The Dale Jr. Download

What is the state of Late Model Stock racing? Well, Dale Jr. had a lot to say about it after he competed in the 16th annual Hampton Heat 200 at Langley Speedway last Saturday night which treated fans to a physical battle in the closing laps between Brenden Queen, aka “Butterbean”, and Connor Hall. In the end, Butterbean emerged victorious, earning his third Hampton Heat win, tying C.E. Falk III for the most all-time. Dale Jr. came home with a 5th place finish. Today on DJD Reloaded, we’ve got Dale Jr. and Butterbean in-studio, plus Butterbean’s crew chief, Lee Pulliam, calling in to recap an exciting Hampton Heat, and discuss the state of Late Model Stock racing. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with Dale Earnhardt’s best friend, Donnie Rives. Donnie has kept these stories to himself, until today. It’s a heartfelt conversation swapping stories about the Intimidator from two people who knew him best. Donnie's first connection with the Earnhardt’s was through Ralph. Ralph’s signature “Earnhardt grin” left a lasting impression on those who knew him. Donnie shares moments of bird hunting with Ralph, along with the valuable racing advice he passed along to him. Both Dale Jr. and Donnie reminisced about hunting experiences with Sr. and came to an agreement that the Intimidator was an exceptional deer tracker, showcasing his skills in the great outdoors. With as strong of a friendship the two had, Rives shares why he turned down opportunities within the industry, particularly a position at DEI. The two finish off the conversation talking about Rives’ relationship with Teresa Earnhardt, where he details his respect for both her and Dale’s legacy. They discuss Dale Earnhardt’s passing and share heart-to-heart moments talking about what Dale Sr means to both of them. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss. 21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the Dirty Mo Media studio to discuss the heavily debated Brickyard 400 finish, and has an opinion that may surprise you. There was a lot of controversy at Indianapolis this year and the Dirty Air crew unpacks all of it:Should NASCAR have waived off the final start?How does Ryan Blaney feel about it now?Did NASCAR make the right call with the final yellow flag?Race winning crew chief Cliff Daniels joins the showPenalties or warnings for blending back onto the trackDuring the Ask Jr. segment of the show, listeners sent in questions regarding:Team Xbox or Playstation?Being in the Nickelback “Rockstar” music videoDale’s choice in glassesDale’s next project car21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

