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88 things to love about Dale Earnhardt Jr.
By Steve Luvender | Published: October 10, 2018 89
NASCAR Creative Design
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NASCAR Creative Design
We all know there's lots to love about NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. As he celebrates his 44th birthday, let's take a look at 88 of our favorite things to love about the former driver of the No. 88.
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1. "Slide job! SLIDE JOB!"
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2. Dale Jr. and Amy welcomed their first daughter, Isla Rose, to the world this year.
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3. In addition to being a good father to Isla, Dale Jr. is a good dog dad.
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4. He has fun with his wife, Amy.
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5. His first tweet was pretty darn special.
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6. That time he shut down a hater on Twitter.
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7. That other time he destroyed a hater.
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8. The time he owned a hater so badly that the hater hid his account.
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9. He cares deeply about his Uber rating.
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10. Like, really deeply.
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11. To an obsessive degree. It's relatable, though.
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12. He snapped a winless streak at Michigan in 2008.
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13. ... and again in 2012.
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14. And those wins weren't the only time Michigan was good to Dale Jr.
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15. He's generous to his fans, like when he gives away Hornets tickets.
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16. The time he totally sold out Kyle Busch for tripping and falling.
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17. His pick of Alex Bowman as successor of the No. 88 has proved a success: Bowman currently is holding steady in the playoffs in his "rookie" season.
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18. The term 'air bagel.'
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19. That time his dog, Gus, left his mark on Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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20. He wants to create a "National Jr. Day."
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21. The time he accidentally autographed some of Jimmie Johnson's merchandise.
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22. When he helped announce the involvement of former teammate Jimmie Johnson in the opening of a new restaurant.
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23. ... only for him to accidentally spoil a secret in the process.
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24. He's not afraid to tell it like it is.
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25. He wants to be accommodating to all fans worldwide.
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26. "America is created by immigrants."
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27. Dale Jr. keeps a "car graveyard" on his property.
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28. And he's got an Old West town in his backyard, too.
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29. He owns Whisky River, a series of bars.
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30. Dale Jr.'s 2017 Southern 500 throwback paint scheme was on point.
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31. His 2008 Mountain Dew paint scheme was exceptional.
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32. His "Grey Ghost" paint scheme run in the 2008 All-Star Race was a classic.
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33. Dale Jr.'s Nationwide paint scheme from his final full-time season was a thing of beauty.
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34. The No. 88's paint scheme in the 2013 Coca-Cola 600 always was a fan favorite.
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35. He won the 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona driving a patriotic No. 88.
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36. His cars' paint schemes aren't the only works of art -- his helmets are beautiful, too.
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37. Like, really nice helmets.
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38. Seriously, though. Dale Jr. always raced great paint schemes.
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39. Not to mention his stylized gloves, which often carried special colors to promote awareness of charitable causes. In August, NASCAR drivers wore similar gloves that were auctioned off to support Nationwide Children's Hospital.
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40. Dale Jr. created The Dale Jr. Foundation, "a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals."
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41. Throughout the 2017 racing year -- Junior's final full-time season behind the wheel -- the Junior Nation Appreci88ion Tour engaged fans and created memories.
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42. Junior's post-race Periscope broadcasts were a fun, weekly tradition for fans.
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43. Junior was famously fined for letting an expletive slip in a Victory Lane interview after winning at Talladega in 2004. It’s OK, Dale. We all get excited.
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44. Dale Jr. owns a late model racing team.
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45. And, of course, he owns JR Motorsports, a four-car team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
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46. Speaking of the Xfinity Series, he was the 1998 series champion.
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47. ... and the 1999 Xfinity Series champion.
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48. He beat his father in an exhibition race in Japan.
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49. He was always the fan-favorite driver.
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50. ... including a record 15-year streak of being voted Most Popular Driver.
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51. He was also the Most Popular Driver in the Xfinity Series in 1999.
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52. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won 26 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points-paying races in his career -- good enough for 30th on the all-time wins list.
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53. His win in the 2001 Pepsi 400 was one of the most memorable and emotional victories in NASCAR history.
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54. Dale Jr. won the first race after 9/11, at Dover International Speedway.
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55. One of Junior's wins includes the 2004 Daytona 500.
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56. He also won the Great American Race a decade later in 2014.
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57. Dale Jr. won an impressive six races at Talladega.
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58. His Xfinity Series win at Daytona in 2010 was a popular victory, driving a familiar No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet.
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59. He won a million dollar bonus at Talladega in 2001.
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60. Dale Jr. earned the nickname the "Pied Piper" of restrictor-plate racing -- everybody wanted to work with the guy who knows how to get to the front.
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61. He voiced a character in the movie "Cars."
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62. Dale Jr. made an appearance in a Sheryl Crow music video. Most of us can't make that claim.
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63. He also appeared in a JAY-Z music video.
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64. He's taken up exercise in the form of biking.
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65. Junior's a culinary inspiration -- a polarizing one.
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66. ... though it's tough to tell sometimes if he's being serious with some of his creations.
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67. At least he's got a good taste in breakfast foods.
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68. There is -- well, was -- a band named after him. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. has since switched their name to JR JR.
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69. Speaking of music, he's got one of the most interesting varieties of Bristol driver introduction songs. He's walked out to everything from AC/DC to Sum 41 to Rage Against the Machine to Muddy Waters to LL Cool J (and one of his favorites, The Dangerous Summer).
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70. And, come on. He's just a nice guy.
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71. Dale Jr.'s famously fast superspeedway car was nicknamed "Amelia" after Amelia Earhart. (Unfortunately, the car Amelia now rests in Dale Jr.'s car graveyard.)
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72. He gives away cars to donors to his foundation.
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73. Dale Jr. answers his home phone calls in style, thanks to his beloved Washington Redskins.
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74. Speaking of the Redskins, he's now sporting a fancy new Redskins business jacket, courtesy of his favorite NASCAR.com contributors.
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75. Dale Jr. hosts his own weekly podcast, 'The Dale Jr. Download.'
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76. His "Dale Call" commercial was a classic.
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77. Not to mention the old "skipping CD player" commercial. (Do cars today even come with CD players?)
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78. He's addicted to eBay.
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79. He loves to take selfies with his fans.
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80. Dale Jr. used to have classic frosted tips. In his defense, it was the late ‘90s.
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81. He's pledged to donate his brain to science.
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82. … and he's documenting the events of his concussion recovery in his upcoming book, "Racing to the Finish: My Story."
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83. He won the 2008 Budweiser Shootout — his first outing with Hendrick Motorsports.
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84. He's enjoyed a healthy pseudo-rivalry with fellow racer Matt Kenseth over the years, competing against each other for decades across the top ranks of NASCAR.
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85. Dale Jr. was untouchable at restrictor-plate races in the early 2000s.
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86. He's racing royalty, of course -- son of the legendary Dale Earnhardt.
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87. He's got a love of all things classic. Dale Jr.'s respect and knowledge of NASCAR's history is second to none.
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88. There are more than 88 things to love about Dale Earnhardt Jr., and that fact alone is one of the things that’s the most incredible. Earnhardt has made an unquestionable impact on the sport through his actions over his many years on the track.