There’s maybe just one driver out there who can relate to the pressure and fanfare that comes along with the expectations being put on rising NASCAR superstar Hailie Deegan — and she had him on her podcast.
Retired driver-turned-broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently joined Deegan on a podcast — The Deegans — she co-hosts with her father, Brian, for an in-depth interview on a variety of topics old and new.
Hailie’s upcoming 2020 season will be her biggest yet, after a move to Ford’s development program last month will lay the groundwork for her progression in her rise through the ranks of stock car racing.
MORE: Deegan moves to Ford development program, sets 2020 plans
Earnhardt will continue his broadcasting duties with NASCAR on NBC in 2020 but also return to the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for a one-off stint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.
Listen to the full episode of The Deegans below, and follow along in a conversation that touches on:
- Earnhardt’s background as a mechanic
- How Dale Sr. didn’t support his racing career — at first
- The growth of the sport and rise at the turn of the millennium
- The current state of the sport and why it’s on the rise
- How race car drivers are normal people
- Dale Jr. reveals his favorite track
- Why the NASCAR world is eager for a female champion