@nascarcasm: Our favorite Dale Jr. moments

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this weekend, and you’re likely to see many video packages and career retrospectives detailing all of his amazing accomplishments to the sport. However, there have been so many amazing Dale Jr. moments throughout his career, not all of which will be mentioned during the ceremony. That’s where we come in. Have a look, and congratulations, Dale.

Who knew that by posting a picture of a sandwich with questionable ingredients, Dale Jr. would garner nationwide attention? Banana-mayo-mania swept the country. Visually repulsed but intellectually curious, many of us tried it. Turns out it wasn’t that bad. But it’s Dale Jr. – he wields great influence. He could post a picture of a dried-spaghetti-and-relish sandwich and we’d try that too.

As in highlights both figurative AND literal. We’re not sure what Dale was thinking when he decided on this hair color, but we have a guess: “Dear Slim…”

Cue the visions of sad Ryan Newman standing alone on a tarmac, plotting his revenge.

It was July of 2018. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was making his broadcast debut on what would be a barnburner of a race at Chicagoland Speedway. Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch would battle vigorously for the lead in the closing laps. And out of nowhere, “SLIDE JOB!” became a thing. A huge thing. Personally, I’m partial to “Giant-ass spoilers” but like a band with a successful debut album, it’s hard for the follow-up album to get as much attention.

If you gave drivers a choice of what car part they could have come detached mid-race, the steering wheel would not be selected frequently. Yet this happened to Dale Jr. at Talladega in 2016. Thankfully it was under caution and he was 40 laps down at the time, and he was able to re-attach it. And quick thinking to grab the steering shaft like the joystick on a 1980s Pac-Man arcade game.

Throughout his career, we came to realize more and more that Dale Jr. is a relatable guy. For instance, when he admitted that he was unable to peel himself away from eBay. I mean who can’t help but place a bid on that Brewster Baker lunchbox you just happened across? Drivers – they’re just like us, man.

This isn’t really a “moment” – it’s more just a cool thing he does. Only Dale can throw a series of wrecked race-car carcasses in his backyard and get away with it. If we do it, it’s a major HOA violation. Maybe in the future he’ll have a similar spot in his yard where he tosses all the crap he won on eBay (See previous slide).

A day that began with a multi-hour rain delay and the resumption of the race at nearly 9 p.m. ended in pure social-media triumph. Not only did Dale Jr. win his second Daytona 500, but he decided to join Twitter also, and my gosh, it was a madhouse on there. It was like one of the Kardashians walking into a club. “OMG LOOK WHO’S HERE, LOOK WHO’S HERE, LOOK WHO’S HERE.” It became evident pretty quickly that he was really, really good at it. Hopefully it reduced the time he spent on eBay. (See slide above previous slide)

This video shoot for “Show Me What You Got” also included dinner with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Remember when I said “Drivers – they’re just like us?” OK, this was NOT one of those times.

A day that began with a multi-hour rain delay and the resumption of the race at nearly 9 p.m. ended in pure social-media triumph. Not only did Dale Jr. win his second Daytona 500, but he decided to join Twitter also, and my gosh, it was a madhouse on there. It was like one of the Kardashians walking into a club. “OMG LOOK WHO’S HERE, LOOK WHO’S HERE, LOOK WHO’S HERE.” It became evident pretty quickly that he was really, really good at it. Hopefully it reduced the time he spent on eBay. (See slide above previous slide)

There’s little more genuinely heartwarming than witnessing family-man Dale Jr. in action. We knew that he and wife Amy would be amazing parents, but it’s little moments like this (which they are kind enough to share with us) that produce a collective “AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW” from NASCAR nation.

Never underestimate the ambition of a guy who wants a track to be scanned for iRacing. Dale Jr. and several others weeded, trimmed and groomed the track surface so that it could be offered on the popular sim-racing platform. It was a huge success. My direct message to Dale asking him if he could do my yard next was not.

Look, we didn’t say every one of these would be positive. But you have to admire the planning that went into this – to wait until his pregnant wife was asleep, sneak to the refrigerator, devour all of the gelato, and then flee to another country, Carmen Sandiego style. He was off to cover the Winter Olympics in South Korea for NBC, so it’s not like he fled to the far east to lay low and escape the wrath.

Upon first glance, it may look like Dale was trying to develop an intimidating, fearsome alter-ego a la “Prison Mike” from “The Office.” It reality, it was 2002, Dale had injured his forehead during a night of revelry, and wanted to cover up the bandages. Cool nonetheless.

Dale put a bow on his full-time driving career in the most awesomely Dale Jr. way possible – he and his crew brought out a cooler full of cold ones, toasted a tremendous time together, and threw them back on pit road. Hated to see him go, but damned if we all didn’t want to be there cracking one open also.

Now retired from full-time competition, Dale Jr. has his own media empire and podcasts, and still races one race every season in the Xfinity Series. Whether through serendipity or design, Dale has developed a foolproof way to ensure that people will never be mad at him in the long term. Take Kyle Weatherman in 2021. Dale knocked the hell out of him on track. Weatherman was displeased. So Dale Jr. has Kyle on his podcast, and then signs Kyle’s damaged bumper to be auctioned for charity. Chef’s kiss. Couldn’t have drawn it up better.