Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 3 - I Just Want to Win, Win, Win

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Dale Jr. Download

Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 3 – I Just Want to Win, Win, Win

Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Guests/Voices: Dale Earnhardt Sr., Kelly Earnhardt, Deb Williams, Race Announcers

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Episode Overview

This episode of “Becoming Earnhardt” continues the deep dive into Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s pivotal 1980 NASCAR season. Dale Jr. chronicles his father’s journey through the early races of the year, focusing on the intense competition, mechanical challenges, winning streaks, and the growing pains of both driver and team. With first-hand accounts, expert insights, and family perspectives, this episode underscores Earnhardt Sr.'s hunger for victory and the formative moments that shaped his legacy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Battling With Legends and Team Growth

• Early in the season, Earnhardt Sr. learns from racing against iconic figures like Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Donnie Allison, and Junior Johnson’s teams.
  • Dale Sr. (02:17): “They’ll beat you with it, but they’re not going to beat me with it but a few times, and I’m going to be using it against them.”
• Osterlund Racing rapidly establishes itself as a contender under crew chief Jake Elder, facing off against established powerhouses.

Daytona, Richmond, and Early Challenges

• After speed weeks, Earnhardt Sr. finishes fifth at Richmond, recovering from the previous year’s injuries.
  • Chaos at Richmond: Dale’s rival, Joe Milliken, crashes savagely but escapes unharmed.
    • Dale Sr. (05:31): “That’s the first time he’s ever used a transmission as a stepladder getting out of that race car.”
• Darrell Waltrip wins Richmond; Earnhardt Sr. continues to show strong form and leadership in points.

Off-Track Drama: The FBI Investigation

• Emerging scandal involving LG Dewitt’s team, led by Joe Milliken, as the FBI investigates a car theft ring tied to their operations (06:41–07:30).
  • The impact of uncertainty and instability in the Cup garage highlighted; performance and results are the only way to maintain job security.

Comeback in Atlanta: First Victory of 1980

• Despite a poor qualifying and team morale (starting 31st), Earnhardt surges to the front at Atlanta, battling Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough.
  • Dale Jr. (09:13): “In an article in Stock Car Racing Magazine, Goodyear engineers are telling Jake Elder the tires on Dad’s car were so worn that there was no way he could finish… Elder said, ‘If you want to be a superstar, sometimes you have to take chances.’”
• Earnhardt wins by running the final laps on nearly bald tires, showing boldness and grit.
  • Dale Sr. in Victory Lane (10:36): “I ain’t believing we did it… We ran hard all day, had good pit stops. It was just a super day.”
  • Dale Jr. (11:08): “I could get used to this. Beats the heck out of any other feeling I’ve had recently.”
• This victory would be the first of nine at Atlanta—still a track record.

Bristol: Back-to-Back Wins

• Returning to Bristol after his first Cup win in 1979, Earnhardt overcomes rough practice sessions to qualify fourth and dominates the race after Cale Yarborough suffers engine problems.
  • Jake Elder post-practice (12:30): “We were running so bad, I could have timed Dale with an alarm clock.”
• Earnhardt leads the final 135 laps and wins for the second consecutive week.
  • Earnhardt Sr. (14:25): “When I joined Osterlin, I really thought it would take a year to win my first race. But then we won this race last year and we’ll win our share this year. I just want to win, win, win.”
  • Deb Williams (15:14): “Are we seeing the starting of the changing of the guard?... The way the season progressed from that point caused everyone to raise a little bit of an eyebrow.”
  • Jake Elder’s shift (16:01): “He’s taking my advice now, and he’s really listening.”
• Earnhardt pulls ahead in points, leading Bobby Allison by 85.

Earnhardt Family: Personal Insights from Kelly Earnhardt (17:14–21:12)

• Fond stories about Dale Sr.’s many hunting buddies, including Richard Childress, Jody Davis, and Bill Jordan.
  • Kelly: “My dad was just a really personable, caring individual… He always said if he was picking on you, then he liked you.”
• Reminiscences of Bass Pro Shops, the Earnhardt family’s love for the outdoors, and a salute to the brand’s military discount program.

