“I’m just emotional because I was so honored”: When Dale Jr. expressed his HoF Induction pride as his wife Amy and sister Kelley congratulated him

Back in 2020, Dale Earnhardt Jr. touched upon how he felt after he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame for 2021. The Hall of Fame is regarded as the sport's biggest honor, and Dale Jr. received it in 2021 for his contribution to the sport.

With 631 races to his name in 19 years where he racked up 26 wins, 15 pole positions, and 260 Top 10s, Dale Jr. is one of the renowned names in NASCAR. His father, the late Dale Earnhardt, was one of the most successful drivers of the sport.

Besides this, Dale Jr. was also a 15-time Most Popular Driver award winner and the recipient of the 2017 Bill France Award of Excellence. As he carried forward the legacy of his family in motorsports, NASCAR inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

As the former NASCAR driver sat to discuss it with Motorsports on NBC, he shared how he felt after he came to know about the induction. Here's what he said:

"You know it wasn't, it's not really relieved, I'm just emotional because I was so honored to be on the list of guys that were on that list, just to be beside some of those names and being 45 years old, I knew I had a long time to be able to wait if my name was ever to be called that I could be, I was gonna be fine with being patient and having to wait but I live on affirmation you know that."

During the conversation, he also revealed how his family congratulated him and has been with him throughout his career. As the host of the podcast mentioned Kelly Earnhardt, Dale Jr.'s sister, the NASCAR Hall of Famer nodded to appreciate her support. He then went on:

"Amy, you know that and cheerleading and hey you're doing a great job and nothing says you're doing a great job better than that right. Therefore, when you know we raced for so many years and worked really hard and tried to do it the right way," he added. (5:52-6:46)

The Kannapolis-born driver is a two-time Busch (currently Xfinity) Series winner after having won it in 1998 and 1999. He also won the prestigious 2004 and 2014 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

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Dale Jr. shared how significant Amy Earnhardt's role was in his career

While speaking about his NASCAR Hall of Fame induction with Motorsports on NBC, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also shared the role Amy Earnhardt, his wife, played in his career. Here's what he said:

"Amy, it's hard to believe, she was with me for half of my career through some of the tougher parts you know. I didn't even know that we would get better and be able to come back and win in a handful of races like we did and to be able to support me and help me into the chapter of broadcasting." (7:30-7:57)

NASCAR retired driver Dale Jr. and wife Amy Reimann - Source: Imagn

Dale Jr. and Amy Earnhardt got engaged in 2015 and were married a year later, in 2016, at Richard Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina. They have two daughters together, Isla Rose Earnhardt and Nicole Loraine Earnhardt.