NASCAR always accepts talented people from other sports taking an interest in it. It includes Motocross-rooted Travis Pastrana, Shane van Gisbergen from Supercars, and Kimi Räikkönen from F1. But none as impactful as a former NFL coach with 3 Super Bowls, 9 team playoffs, and 4 NFC Championship titles. The man is Joe Gibbs, the former coach of one of the NFL’s most iconic teams, the Washington Commanders.

He has already left his mark on NASCAR with his team, Joe Gibbs Racing, debuting in 1992. Joe Gibbs is also the only person in sports history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in both NFL and NASCAR. But, he is not the only one having an affinity towards Washington Commanders.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been at the forefront of NASCAR’s success for a long time. But, his love for football roots from the Washington Commanders. He is a die-hard fan and, as a sports star himself, has bumped into quite a few opportunities to spend some time with the team. In 2017, Dale Jr. attended a training camp by Commanders and exhibited fan-boy energy. He was also lucky to talk in the 85th Anniversary Commanders Fan Stories show. However, the most exciting opportunity he got is on air now.    

Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently voiced the Washington Commanders’ promo for their NFC Championship match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 26, 2025. The Commanders are competing in the NFC Championship game for the first time in 33 years! It is a dream come true for many fans who awaited to see this, including Junior himself. He describes the excitement of football with the adrenaline rush of racing to give the perfect video script. The team hadn’t been in good for quite some time now but, Dale Jr. being the ultimate fan never left their side. But, why is he so attached to this team?

In December 2012, Dale Earnhardt Jr. went to see a match between the Commanders and Giants. Upon returning, he was so ecstatic that the next day he called ESPN NASCAR reporter, Marty Smith to share his overflowing emotions! Junior wrote his feelings down on a piece of paper which was later released for public view. In it, he wrote the reason why he loved the Commanders so much. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s love affair with the Washington Commanders

It all started in the note, which read, “The year was 1983, and it was my 9th birthday party. The gift from my mother was a Washington Redskins uniform. I had asked for just the helmet, but she took it to another level. The pants, the jersey, the helmet, she gave me the whole smash, pads and all. That was when I officially proclaimed my devotion solely to the Redskins.” The Commanders (then known as Redskins) won the Super Bowl XVII under Joe Gibbs. He also received the “Coach of the Year” award as well. It’s safe to say that he is one of the reasons why the Pied Piper is a fan and remains one.

Joe Gibbs held a position of status in a young Junior’s eyes. Dale Jr. also wrote in the excerpt, “As I got older, my loyalty to the Redskins thickened. In my eyes, Joe Gibbs could do no wrong. My role models weren’t holding steering wheels and mashing gears on Sunday. They wore burgundy and gold with names like Art Monk and Darrell Green.”

It seems like one of the most popular NASCAR drivers ever wanted to be a tough football player. Dale Jr. did idolize athletes, however, not from the sport he is currently a part of. What a revelation! But, with 2025 coming, his racing team will be up against Gibbs’ in the NASCAR Cup series opener at Daytona, as Junior Motorsports makes its first venture into the Cup Series.