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“Mom’s Gone” – Dale Jr Painfully Unravels Life’s Constant Loops
“Mom’s Gone” – Dale Jr Painfully Unravels Life’s Constant Loops
The world knows Dale Earnhardt Jr as one of the most loved NASCAR drivers and a Hall of Famer. However, once upon a time, the two-time Daytona 500 champion was a budding skater in the making. Taking a trip down memory lane, Dale Jr was reminded of his childhood when he used to visit the skating ring with his late mother. Reminiscing about it on the newest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Junior revealed how his life has changed since the good old days.
Dale Earnhardt Jr has come a long way in life. Following a glittering NASCAR career that saw him become a household name in the country, the 49-year-old has turned into a successful entrepreneur. The instance that brought back old memories was a visit with his daughters to the Skateland premises in North Carolina. Having been an enthusiastic kid like his daughters once upon a time, nostalgia hit him hard.
Dale Earnhardt Jr is surprised by how fast time flies by
Owing to a visit to his former town, Dale Jr learned that Skateland still exists after so many years. So naturally, a visit was due. But this time, he had a different companion. Visiting the skating ring with his daughters, the venue brought back some sentiments in him that had been long lost. Revealing more about it, Junior said, “Both of my girls had so much fun. They skated, and they had these little walker-type things to go skate with. I’m out there with both of them. I took them around too many laps, and it was so much fun.”
Speaking about his emotions on realizing the circle of life, Dale Earnhardt Jr stated, “It just blew my mind that the last time I was there, I was five or six. I’m there 44 years later with my five-year-old girl skating on that ring, and the place is just identical.”
“I’m super nostalgic. That was triggering me, and a great eighty percent were happy thoughts, but there was also some sadness. Mom is gone, and the times are different. I felt like I had poured it back to 1979.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr lost his mother, Brenda Lorraine Gee, to cancer in 2019. Despite having a struggle-filled childhood, Brenda had been an instrumental figure in the Earnhardt family and paved the way for Junior’s success as a driver and his evolution as a person. Thanks to her efforts, the NASCAR community witnessed a NASCAR legend’s rise to fame.
As the podcast continued, Dale Earnhardt Jr disclosed that the Skateland building had stayed the same for 44 years, except for moving a few blocks from its original location.
Dale Jr reminisces his days at Skateland USA
Speaking about how long he has stayed away from the skating ring, Junior said, “I’ve never been back to the skating ring since; any skating ring.” However, that changed when his luck took him to one of his daughter’s friend’s birthday parties near his hometown. Revealing his surprise upon getting to see one of his favorite childhood spots, Dale Earnhardt Jr continued,
“44 years later, somebody we know, their child is having a birthday party, and our kids were invited, so we were going to take them. I didn’t know Skateland still existed. I didn’t know the building and business were still there operating. We drive into the parking lot and I’m like, I’ve got an idea and imagination of what it looked like or where it might’ve been and I was a little bit off.”
“It’s a couple of blocks away from what it was. This building had changed. I took some photos and put it on my social media story. The size is the same, building’s the same, it is 50 years old. There’s a line outside to get in. You go up there, and you walk in, and it’s the same place that I hadn’t seen in 44 years,” added the former Hendrick Motorsports driver.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s anecdotes often have an ulterior theme in them. As he looked back upon his skating days, he showed that people should learn to value the time they have with their loved ones.
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Lewis Hamilton has opted not to make his Ferrari debut during the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test, telling future boss Frederic Vasseur he wasn’t eager to jump into the red car so soon.
While Carlos Sainz, whom Hamilton will replace at Ferrari in 2025, will test for his new team Williams after the Abu Dhabi season finale, Hamilton will be focusing on pre-arranged commitments with Mercedes.
“I don’t want to block him,” Vasseur said, referring to Sainz.
As for Hamilton, Vasseur explained that Ferrari did not pursue the matter with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, citing contractual obligations. “They have a contract, so I didn’t even ask Toto,” Vasseur said.
Hamilton admitted in Qatar that missing the test could leave him slightly disadvantaged when he begins his Ferrari tenure.
“It will definitely slow down the process and make the start of next year more difficult, but we will do everything we can to make up for it,” he said.
The seven-time world champion also shared his personal reasons for skipping the test.
“I know that Fred wanted me to do the test, but I was in two minds,” Hamilton explained. “The idea of getting behind the wheel of a red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi did not excite me too much. In an ideal world, I would like the first runs to be done without much scrutiny.
“Toto and the team had planned ahead for me to meet some sponsors and say goodbye to them, so I don’t think I would have been allowed to take part in the tests even if I had asked,” he added.
Hamilton revealed that he had informed Vasseur of his feelings well in advance. “I have a contract with Mercedes until December 31, and it is not a problem for me because I told Fred in advance that I didn’t really want to do it.”
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All Hendrick Motorsports drivers won Cup Series races this year. Kyle Larson stood out with the maximum, clinching 6 race victories. However, his teammate holds the bragging rights to achieving more than just race trophies. Chase Elliott went from a despicable season in 2023, where he injured himself and got himself suspended to snapping a 42-race winless streak. At the end of the year, he can pose with more than just race wins, having picked up the Most Popular Driver title.
