“Started as a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan”: NASCAR insider shows off massive collection of iconic Bud #8 diecasts 

Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of NASCAR's most beloved figures, has left an indelible mark on the sport. As the son of the legendary Dale Earnhardt, he forged his own path, earning numerous accolades, including 26 NASCAR Cup Series wins and two Daytona 500 victories. Beyond his on-track achievements, Earnhardt's authenticity and dedication to fans have solidified his place as a cultural icon in motorsports.

NASCAR journalist Kelly Crandall, a fan and respected voice in the racing community, shared photos of her cherished collection of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #8 Budweiser Chevrolet diecasts. Her collection serves as a tribute to one of the most recognizable and impactful cars in her idol Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s NASCAR career.

Crandall posted a few pictures of her diecast collection on X and shared that she might have to look for a new place to display the collection.

"All right,@Kenny_Wallace, how about this ... My NASCAR journey started as a @DaleJr fan w/ dad, and I getting the special Bud schemes. Then dad branched out into Rookie of the Year cars, which didn't last long, and some other ones that he had an affinity for. While visiting for Thanksgiving, they informed me they've repainted the house and don't want to hang up the collection back up so I'll be finding a place for them soon," Kelly Crandall tweeted.

Dale Jr. made a much-anticipated return to the track in his iconic #8 Budweiser Chevrolet during the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car (LMSC) event. Being a co-owner of the series alongside former Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, Earnhardt Jr.'s participation garnered significant attention.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalls his heartwarming experience in South Carolina 400

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s return to the historic #8 Bud Chevy came in the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway. However, the former Xfinity Series champion was left feeling helpless and demoralized after an underwhelming performance in the qualifying session, where he secured P53 of 56 drivers.

However, a fellow driver, Gary Greenwood Jr., shared some words of encouragement to Earnhardt Jr., which eventually gave the latter a second wind and led to his participation in the race. Earnhardt looked back at the heartwarming conversation he had with Greenwood, during an interview with Sportsnaut's Matt Weaver.

"I'm sitting there. I made that qualifying run. I was mad as hell... He(Gary Greenwood) come up to me, and he's like, Hey man, I want to tell you something, man. You need to keep your head up[...]Don't worry about that qualifying lap; he's like, You know the things you're doing are good, and you're helping people, and you're helping me,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

Although Dale Jr. finished the South Carolina 400 in P28, his return to the iconic #8 livery was undeniably marked by the wholesome interaction he had with Greenwood Jr.