Setbacks and Frustrations

• Darlington: Another engine failure, Earnhardt’s third in seven races (24:29–24:50).
  • Dale Sr.: “He doesn’t want to make a habit out of these engine problems… hopes to work those out.”
  • Kelly: “The perimeters of what you could do in the motor was so wide open…”
  • David Pearson (the “Silver Fox”) wins his 105th and last Cup race.
• North Wilkesboro: Earnhardt recovers quietly with a 6th-place finish (26:13).
• LG Dewitt announces his team’s closure, highlighting the instability and fragile nature of NASCAR teams at this time.
  • Deb Williams (27:28): “There was no stability in the teams like there is today… If you were winning and performing, you probably were gonna keep your ride. But if you’re not producing, then you’re out the door.”
  • Joe Milliken, despite his obvious talent, is left sidelined.

Martinsville: Tensions Flare

• On the opening lap, Earnhardt executes a risky move, colliding with Richard Petty and taking out several contenders (29:13–29:53).
  • Dale Jr.: “The pressure is what possibly fueled a very strange move dad makes on the opening lap… Drives over the curb and into the left side of Richard Petty’s Chevrolet.”
  • Richard Petty (31:19): “He just turned left, went up across the grass and jumped the curb and jumped right in the middle of that whole crowd. That was my introduction to Dale Earnhardt.”
  • Petty confronts Earnhardt post-race about over-aggressive driving.
  • Earnhardt’s actions start to draw ire from Cup veterans, earning both grudging respect and open frustration.

Garage Reputation and Team Strain

• Earnhardt’s aggressive style and youthful brashness bring increasing tension from competitors and within his own team (31:57–32:38).
  • Race Announcer (31:57): “Dale Earnhardt… almost put them all into the wall… Respect in the garage is kind of wearing thin.”
  • Dale Sr. (32:38): “I don’t know what got into Earnhardt, but… it was a stupid move on his part.”
• Mechanical failures and communication issues begin to crop up for the Osterlund team, mirroring the pressure cooker environment (32:52–33:06).
  • Dale Jr.: “Now the question isn’t just whether dad can keep winning. It’s whether this whole operation can hold together long enough to chase after this championship.” (33:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dale Earnhardt Sr. (02:17):
  “They’ll beat you with it, but they’re not going to beat me with it but a few times, and I’m going to be using it against them.”
• Jake Elder after Bristol win (16:01):
  “He’s taking my advice now, and he’s really listening.”
• Dale Earnhardt Sr., Victory Lane at Atlanta (10:36):
  “I ain’t believing we did it… We ran hard all day, had good pit stops. It was just a super day.”
• Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Bristol (14:25):
  “I just want to win, win, win.”
• Deb Williams (15:14):
  “Are we seeing the starting of the changing of the guard?...”
• Richard Petty, on Earnhardt’s opening lap move (31:19):
  “That was my introduction to Dale Earnhardt. After that he’d just take one at a time.”
• Jake Elder, on driver evolution (16:01):
  “He’s taking my advice now, and he’s really listening.”
• Kelly Earnhardt (18:34):
  “My dad was just a really personable, kind of caring individual… He always said if he was picking on you, then he liked you.”

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• Learning from Legends and Early Season Rivalries: 02:06–03:45
• Atlanta 500 Victory Story: 07:41–11:26
• Bristol Back-to-Back Wins: 11:37–14:53
• Backstage Team Dynamics (Jake Elder, Crew): 15:09–16:01
• Kelly Earnhardt’s Family Perspective: 17:14–21:12
• Engine Failure at Darlington: 24:29–24:50
• Martinsville Mayhem (Earnhardt’s Aggressive Move): 29:13–31:33
• Rising Tensions and Garage Reputation: 31:33–33:48

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Tone and Style

The episode balances Dale Jr.’s nostalgic, storytelling tone with race call intensity, first-person quotes, and reflective moments. It is candid, energetic, and full of historic color—all in keeping with the intimate style of “The Dale Jr. Download.”