30 years ago, NASCAR ran the first Brickyard 400 at the storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway that featured the largest crowd to ever witness a NASCAR race. Today on DJD Reloaded, we relive iconic moments from one of NASCAR’s Crown Jewels with a pair of iconic drivers. Dale Jarrett, a 2-time Brickyard winner, and the man behind the tradition of “kissing the bricks” calls in to share his stories. Plus, Jamie McMurray, a driver who won the Brickyard in 2010 amidst a historical season gives us his favorite memories from racing on the oval at Indy. And we’ll even hear from IMS President, Doug Boles, on what this event means for the Speedway, and how this race has evolved since its inception in 1994. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director and former MRN Pit Reporter Winston Kelley to share over 30 years of stories from behind the microphone.Winston's career is rooted in his passion for the sport of NASCAR, dating back to his first job working on road for free. From there, Kelley has practically seen it all. He recalls working iconic races in the sport's history, including Cale Yarbrough, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon's final races. Winston was also Dale Earnhardt's final interview at the 2001 Daytona 500, and recalls Earnhardt's mood on the grid before the race. With a career behind a microphone comes difficult moments. Kelley remembers interviews with Dale Earnhardt after his multiple heartbreak losses in the Daytona 500, and the moment he was caught in the middle of the feud between Rusty Wallace and Earnhardt. As the Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Winston is living out his own childhood dream working with his heroes and building the legacy of the Hall. Kelley has been with the Hall since they broke ground to build the museum in 2006, and describes what it's like to watch inductees go through the process of entering NASCAR's most prestigious club. They close the interview discussing the best and worst interviews of his career. Between cutting it up with Tony Stewart after the race, to the poorly worded question that cost him big, Winston has no shortage of great stories to share. 21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the studio for this week’s episode of Dirty Air to recap all of the action from Pocono. After a weekend full of action from the Tricky Triangle, there is plenty to discuss:Dale picks his NCAA Football '25 Dynasty TeamWas Corey LaJoie and Kyle Busch's on-track contact a racing deal?Should Bubba Wallace have been fined $50k for dooring Alex Bowman at Chicago?Ryan Blaney calls inDale recalls epic paintball battles between the 48 & 88 teams on the roadDuring the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners wanted to know Dale’s opinion on:Tire options for the Richmond raceSting Ray Robb's crash at IowaDale is back on track this weekend 21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues his conversation with longtime NASCAR crew chief Gary Nelson to discuss his time at Hendrick Motorsports, building SABCO with Felix Sabates, and his move to the officiating side as the Winston Cup Director.Gary details how Rick Hendrick used his car salesman skills to sell him on a job at HMS. Teamed up with Geoff Bodine, the two went on to beat Dale Earnhardt in the Daytona 500. Nelson shares stories of Bodine and legendary Crew Chief Harry Hyde that inspired the plot of Days Of Thunder. In 1988, Gary was taken on by Felix Sabates to help build SABCO. With Kyle Petty as the driver, he shares the moment that changed the entire history of that program. He also shares when he was convinced he’d be fired after a shouting match with Kyle Petty at Dover.They close the show by discussing Nelson’s time as the NASCAR Winston Cup Director. Gary talks about the tragic on-track crashes he witnessed firsthand that stay with him today. After numerous fatal accidents, it was up to him and his team to figure out how to make the sport safer. His multi-layered career and honest storytelling make this interview an instant Download classic. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR crew chief Gary Nelson, who worked with legendary drivers like Ricky Rudd, Bobby Allison, and Geoff Bodine. In the first installment of this conversation, Gary dives into the intriguing world of NASCAR innovation.If you raced in the 70s with a 100% legal car, you’d be out of business, and Nelson is here to prove it. He shares stories of finding ways around NASCAR’s scales, new innovations in aerodynamics, and how many of his cars looked a little “too good” to the inspectors. Nelson also dives into the early days of his career, discussing his relationship with Robert Gee, learning moments with Darrell Waltrip, and how he was directly responsible for Dale Earnhardt’s first win at Bristol.Dale Jr and Gary also break down his give-and-take relationship with Bobby Allison, and what it took for the two of them to finally find success. It’s a conversation so good we had to break it into two parts. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the studio after vacation (or was it?) for this week’s episode of Dirty Air. After an eventful weekend in the streets of the Windy City, there is plenty to discuss, and Dale is joined by special co-host TJ Majors to lend his perspective from the spotter’s stand:Dale doesn’t trust his golf cartThe rain won’t stay away from ChicagoSVG and Larson have up and down weekendRetaliation after the checkered flagThe Playoff window is tightening for non-winnersTyler Reddick had a shot on the last lapDuring the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners wanted to know Dale’s opinion on:Ryan Blaney’s chances for the ESPY “Driver of the Year” awardNASCAR’s EV ProjectRodney Childers moving to Spire Motorsports in 2025 to work on the 7 car

Carla Gebhart is joined by The Teardown’s Jeff Gluck on this week’s DJD Reloaded. We react to the Carson Hocevar penalty and how it could affect his long-term career prospects in the NASCAR Cup Series. With Josh Berry’s move to the Wood Brothers announced, where’s a possible landing spot for Rodney Childers? Plus, “The Professor” from Dirty Mo Dough, Russell Weinrich, calls in to dissect the data on whether the most dominant car actually finds its way to Victory Lane. Numbers never lie and they may surprise you. And finally, we hear from the winner of this year’s Denny Hamlin Bracket Challenge. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down for a conversation with his longtime friend and 2017 NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr. With his recent retirement announcement in the rearview mirror, Dale Jr. is anxious to connect with Martin and see what his plans are for the future. At the time of the interview, Martin is preparing to embark on a fishing trip in his home state of New Jersey, which gives listeners a good idea of what he’ll be spending his time doing once he’s no longer behind the wheel full-time. Martin explains that over the last couple of years, he had been making more trips home to New Jersey and enjoyed connecting with his family and friends, so he recently purchased a house in his hometown.  Dale inquires as to what kind of racing fans might see Martin doing in the future, to which he answers that he’ll likely be running the Daytona 500, some Xfinity events, and even a NASCAR Truck in the coming years. Martin also expresses interest in getting behind the wheel of a NASCAR modified and competing in the Turkey Derby at his home track, Wall Stadium, where he started his racing career in the late 90s. On the topic of hunting and being a full-time sportsman, Dale plants the seed of Martin possibly hosting his own outdoors show, helping to further the brand and mission state of Bass Pro Shops, of which Martin has had a long-running partnership with since first coming together at Chance 2 Motorsports in 2003.  The conversation looks at the two halves of Martin’s NASCAR Cup career and how his journey to the top of stock car racing almost didn’t happen, his working relationship with Cole Pearn and what his thoughts are currently on the NextGen Car. 

