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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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H. Marko lashes out at Steiner: Defend Mick Schumacher
Helmut Marko believes Mick Schumacher deserves a return to Formula 1, naming two teams he thinks would consider the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. The 81-year-old Austrian lashes out at Guenther Steiner, who sacked the German at Haas F1 just under two years ago.
“Mick is one of the politest and nicest people in the whole paddock, which is a disadvantage for him. He also has the handicap of a big name,” Marko said in an interview with Sport1.de. “In sporting terms, he has already achieved a lot. He won the Formula 3 championship, he won the Formula 2 championship, that alone made him interesting for Formula 1 teams.”
Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut at Haas F1 in 2021. There, he lasted two seasons. After a disappointing season in 2022, Guenther Steiner showed him the door and they opted for more experience with Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
Marko: ‘Netflix superstar’ Steiner treated Schumacher unfairly
“As far as we were concerned, there were no sporting reasons why we never got together,” Red Bull Racing’s team advisor explained. “He was a Ferrari junior at the time, but Mercedes took him into the team [afterwards]. So he wasn’t even on the market.”
“At Haas, he was not treated fairly by Netflix superstar Guenther Steiner. That’s a fact. Once you drive outside Formula 1, it becomes a difficult story. But behind the scenes, you only hear good things about him. Toto Wolff praises him to the skies. I think Alpine and Audi are seriously considering him. I wouldn’t begrudge him, because he deserves it,” Marko said.
Verstappen and Hamilton CRASH as FIA take action in Hungary
Max Verstappen was involved in a dramatic collision with Lewis Hamilton for P3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman attempted an overtake on his rival into Turn 1, going though the inside but locking up as Hamilton’s front right collided with Verstappen’s rear left.
In dramatic fashion the Red Bull was launched into the air, and was lucky to remain in the race, falling behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen has been placed under investigation by the stewards, with the FIA calling a 4.50pm UK time summons, where the sport’s governing body confirmed their findings.
F1 RECAP: Piastri claims STUNNING maiden victory as FIA announce Verstappen penalty verdict
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash in Hungary
A nightmare Hungarian GP for Max Verstappen
It was a difficult race for the champion who went wide on the opening lap, and was forced to give the position back to Lando Norris after claiming P2.
The Red Bull star accused the Brit of running him wide, and continued to deliver a series of furious radio messages to his team during the grand prix.
Verstappen’s frustrations came to the fore as he attempted to overtake Hamilton, with the pair lucky to not be embroiled in more devastating contact.
In the end Hamilton claimed P3 and a podium in Hungary, with Verstappen languishing back in fifth.
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“It’s going to be emotional for me” – Chase Briscoe on honoring Tony Stewart’s legacy
Chase Briscoe, in a recent media session, shared his emotions about racing on the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Briscoe will be driving the No. 14 car, a number famously associated with his current team owner, Tony Stewart.
Stewart won several races and the 2011 championship with this car. He also co-owns NASCAR team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), which will be shutting down after this season.
NASCAR first raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in 1994, which was the first race there besides the Indianapolis 500 in 1916. Since then, many different racing series have raced at IMS. As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Brickyard 400 after three years off, Chase Briscoe, who grew up in Mitchell, Indiana, faces an emotional weekend.
“It’s going to be emotional for me, I mean full transparency I cry every year just on the ride around deal so with it being on the oval and doing it in the 14 all that it’s going to be definitely, probably emotional,” said Briscoe.
“It’s really special to be back here at home in Indiana. Every race car driver dreams of racing at Indianapolis, but for me, it’s even more special because I grew up here,” he added.
Chase Briscoe eyes playoff spot and #14 legacy
A win this weekend will help Chase Briscoe secure a spot in the 2024 Cup playoffs. It would also be a fitting end to SHR’s legacy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Briscoe has raced at the Brickyard before, twice in the Xfinity Series and won on the road course layout in 2020.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get a chance to race on the oval. So being able to do it this year means a lot to me,” Briscoe stated.
The #14 car has a special place in NASCAR history. After Stewart retired in 2016, Clint Bowyer took over and won two races in 2018. Chase Briscoe then drove the #14 in 2021 and earned his first win in 2022. Other notable racers like Fonty Flock, Hershel McGriff, and A.J. Foyt, also drove this famed car.
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