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Conclusion

This episode vividly captures Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s ferocious will to win and the pressure-cooker environment of early-1980s NASCAR. Through triumphs, controversies, and mechanical heartache, Earnhardt’s competitive fire and personality begin to redefine expectations and unsettle the established order of the sport—heralding the arrival of a new superstar unafraid to ruffle feathers in pursuit of greatness.

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Transcript

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Zoe, this thing weighs a ton. Drew Ski, live with your legs, man.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Santa. Santa, did you get my letter?

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

He's talking to you britches. I'm not.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Of course he did.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Right, Santa, you know my elf Drew Ski here. He handles the nice list. And elf, I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile, you can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. Right, Mrs. Claus?

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

I'm Mrs. Claus. Claus much younger sister. And AT T Mobile, there's no trade in needed when you switch. So you can keep your old phone.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Or give it as a gift.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

And the best part, you can make the switch to T mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Nice. My side of the tree is slipping. Kimber, the holidays are better. AT T Mobile switch in just 15 minutes and get iPhone 17 on us.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

And now T mobile is available in US cellular stores with 34 monthly bill credits for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 vice connection charge credit sentinel.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Cancel Finance agreement. 256 gigs $830 eligible Ford in a.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

With auto fees required. Check out 15 minutes or less per line.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

The following is a production of Dirty Mo Media. This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, North America's premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you or online@bass pro.com later in the episode, my sister Kelly shares her unique perspective on life with dad away from the racetrack. Now buckle up. Here's a brand new episode of Becoming Earnhardt presented by Bass Pro Shops.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

You know, running with these guys, I run with Kel and Richard and Donnie and these guys, you race with them and you know, if you're smart at all, you pick up on what they.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Doing and they'll use it against you.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

And they'll beat you with it, but they're not going to beat me with it but a few times, and I'm going to be using it against them.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

It's pretty remarkable to see the speed that the Osterlin team is able to find so early in their existence.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Earnhardt right tuck on tight. He's holding on to the back bumper of Cale Yarbrough as they go into the third turn. They've got about four cars.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

We know Jake Elder, the crew chief, is bringing a lot of experience to the table. But these are some of the greatest teams and minds in history that they're going up against. Were talking about Junior Johnson.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

I gotta feel like we are the best prepared for this race. We're definitely not going out there and wait for something to happen.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Petty Enterprises, Bud Moore, Richard Petty and.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale Earnhardt are side by side. Coming down the Dale Earnhardt leads. Buddy Baker across the stripe. Bobby Allison has shown us the third place car.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Lot of great teams. Had a couple things going differently in the first two races of the 1980 season. Dad might be sitting with two strikes in the win column.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale Earnhardt down the back straightaway, just exploding an engine as he works his way.

[Race Announcer]

Earnhardt diving back on the pit road again. A lengthy stop for him a Moment ago, over 24 seconds.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Dad's eager to take the team back to victory lane because we got to remember last time that this team won, dad wasn't even driving the car. That was David Pearson behind the wheel at the Southern 500 with Dale Earnhardt.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Out with the broken collarbone. David Bearson wins his third Southern 500.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

They've been running well, leading the points, But NASCAR in 1980 didn't hand out job security for close enough.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Nothing going through my mind but, you know, beating Bobby and what David was planning. He was back there and I knew he was planning something. You know, I just got outsmarted a little bit. But one of the most competitive races I've ever been in.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Something had to break loose, and it will.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Darrell Waldrop and Dale Earnhardt play hopscotch, leapfrog and change places. Earnhardt is wedged into the middle of the veteran Darrell Waldron playing the role of the rabbit, but closing down rapidly on his back deck lid now. Is that DALE EARNHARD Number two? DALE EARNHARDT is your new leader. Earnhardt's really found a home with a rear buffer of Cale Yarborough, a young.