After a hot NASCAR weekend in Nashville, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets back behind the microphone for another episode of Dirty Air. In a race that took five overtime restarts to complete and produced an unexpected winner in Joey Logano, there was a lot to chat about:A box of Butler's Orchard pickles and update on the Titanic Lego setDenny Hamlin and Kyle Larson have a rivalryDoes Carson Hocevar deserve a penalty for spinning Burton under caution?Christopher Bell is looking strong this seasonShould NASCAR have unlimited overtime attempts?How hot is too hot for drivers inside the race car?Race winner Joey Logano calls in Where Josh Berry will likely wind up for the 2025 seasonWhen the guys took to YouTube Live for the Ask Jr. segment, listeners sent in questions regarding:Why Dale doesn’t like concrete race surfacesAndy Petree leaving Richard Childress RacingWhat recovery after a hot race looks like

Our buddy John Force was involved in a terrifying crash in his NHRA Funny Car on Sunday afternoon during the Virginia Nationals. We want to send our well wishes to John for a speedy recovery, and can’t wait to see him back behind the wheel. If there is one person who has ever been on the Dale Jr. Download that is still brought up most, it’s probably John Force. We’re going to look back at some of the greatest moments from that interview and also talk to John’s friend and competitor, Matt Hagan, about John’s fiery competitiveness and his charismatic - and hilarious - personality. Plus, ask any driver, and they’ll tell you what we all know is true: the sting of defeat is more intense than the euphoria of victory. With his second-place finish at New Hampshire, Sheldon Creed has now tied Daniel Hemric and Dale Jarrett for the most runner-up finishes ever before securing a NASCAR Xfinity Series win. We talk to Creed himself and hear from Daniel Hemric on the challenges of claiming that first victory.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR competitor Jeff Green to learn more about how he rose from the short tracks of the Midwest to having one of the most dominant seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series history. After growing up in the footsteps of two racing brothers, David and Mark, also of NASCAR fame, Jeff ventured down a path that landed him at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1995.  When he took a call from the Intimidator himself, DEI was at an interesting point in its history, where Dale Sr. was looking to retire from part-time NASCAR Busch Series racing and put someone in the car full-time. Jeff and the No. 3 team had moments of brilliance and strong runs, but he felt it was still “Dale Sr.’s team” and he decided to try out a different opportunity.Jeff found victory lane for the first time in his NASCAR Xfinity career with Diamond Ridge Motorsports at Las Vegas in 1997. The team was excited about Jeff’s success and rushed him into the Cup Series, which Jeff explains was a difficult transition to make, and before long the team shut down. His glory years in the Xfinity Series came from 1999 to 2001 when he had two runner-up points efforts and a dominant 2000 championship run, where he won by over 600 points. The success brought an opportunity with Richard Childress Racing and Jeff, feeling like he was in the prime of his career, jumped at the chance to drive for a premier racing team. But when a run-in with his teammate Kevin Harvick ultimately got him fired, Jeff began a journey of moving from team to team, looking for stability. Along the way, he spent time back at DEI as well as at Richard Petty Motorsports driving the famed 43 before retiring from driving in 2021.Dale and Jeff reflect on their years spent racing each other in the Xfinity ranks, Dale’s first memories of Jeff at DEI, late model racing trips, and Jeff’s current day-to-day activities. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. may be back at the beach, but his notebook is filled after the NASCAR weekend at New Hampshire and he’s excited to share on this episode of Dirty Air. NASCAR’s decision to wait out the rain and restart on wet weather tires was a polarizing one, and Dale has plenty of insight on the matter. Episode highlights include:Shoutouts to the underappreciatedCarson Kvapil continues to impressNASCAR’s wet weather tire progressDealing with the danger of a wet pit roadKyle Larson gets testy with his spotterRyan Blaney and Michael McDowell’s dust-upAlex Bowman and Christopher Bell join the showDuring the Ask Jr. segment, listeners had questions about:Dale’s reaction to the NASCAR 2025 schedule rumorsWhat it’s like shooting a commercialWho will win the Denny Hamlin Bracket Challenge?21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

