“Certainly a different time”: Dale Earnhardt Jr. addresses similarities between his father and Austin Dillon’s Richmond move

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has opined on the resembling nature of Austin Dillon's final lap wreck at the Richmond Raceway to his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt. During a discussion with his podcast's co-hosts, the 49-year-old outlined his father's era as a "certainly different time," where the regulations were lenient compared to the present day's stricter constraints.

Dillon clinched his maiden 2024 Cup Series win and, and with that, the ticket to the playoffs. However, before taking the checkered flag, the Richard Childress Racing driver wrecked out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final corner.

Shortly after Dillon savored his trip to the victory lane, the fans started comparing the RCR driver's move to Dale Earnhardt Sr, who was known for his rough racing style. Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson also chimed in with his 'Dale Sr vibes' tweet on Dillon's win.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke about the similarities between his father's and Dillon's moves (via Dirty Mo Media on X).

"Dad was rough, he had a little spell especailly in that blue and yellow car where '86 '87, he got pretty rough... Back then, certainly a different time. I don't know if I saw Dad ever clean two of them out in the last corner." (0:11).

Dale Earnhardt Jr. mentioned his father's "rough" racing demeanor during 1986 and 1987, when he bagged his second and third Cup Series championship, respectively.

The grandstands buzzed with the fans as the crowd cheered and booed the race winner's move over Labonte's #5 Chevy.

Austin Dillon talks about his wreck with Dale Earnhardt Jr. after SMT data was released

After Dillon's maiden win, NASCAR pit crew member Bozi Tatarevic shared the SMT data and highlighted the RCR driver's final-lap maneuvers. According to the information extracted, the #3 Chevy driver steered +33.9 degrees to the left and crashed into Hamlin.

The Richmond race winner opened up to Dale Earnhardt Jr. about his Sunday wreck and the SMT data regarding the same.

"I end up second lane middle when I get the car pointed to come back down the hill. On exit of Turn 4 at Richmond, the track naturally drives you to the wall when you’re running the yellow line. Denny’s on the lower line, I’ve got a really good Diamond kind of angle at the track at this point," Dillon said via Dirty Mo Media on YouTube (1:33).

"So my vision is clear still, and I’m looking at the start/finish line. But my straightest point to the start/finish line is about mid-track, which isn’t optimal for the guy coming up the track," the RCR driver added.

Austin Dillon is currently 26th in the regular Cup Series standings following his triumph at Richmond. This was the 34-year-old's first Top-10 finish since the Enjoy Illinois 300.