[Race Announcer]

Superstar from Kannapolis, North Carolina.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

If I can lead, that's where I want to be. From Richmond, the capital city of Virginia, the Universal Racing Network brings you the Richmond 400, the third event of this big 1980 season from Edge of lake stock car racing.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

After the Daytona 500 and speed weeks, the series is headed to Richmond and dad's gonna have a solid run there. He's gonna run fifth in a chaos filled race that included dad's rookie of the year rival, Joe Millikan crashing out of the track.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

And action up in turn three. And we have a car up over the wall. The driver of the car that is upside down right over the guardrail is climbing out on top of the car. He's standing up on it and he's waving, saying everything is a okay.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Milk had tagged the third turn guardrail sails over the barrier and landed on his side against a wooden fence beyond the track surface. It was a savage crash.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

That's the first time he's ever used a transmission as a stepladder getting out of that race car.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Darrell Waltrip, he's gonna go on to win the race.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

The spectators are getting geared for a battle that they know is inevitable. It's gotta happen. Waldrop down on the low side and Waltrip and Petty are side by side. Darrell Waltrip wins the Richmond 400 and he's headed into victory lane in the.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Next week at Rockingham. Dad's gonna have another solid run. He's leading a few laps there and coming home in seventh place. And he now leads the point standings by 52 over Richard Petty. He's 177 points ahead of Kel Yarbrough. Now, during the race at Rockingham, it was reported as many as 11 FBI agents were investigating LG DeWitt's team driven by Joe Milliken, who started second.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

The car, number 72, the DeWitt Chevrolet. Joe Milligan's gonna establish himself early. Yes, and he's had his problem though. A couple of weeks ago at Richmond, he went out of the track there.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

During the race, an anonymous phone call was placed to Tom Higgins in the press box saying the FBI was investigating the team for interstate traffic of stolen cars. The FBI was looking into a theft to order ring where car thieves would find customers who wanted a cheap car and they would go out and steal what the customer wanted. It was said that crew chief Bobby Hudson had bought a stolen Pontiac Trans Am from someone he met at Talladega. Later this year in October, Bobby Hudson and two of his brothers were arrested on charges of receiving, concealing and transporting stolen vehicles. When the cup series heads to Atlanta, things get off to a shaky start for the Osterlin team.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Greetings Sports fans from the heart of Georgia and the 21st annual Atlanta 500 on a beautiful day at Atlanta International Raceway.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Dad's gonna have mechanical problems in qualifying and settle for only a 31st starting position on that grid Sunday morning. Dad says, I only got a few hours sleep last night. I think the team's morale is about as low as I've seen it. We just couldn't get it running. Things sure turned around in the last 24 hours.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

We're gonna get a green. Buddy Baker. Neil Bynne starts picking up the speed. And the Atlanta 500 is gonna be underway. Dale Earnhardt, who started 31st in the field, is now running third after only 37 laps completed. A man on the move.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

We're gonna get this race going. And Cale Yarborough's gonna be dominant, leading 183 laps before his engine goes sour.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Something evidently wrong with Cale Yarborough's automobile as he backs way out of the carburetor. Dale Earnhardt looked like he was shot out of a gun. Is he gunned by Cale Yarborough on pit road with the hood up and the crew is under it?

