Tragedy: Dale Earnhardt Jr Almost Sawing Off His Hand in a Horrific Chainsaw Accident

For many NASCAR fans, Dale Earnhardt Jr serves as a link to the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr. Of course, Junior is his own person and has established his own legacy in the sport. He does have plenty of stories about his father, which he has happily shared with many of his fans. However, the ‘Intimidator’ persona on the race track is very well-known to all, and now the son shows his fans another bold side.

Without a doubt, Dale Earnhardt Jr knew all the best stories, and fans were thoroughly entertained. In a recent podcast episode, he narrated another story from the vast recesses of his memory. This one had to do with his father and his utter disregard for his own body when trying to help others. One thing was for sure: the late great Dale Earnhardt was always ready to help someone in need.

Dale Jr said on his podcast, “I was probably 6 or 7 years old, I just moved in with him. 1981-82. Long long time ago. There was a guy that was going to build a deck on the back of his lake house. Dad told the guy he would come over there and saw this tree down, that was in the way of this deck. On a Wednesday, between races, he goes to this guy’s house. I don’t know why he took me, but he’s like, ‘Do you want to come along?’ I’m like, ‘Sure!’. I get out of the truck and he gets his saw, chainsaw. I’m standing on the backyard, looking up at this tree.”

Dale Jr continued, “He climbs up this tree with the chainsaw and he’s sawing the limbs off. Going and going 15-20 minutes and he saws the tree in parts, right as he’s coming down. He’s been up there 25-30 minutes, finally comes down. Comes down, and his glove, he’s got these tan leather old school gloves—you remember the original outdoor – I don’t even remember if they make them like that anymore. His glove was ripped, from knuckle to knuckle, across the back of his hand.”

“He pulled his glove off and his hand was wide open. Serrated from knuckle to knuckle, bad! My eyes were gigantic! I’m a kid, right? He’s just looking at it. I thought that had just happened. The chainsaw laid on his hand, and he had just come down. I was like, ‘When did that happen?’. He was like, ‘Soon as I got up there’.”

In essence, Dale Sr often played the good Samaritan and helped out his neighbors. Obviously, this all took place during the weekdays, because he is otherwise indisposed during the weekends. To be frank, this would probably instill a sense of normalcy and some humility in the 7-time Cup Series champion. In other words, Dale Sr would like to be perceived as approachable and an ordinary person, away from the race track.

Lewis Hamilton’s successor has been chosen

After Fernando Alonso is out of the race due to his contract extension with the Aston Martin team, many rumor mills have decided who will succeed Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

Champion Max Verstappen is currently determining what is happening on the track. The Dutchman got back on the road to success in Suzuka after the zero in Melbourne through no fault of his own and clinched his third victory this year. He also secured the extra point for the fastest lap of the race.

The Red Bull Racing star leads the World Championship ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez and the Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The latter had to swallow a bitter pill in Saudi Arabia because he had to undergo surgery for his inflamed appendix and the Spaniard was unable to take part in the third training session, qualifying and race. He returned to Australia with a victory.

The good form of the son of the rally legend of the same name is causing a lot of conversation, after all, Sainz is looking for a cockpit because he will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari after the current season. The 29-year-old from Madrid is considered the hottest candidate to succeed the seven-time champion at Mercedes.

The colleagues at “Gazzetta dello Sport” are even sure that the previous Ferrari driver has signed a two-year contract with the star brand’s factory team. Accordingly, Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli should be given more time, for example to gain Formula 1 experience with the Mercedes customer team Williams, before he joins the German car manufacturer’s factory team.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has not yet given any indication when it comes to the driver pairing from 2025. Since the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s departure after the current season, the Viennese has reiterated that he wants to take his time deciding on his successor.

Japanese GP, Suzuka Circuit
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23.566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 sec
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20.866
04. Charles Leclerc ( MC), Ferrari, +26.522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44.272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45.951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS ), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48.626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1 lap
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll ( CDN), Aston Martin, +1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 lap
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 lap
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 lap
out
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, electrics
Alex Albon (T), Williams, crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bulls, Crash

World Championship standings (after 4 of 24 Grands Prix)
Driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Pérez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Piastri 32
07. Russell 24 08.
Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Stroll 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Albon 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Ocon 0
19. Gasly 0
20. Bottas 0
21. Sargeant 0

Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 points
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Racing Bulls 7
07. Haas 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0

Kyle and Richard Petty are not interested in that car anymore Richard Petty’s Son Shockingly Trashes Essence of His Family

If you are a racing enthusiast, and happen to visit NASCAR Hall of Fame, you will be bombarded with so many emotions at one time. The museum in Charlotte holds many precious pictures and artifacts of legendary moments and great racers in the sport’s history. One of them is the popularly advertised and legendary Lee Petty‘s No. 42 car. People travel miles just to have a glimpse of this beauty. But does his own family get nostalgic seeing that? Lee Petty’s son Richard Petty and grandson Kyle Petty answer regarding that.

Kyle and Richard Petty are not interested in that car anymore
In their recent interaction at “The Dale Jr. Download,” the father-son duo opened up on many factors, including the horrific wrecks faced by all of them. Dale Jr. disclosed that he is overwhelmed with emotions when he happens to see Lee Petty’s car at the museum. He eventually asked them if they felt the same about it, or feel bad about the consequences that led after that race.

Kyle Petty stated that they do not really feel a thing about the car, and claim it to be “junk”. “When we walk through the museum, when he says it. And I walk through the museum, we refer to it as junk. That’s that little junk over there, that we had back in the storage building. Because it’s served its purpose, and now you’ve moved on to something else.”

King Richard Petty agrees with his son regarding this. He said, “It was just a happening, it was supposed to be. And you know, you just learn to live with them. Whatever the circumstances, you learn to live with.”

Their family has indeed gone through a lot to develop this much acceptance of life. Lee Petty drove that car in Daytona in 1961 which led to a terrible crash. Lee was admitted to the hospital and came out safely, but could not continue racing post that incident.

The Petty family’s remarkable journey in NASCAR began with Lee Petty, who founded Petty Enterprises in 1949. As the owner, lead driver, and primary decision-maker. His son, Richard Petty, continued and surpassed the legacy by winning 200 victories and seven championships. Richard’s skill on the track and magnetic persona played a pivotal role in propelling NASCAR into the limelight. The racing saga continued with Kyle Petty, Richard’s son, who also made his mark in the racing community.

Throughout its history, Petty Enterprises has been the launchpad for many drivers, yet the Petty family has always been its core. The enterprise has certainly shaped NASCAR’s business and culture far beyond the confines of the racetrack.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame thus honors the Petty family’s legacy, showcasing their remarkable 75-year involvement in racing. Exhibits and historical items on display, showcase their substantial impact on the sport. The enduring heritage of the Petty family extends beyond their triumphs and accolades. There exists a deep-rooted enthusiasm and dedication to racing, that brought smiles to many generations.