@nascarcasm: ‘Slide Job!’ How something Dale Jr. yelled transformed a nation

One year later, we look back at the birth of a catch phrase, its cultural impact, its esteemed legacy, and how it captured the hearts of an entire nation.

The date was July 1st, 2018. On this day at Chicagoland Speedway, the temperatures were high, as were expectations. Dale Earnhardt Jr., he of legendary name, legacy and beard, set forth into a new chapter of his career. We knew not that we'd see a final lap that would become fabled not only because of its excitement, but also what was yelled twice in a thick, Kannapolis accent.

In the final laps, Kyle Larson made a daring low move into Turn 1, in a last-ditch effort to get by the No. 18 of Kyle Busch. Fans in attendance and watching at home stood mouth agape at the frenzied on-track aggression. Then Dale Jr., voice loud and twangy, yelled "Slide job!" twice. The course of American history was changed forever.

As the victorious Kyle Busch was on track again making lots of friends, the rest of us were soaking in this pivotal moment. Dale Earnhardt Jr. had developed his signature catch phrase. Darrell Waltrip Had "Boogity Boogity Boogity!" Jeff Gordon had "Look at this!" Michael Waltrip had "OOOOPS, sorry 'bout that taco, Denny." And now, Dale had his.

The internet went batty. "Slide job!" mania swept through Twitter like wildfire. User after user posted their appreciation for Dale's enthusiasm in his broadcast debut. And they ate up his new catch phrase like Dale Jr. would a sandwich with questionable ingredients.

Was it surprising that two simple words blurted out in the heat of the moment became so trend-worthy? For the layman, yes. For the average citizen, yes. For an individual who can get over 13,000 likes with an Instagram of toilet paper, a firm no.

The slogan soon appeared on t-shirts, as evidenced here with this image of Dale Jr. and Parker Kligerman. There is little more that affirms your status amongst your fellow driver brethren than when they arrive wearing merchandise featuring your slogan. The only notable holdout was Matt DiBenedetto, for no other reason than he doesn't wear shirts.

The question remained — what is a slide job? It is defined as when Dale Earnhardt Jr. goes to the Winter Olympics for his employer, NBC Sports, and films a piece with the U.S. Bobsled team. I'm also told by several very angry non-asphalt racing fans that it has another definition also.

Dale kept his signature catch phrase mostly holstered for several months, until unleashing it at the perfect moment – during the controversy at the end of this 2019 Kentucky Derby. A good hunter doesn't fire arrows randomly into the woods. He waits as long as necessary for that giant buck to come into the scope. That is how Dale so deftly uses "Slide job!"

As "Slide job!" reaches its expiration, what does the future hold for catch phrases? We need not spend precious time wondering what it is Dale Jr. will blurt into his headset next. But rest assured that whatever it is will have the Herculean task of achieving the same cultural significance of "Slide job!"