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

I feel like we won the race. We just didn't get paid for it. That's what Cale says.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, side by side at 3 and 4. Dale Earnhardt on the high side. Bobby Allison on the low side. As they come out of turn four. They'll be running side by side. Dale Earnhardt shoots past Bobby Allison and takes over the lead in the Atlanta 500.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

In an article in the stock car racing magazine, Goodyear engineers are telling Jake Elder the tires on Dad's car were so worn that there was no way he could finish the race without a pit stop.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

This is the time of the race where the driver starts hearing everything going on in a car. He feels every vibration, he hears every knock. And he just counts the laps off with the starter.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Elder said after the race. If you want to be a superstar, sometimes you have to take chances. They were down to the fabric, but I figured those tires had another 10 laps in them.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

And he has a big watermelon friend underneath that handlebar mustache. Dale Earnhardt, the rookie driver for just a few years back, now becoming a very big, strong veteran and a force to be reckoned with. Many of the fans on the back, down the back, straight away, raising their fists in salute to Dale Earnharden.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Dad was able to charge to the front and lead the final 29 laps. And he's gonna capture his first win of the season in the second of his cup career.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

ANNAPOLIS, N.C. last year's rookie of the Year comes off of turn four. He's headed to the start finish line, and he gets the ticket flag.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

This 500 mile journey changed Dad's early morning demeanor once he pulls into victory lane.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale, congratulations. A victory in second year on the super speedway. Here, boy, you did it. I ain't believing we did it, but, you know, this crew worked hard and, you know, it just was a long day. We ran hard all day, had good pit stops. You know, it was just a super day. Well, you sat back there, seemed to control yourself. You finally made your move. Just blew right by Bobby Allison. Had you been holding back all day? No, I was running as hard as I could go. Bobby slowed down. He had problems, and luckily Cale had problems, too. So it ended up we're by ourselves at the end.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

He goes on to say this. I could get used to this. Beats the heck out of any other feeling I've had recently. This is going to be Dad's first of nine total victories at Atlanta. Now, that's a record that still stands today for the most wins by a single driver at this track.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale, congratulations once again on the radio network and everybody at Universal Racing. The sweet taste of victory for Dale Earnhardt from Atlanta International Raceway at Hampton, Georgia. This is so long for now from the Universal race.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Now you'll Remember back in 1979, dad won his first cup race at Bristol in the Valley Dale Southeastern 500. So fresh off this win at Atlanta, I'm sure he's pretty confident in defending his race win from the previous year. Every time a driver wins their first race at a particular track, just seems like for whatever reason, every time they go back there, they always run good. That would be the case for dad and Bristol Motor Speedway. As long as I can remember, I loved going to those races at Bristol, particularly the night race. So much cool energy at that one. But I always knew that dad was always gonna be running for the win.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

We got just as good a shot at winning as anybody else far as competitiveness. And our luck's been. Been running pretty good at this time, too, so I feel like we can win it.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

After a rough practice session, though, Jake Elder jokes, we were running so bad, I could have timed Dale with an alarm clock.

[Race Announcer]

They had quite a bit of concern about Earnhardt here. He likes his speedway. He feels more at home on it.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

I guess, than anywhere we go.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

But despite these struggles, Dad's going to go out and qualify in fourth position.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

The fourth starter is The Winston cup point standing leader, Dale Earnhardt of Kannapolis.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

N.C. kel Yarborough wins the pole and he becomes the sentimental favorite for the race after he revealed that he spent the day with an 11 year old Brian Howell who was suffering from throat cancer.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

From Timmonsville, South Carolina, Three time Winston cup champ, Cale Yarborough in the Junior Johnson prepared Busch oldsmobile.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

We talk about dad being a strong contender at Bristol, but anybody who drove for Junior Johnson at Bristol was always running for the win.

[Race Announcer]

Just door to door like a drag race, they ease off into the number one turn.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Cale Yarborough has Darrell Waltrip working the outside as they come out of turn two.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

And as this race plays out, it looks like it's Cale's race to lose.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Cale Yarborough, he's led this race five times for 187 laps and now he's.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Slowing on the racetrack as he led most of the day. But then later he drops a cylinder.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

If you blow the engine, it's all over with.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Kel's gonna go on to say it was my race, it was no contest. That's two races in a row I've lost because something happened to my car. If things turn around, the rest of them better look out. Dad's gonna get by and lead the final 135 laps to win. For the second consecutive week, Dale Earnhardt.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Wins the Valley Nail Southeastern 500 at Bristol. For the second year in a row.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

He's gonna finish 8.7 seconds ahead of second place Darrell Waltrip and in victory lane. Dad was thrilled. When I joined Osterlin. I really thought it would take a year to win my first race. But then we won this race last year and we'll win our share this year. I don't see any reason why I can't win the grand national championship this year. I just want to win, win, win.