Now that Martin Truex Jr. has determined this season will be his last as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, there will be no shortage of celebrations of Martin’s stellar 21-year career over the next six months. Today on DJD Reloaded, we talk to several people instrumental in shaping MTJ’s storied career, from old buddies like TJ Majors and Josh Snider, to a couple of crew chiefs he won Championships with: Kevin “Bono” Manion and Cole Pearn. This week's show is full of great stories as we relive our favorite Truex memories (Captain and Coke, anyone?) and look ahead to what could be next for MTJ.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR crew chief Paul Andrews to learn more about his journey from being a vacuum repairman to a Cup championship-winning team leader. After being raised by his grandparents in Louisiana, Paul found his way to St. Louis where he reconnected with his mother and took a job working at his stepfather’s motel as a maintenance person. When he was working on a vacuum cleaner one day, he went to the local O.K. Vacuum store where he connected with Rusty Wallace, his father Russ, and Uncle Gary, and soon after took a job with the company. Along with this new role of employment came the opportunity to work in Rusty’s race shop after hours, and Paul began traveling with Rusty as he found his footing in the short-track late model and NASCAR worlds.Once Wallace went full-time NASCAR Cup racing in 1984, Paul again found himself in Louisiana, this time running Rusty’s sportsman late model program. Paul temporarily retired from the sport in 1986, but it wasn’t long before he took a call from up-and-comer Alan Kulwicki, establishing one of the hardest-working duos in the Cup garage. The team would overcome the odds and bring home the 1992 Cup season championship. After Alan’s untimely passing in a 1993 plane crash, the team was bought out by Geoff Bodine, and Paul would spend a couple of years honoring his late friend before moving on to other endeavors with Kranefuss-Penske, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Petty Enterprises, and Michael Waltrip Racing. Today, Paul can be found taking it easy, managing his various properties and moonlighting from time to time as a crew chief for JR Motorsports’ late model stock program, working with Dale Jr. when he gets behind the wheel for short track competition. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was curious as to how the repave at Iowa Speedway would perform when NASCAR came to town, and he is back for another edition of Dirty Air to report on what he saw unfold. Highlights of the episode include:Dale needs to start chewing his food moreLet’s prioritize getting new fans to the racetrackMartin Truex Jr.’s retirement announcementThe NASCAR Silly Season ramps upAre repaves the key to better NextGen short-track races?Race winner Ryan Blaney joins the showDuring the Ask Jr. segment of the show, fans sent in questions regarding:How much longer Dale plans on racingThe 2012 Michigan win in the Batman carUpdates on the Titanic Lego setFather’s Day activities 

The great Mario Andretti was on the Dale Jr. Download this week, and he was asked about motorsports’ Crown Jewel races. Not NASCAR’s Crown Jewels, but the biggest races in motorsports collectively. That got us wondering, with Kyle Larson’s recent cross-over into IndyCar, who is the single-most versatile, multi-disciplined race car driver in history that competed in the Crown Jewel races? Who should be considered the best? And who amongst us could take over that mantle someday? We have an all-star panel to help inform our discussion. Legendary FOX Sports broadcaster Mike Joy, Sirius XM & MRN personality Dave “The Godfather” Moody, and the Director of Historical Content at NASCAR, Ken Martin, all weigh in and help settle the debate once and for all.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down for an incredible conversation with motorsports icon Mario Andretti. With a resume that includes wins in the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, four IndyCar championships, and a Formula One championship, Mario is in rarified air in motorsports history, ranking among the best to ever sit behind the wheel. Mario reflects on his childhood in Italy and how his family migrated from a refugee camp to Nazareth, Pennsylvania when he was 15 years old. It was there that his twin brother Aldo and he discovered the nearby Nazareth Speedway and set out with the ambition to build a racecar to enter the local sportsman division. At the advice of his friends, the Andretti brother team settled on a 1948 Hudson Hornet for their initial foray into racing, thanks to the classic car’s success on the dirt in early NASCAR competition. With a fabricated story of racing in the Formula Junior ranks in Italy and doctored driver's licenses in their pockets, the Andretti's set out with a full head of steam and found immediate success, helping to launch one of the greatest stories in auto racing. Mario explains that his decision to leave stock cars and venture into open wheel racing came through the ¾ midget ranks of the East Coast, and his time in the division helped land him USAC sprint and championship car rides. After getting his feet wet in the big cars in 1964, Mario had a tremendous rookie season, placing 3rd at the Indianapolis 500 and winning the national championship. Mario and Dale also chat about his journey into the NASCAR world, which resulted in a 1967 Daytona 500 victory with the Holman-Moody team. Mario admits that some on the team were pulling for his teammate Fred Lorenzen, but with the help of the legendary engine builder Waddell Wilson he was able to overcome adversity for his lone NASCAR win. The conversation also covers Mario’s track record at the Indy 500, pursuing his childhood love of Formula One racing and how he came to win the 1978 World Championship and returning to the US to finish his career in the CART ranks, racing alongside his son Michael.