"I walked into the bus and cried" - Dale Earnhardt Jr. once recalled pre-marriage racing setback

AUTO: NOV 30 NASCAR Awards Celebration - Source: Getty
Dale Earnhardt Jr. with wife Amy Earnhardt on the red carpet at the 2023 NASCAR Awards Celebration (Source: Getty)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is considered as one of the most successful racers in NASCAR's modern era. The Hall of Famer spoke about one of his lowest points in racing while talking to Kenny Wallace nine months ago.

After spending over 20 years in motorsports, Earnhardt Jr. decided to retire as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver in 2017. Since then, he has been active as an analyst on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.

The 49-year-old opened up about one of his weakest moments during his entire racing career while talking to legendary NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace back in November 2023. He stated that it was during the final few years of his career and that he was with his future wife Amy at the time.

Earnhardt Jr. spoke about the disappointment he felt because of poor results in qualifying.

"We're (Dale Jr. and Amy) at Richmond, and I feel like I've qualified 23rd for eight weeks in a row. I mean, it just, it wasn't, I really didn't qualify 23rd eight weeks in a row, but gosh, it felt like I just, I had this sort of rider's block. I just could not get past that sort of mediore, even less than mediocre performance in qualifying and it was bugging the hell out of me and I didn't know why we couldn't do better" Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, explaining the situation. (0:21 onwards).
"I qualified 22nd or 23rd, and went back to the bus, and walked into the bus, and walked back into the bathroom, and shut the door, and cried, and I mean, I didn't know what else to do," he added (1:05 onwards)
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"He had nothing" - Dale Earnhardt Jr. shares emotional memories of his father with Donnie Rives

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. invited Donnie Rives, his father Dale Sr.'s best friend on the Dale Jr. Download Podcast. Both the North Carolina-based racer and Rives revisited several memories of the seven-time Cup Series champion throughout the episode.

During the conversation, Earnhardt Jr. shared his emotional state after losing Dale Sr. in 2001.

"When Dad (Dale Sr.) was gone, it was a gut punch. You didn't know what to do next or how you could do anything next," the NASCAR Hall of Famer commented (10:32 onwards).

However, Earnhardt Jr. went ahead and highlighted his father's determination by comparing a similar situation in both their lives.

"When I lost Dad, I had a life in front of me. I had a comfortable existence. I had a job and an amazing race team around me and I had everything right," He said. (11:22 onwards) .
"When he lost his Dad, he had nothing. He was working a job at Great Dane or whatever. He had nothing, barely enough food in the fridge to eat. No racing job," Earnhardt added (11:42 onwards).

Here's a look at a clip from the podcast on YouTube:

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Dale Earnhardt Sr. lost his life in a tragic accident at Daytona on February 18th, 2001. He still holds a joint record with Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty for the most Cup Series championships (seven titles).

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Edited by Neelabhra Roy
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