[Race Announcer]

A lot of predictions, Mike Joy that this youngster was headed for stardom when he first came on the scene. And that's coming true more every race for him.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Well, he is certainly bold, Barney. He has the boldness of Adaro Waltrip and the foot to the floor driving style of Buddy Baker. He has learned a lot in one short year on the Winston cup tour.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Here's Deb Williams on the importance of dad winning back to back races.

[Deb Williams]

I don't know if this guy might be here to stay would be the right terminology. I think more of, oh well, this is interesting. Well, was this a fluke? What did he do to win this race? And you Know, after back to back then it was more of, oh, this is gonna be an interesting season. Are we seeing the starting of the changing of the guard? You know, are we seeing someone else come in now who can truly challenge these people that are established? The way the season progressed from that point caused everyone to raise a little bit of an eyebrow.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

I think we took everything home today, didn't we?

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

After winning their first cup race together last year at Bristol, Jake Elder told the media that dad had some bad habits and quote, he's got to learn to do as I say. Well, after this year's win, Jake says his bad habits are gone. He's taking my advice now, and he's really listening. These little nuggets from Jake will be important as this story unfolds and we kind of understand the type of driver that Jake Elder liked to work with and what he expected from dad. As the season wore on, not only would they leave Bristol with back to back wins, but now they also lead the cup point standings by 85 over Bobby Allison. We'll be back with more becoming Earnhardt, presented by Bass Pro Shops in just a bit. But before that, let's hear from my sister Kelly about dad's closest friends and the relationships that meant the most to him.

[Kelly Earnhardt]

You know, throughout the years of being around dad, he had a lot of hunting buddies and hunting friends. It kind of started early in South Carolina when he had some hunting land there with Richard Childress and Hank Jones, I remember, who owned Sports Image. There was a couple guys from the Atlanta Braves. I know Jody Davis was a really good friend of my dad's. He was a catcher for the Braves, and they did a lot of hunting together. And then when Johnny Morris came on and sponsored my dad's car and they developed that relationship, you know, there was a lot of hunting. Mike Collier, my dad's pilot, did a lot of hunting with them. Hank Parker, senior. Dad was good friends with Bill Jordan, who owns Realtree. So a lot of different people that came in and out of of my dad's life from a hunting and outdoor perspective. You know, my dad was just a really personable, kind of caring individual when it came to making other people feel valued and appreciated. You know, he liked to pick around with people, and he always said if he was picking on you, then he liked you because sometimes, you know, people would get mad about that because he had this headlock that he would get you in or he would, like grab you really hard on the neck. I used to go to him with different stories like, dad, people Are calling me a redneck at school. And he's like, honey, if they're talking about you, then you got something good going on. So here. He always felt like if that was what was happening, then things were good. And so I just think that he just made people feel comfortable. And whether it was meeting a fan or a business partner or going hunting with a friend or whatever it was, he just made people feel comfortable and special and spending time with them. So he just had a really easy, magnetic kind of personality. We are all the time finding a Bass pro. There's a few that we go in regularly, but I like to kind of go in. The first thing I do is like when I go in is I kind of stop and get a lay of the land because they're all kind of laid out a little bit different, you know, and trying to figure out what in there are the things that you want to go look at. Just look at. And then what do you want to go do for shopping wise? So I usually head to the home and the decor part. Then I head over to the ladies section and look at the clothes and then I kind of go. I like going to the camping section and seeing what's about because we have a camper and you know, I'm always interested in kind of the latest gadgets and then kind of the food and snacks. They got some amazing candy options in there and all the kind of old timey candy that you can find in there and the licorice and the caramel creams and all those kinds of things. So. And I like to check out the shoe section because you may not know it, but they have a lot of fashionable kind of shoes. It's not all just for, you know, hunting or hiking or anything like that. They've got some. They got a lot of cool shoes. My husband heads straight to the hunting area and Wyatt generally likes to find. The first thing he likes to find is if they have one of those shooting ranges. Because a lot of the stores have the little shooting ranges that you can. And you can knock the things down and all that. And then fishing. It's kind of hard to figure out maybe what you do first because there's so much that you want to do. I also admire Bass pro's unwavering commitment to those who serve our country. Their legendary salute program is one of the many ways they show Support, offering a 10% everyday discount to active duty military veterans and first responders. It's their way of saying thank you to the heroes who protect our freedom and way of life. To learn more and see full details, visit bass pro.com legendary salute.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Zoe this thing weighs a ton. Drewy, lift with your legs man.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Santa Santa, did you get my letter?

