specific taste.”

With the wrestler revealing his late father’s admiration towards the #3 driver, he got more into it, sharing the old-timer’s likes and dislikes. “He’s a showman so he loved your dad, he loved that there’s a presence, there almost a gimmick here and then the gimmick’s backed up by, Oh he’s that good, Oh my gosh and he had this not dislike odd, not into Richard Petty.”

READ MORE: 5 Months After the Bloodline Denied Breaking WWE Family Curse, Cody Rhodes Subtly Slips His Opinion on NASCAR to Dale Earnhardt Jr