Elliott brought a guest to the NASCAR Awards banquet – a blonde woman with striking blue eyes. Her presence confirmed the active status of our Hendrick Motorsports star’s dating life. His newly ordained better half recently poured her heartfelt wishes as Elliott turned 29th.
Ever since Chase Elliott failed to crack the playoffs last year, he has been on a mission. His snowboarding injury and race suspensions lent him the fury of a man redeeming himself. So this year during the April Texas race, Elliott edged out Ross Chastain on the second restart in overtime to win. Although his victories ceased after that, Elliott put up a consistent performance – clinching 11 top-fives and 19 top-tens. In spite of his dismissal from the Round of 8, Chase defended his Most Popular Driver status, winning the award for the 7th time.
To accompany him in receiving this honor was Ashley Stephenson, twinning with her new boyfriend in all-black attire. The talented hair stylist and lifestyle vlogger publicly posted a photo with Elliott at the Awards ceremony. Similarly, Anderson proudly uploaded a story on Instagram to celebrate Chase Elliott’s 29th birthday on 28th November. She proclaimed her love as she wrote, “Happiest birthday, Bubs!” She added her heartfelt 3-word message for Elliott: “Thankful for you,” and followed it up with affectionate emojis.
Not much is known about Stephenson and Elliott’s dating life. Both of them hail from Dawsonville, Georgia, and have reportedly been friends for a long time. According to rumors in the NASCAR world, Stephenson and Chase Elliott began dating each other after the Hendrick star split up with his ex-girlfriend, Kaylie Green. Stephenson works as a hairstylist and lifestyle vlogger in Dawsonville, often posting her work on Instagram. They have made multiple appearances on the racetrack together, and Ashley’s oldest picture with Chase on her profile dates back to mid-2020. Her appearance at the NASCAR Awards ceremony was their first public appearance together after a long while. She also shares a relationship with Ryan Blaney’s fiancee Gianna Tulio.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s First Sighting in Infamous Firesuit Has NASCAR Fans Losing Their Minds.
After 17 long years, Dale Earnhardt Jr finally reclaims his legacy. The 26-time Cup race-winning veteran will sport those bright red colors on a racetrack once again. His estranged stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, offered an olive branch this year in June, allowing Junior to buy the trademark for the No. 8. She retained rights over the long-lost Dale Earnhardt Inc. team. But the update means one thing – Junior fans can relive a nostalgic dream!
The podcast host and JR Motorsports owner is already creating a flutter with a wardrobe drop. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s loyal army of fans will see a spectacle at Florence Motor Speedway on November 23rd. A fiery red firesuit embroidered with Budweiser’s famous logo is all that the NASCAR community is drooling over right now.
That Memory Lane was a long 2000-2007 journey, sprinkled with colorful victories. Starting from the 2000 DirecTV 500 win in Texas and ending with the 2006 Crown Royal 400 win in Richmond, Dale Earnhardt Jr collected 17 victories for Dale Earnhardt Inc. What stood out was his iconic bright red Budweiser fire suit that clung to the icon’s tired body during every Victory Lane celebration. From 2007, Dale Jr shifted to Hendrick Motorsports, as his stepmother tightened her control over DEI and the No. 8 logo. 17 years later, that scenario has finally changed.
Ahead of the upcoming spectacle in the South Carolina 400 race at Florence, Dale Earnhardt Jr dropped a teaser. A NASCAR fan shared a picture of modern-day Dale Jr smiling his heart out in the legendary ruby-red firesuit, holding a Budweiser beer can. The post caption encapsulated the soaring emotions of numerous fans’ hearts: “If you ever wanted to see present day @DaleJr in a Budweiser firesuit, here ya go.” Being under lock and key for so long, the famous logo will feature where it rightfully belongs – on the firesuit and car of Dale Jr, under his team JR Motorsports.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Florence entry will also mark the “Bud King of Beers” paint scheme’s first time on the track in 17 years. “It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” Earnhardt, 50, said of the ride he made famous from 1999 to 2007. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”
After all, Dale Earnhardt Jr has several precious memories in this firesuit. Less than four months after his father, the Intimidator, passed away in Daytona, Dale Jr roared back to win on the same track. Leading 116 of 200 laps, he won the Pepsi 400, and the pit crew, competitors, and fans all roared when he climbed out of his car in Victory Lane. Now that the same victory outfit is back in business, fans are ecstatic for more memories. One fan wrote, “Seeing him in a bud suit…nature has healed just a tiny bit more. The way I miss the old days though…” Another fan heaved a sigh of relief that we would be able to relive the golden era of NASCAR again. “All is right in the world,” they wrote.
Dale Earnhardt Jr holds the classic No. 8 close to his heart – given the numerous tracks he conquered wearing it. For instance, he won four of six Talladega races wearing Budweiser’s suit, the best memory coming in April 2002 when he led 133 laps. So the veteran sports an infectious smile while wearing that glorious suit today – enough to mesmerize fans. “Junior’s enthusiasm for everything NASCAR really is infectious. So glad he was/is my favorite driver,” somebody wrote.
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