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

He's talking to you Bridges. I'm not that.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Of course he did.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Right Santa, you know my elf Drew Ski here. He handles the nice list and elf I'm six' three what everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile. You can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies, right Mrs. Claus?

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

I'm Mrs. Claus much younger sister and AT T Mobile there's no trade in needed when you switch so you can.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

And the best part? You can make the switch to T Mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes. Nice.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

My side of the tree is slipping. Kimberly the holidays are better.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Minutes and get iPhone 17 on us with no trade in needed. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 month credits for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 device connection charge credits and imbalance.

[Commercial Announcer]

Due if you pay off earlier.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Cancel financing agreement. 256 gates $830 eligible for it in.

[Commercial Announcer]

A new line $100 plus a month.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Check out 15 minutes or less per line.

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[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Let'S step back for a second and try to see the full picture. Dad just accomplished a really impressive feat winning back to back races in just his sophomore season. So as a driver who has the hot hand, naturally you're anxious to keep rolling at the top. But unfortunately for dad, this next stretch of races would again be filled with attrition and disappointment.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

From Darlington International Raceway in South Carolina, the Universal Racing Network brings you the CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 at Darlington, a.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Really tough, rugged racetrack. It kind of fits Dad's style. He's going to fall out with engine problems on lap 104.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

His engine is gone. So Dale Earnhardt is through for the day and he led the race for a while. Right now the race leader, Cale Yarbrough.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Now this is going to be Dad's third engine failure of the season and we're only on race seven.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

He doesn't want to make a habit out of these engine problems he had at Daytona and here hopes to work those problems out.

[Kelly Earnhardt]

The perimeters of what you could do in the motor was also wide open as far as some of the rules go.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Again, Doug Richard.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

So how far do you push making.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Power and you hope it lasts?

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

You could build a grenade, but a.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Grenade could blow a little bit of a history nugget for you. The race would be won by David Pearson in his first race with Hoss Ellington in that famous red number one.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

David Pearson driving car number one, the Silver Fox out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Checkered flag goes out and David Pearson is your winner.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

So back to back wins for David Pearson at Darlington in rides that he just hopped into. It would be the Silver Fox's 105th and final cup victory in his incredible career. Some consider David Pearson to be the Greatest driver ever in nascar.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

And of course, Dale right now is leading the Winston cup standings and the money earnings for 1980 as we pick.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Up the season again at North Wilkesboro. Dad's quietly going to come home with a sixth place finish after starting fourth.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale Earnhardt is really getting a lot of acceleration off the corner. And I believe this is part of Jake Eller's plan on this car.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

He's going to be five laps down to none other than the King, Richard Petty, who brought home his first win of the season.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Richard Petty still setting a blistering pace. Richard Petty, a big smile on your face. The first victory in 1980.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Also after the North Wilkesboro race, LG Dewitt announces that he's going to be shutting down his team due to the lack of a big buck sponsor, high cost and mediocre performance. Now he emphasizes that the team closing down had nothing to do with the pending FBI investigation.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

One disappointing crew down here, Barney, is that of Joe Milliken. Bobby Hudson and the boys had worked awfully hard. They had to replace the engine in that car. They blew.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

This going to leave sophomore standout Joe Milliken without a ride. This just paints the picture for you how competitive and unkind the Cup Garage could be at this point.

[Deb Williams]

Joe Milliken was viewed as Richard Petty's prodigy. For L.G. deWitt to suddenly shut the team down and Joe be out without a ride and really never had one again, there was no stability in the teams like there is today. And I'm not talking about the charter system. I'm talking about benefits and salaries. You know, the only thing you got was what you won. It was a situation where if you were winning and performing, you probably were gonna keep your ride. But if you're not producing, then you're out the door.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Joe Milliken, who lost the rookie of the year to dad last year, but actually out pointed him during the season, is out of a ride and on the outside looking in. Joe's going to sit on the sideline for weeks until he finally teams up with Ramock for the final three races of this year. Dad had a lot of security, I think due to his wins, sponsorships, contracts, and after getting some momentum and leading the points, he may have been feeling a little pressure as the season rolls into Martinsville.

[Race Announcer]

Well, hello everyone from Martinsville, Virginia. I wish I could tell you the sun was shining here, but unfortunately it's overcast still, as it has been this 25th annual Virginia 500. Of course, it's the premier short track event on the nation on the Winston cup tour for these drivers. And it puts together the best Winston cup drivers in the world. It draws them all here.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

The tranquility of the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia about set to be shattered here this afternoon.

[Race Announcer]

Ladies and gentlemen, they're getting ready to start the Virginia 500.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

That pressure is what possibly fueled a very strange move dad makes on the opening lap.

[Race Announcer]

Well, it's gonna be interesting to see who wants to set the pace. They come down, green flag, dive into the number one corner. Waltrip gets the jump. Then Petty is up out of control. Petty gets banged two cars.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

He's going to dive bomb into the first corner. Passing an entire row of cars. Driving over the curb and into the left side of Richard Petty's Chevrolet. Taking out several contenders.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Six, seven cars are in it. It looked as if Dale Earnhardt piled into Richard Petty going into the first turn.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Now this was basically the end the of of dad's day. He damaged the front suspension on the car. Would soldier home to a 13th place finish several laps down.

[Race Announcer]

Earnhardt reported to be about six or seven laps down a moment ago. We'll keep tabs on his progress this afternoon. Very critical for Earnhardt for a good finish. He's leading the Winston cup points chase.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Now, Richard Petty, he's going to rebound and have a spirited battle at the front of the field for the win between he and Darrell Waltrip, who came from several laps down. Darrell got penalized due to a new tire changing mandate which simply states that if a driver change tires under the caution, they're going to be penalized two.

[Race Announcer]

Laps as none of the drivers will be allowed to change any tires under the caution. Of course they can change them, but if they do, there will be a two lap penalty for the race team.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

This is an effort to reduce tire usage and save the team's money. Probably a bad idea, but Darrell's gonna go on and get the win at the end of this race. And leads the series with three victories.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Oh, Ned, geez. That was just. I got us in a bad situation.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

And I didn't know if I could.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Get us out or not. But everybody gave 100%.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

As legend has it, after the race, King Richard is going to track down dad and give him a stern talking to about his over aggressive driving.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

What happened when the race started, he just turned left, went up across the.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Grass and jumped the curb and jumped.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Right in the middle of that whole crowd. That was my introduction to Dale Earnhardt. After that he'd just take one at a time.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Now this Race is on NASCAR Classics, and everyone should go watch it if you've got an opportunity. Fantastic stuff. Now, one of the things that's fascinating about this point in dad's career is his lack of hesitation when it comes to going toe to toe with the cup veterans.

[Race Announcer]

Dale Earnhardt. Jackie almost put them all into the wall there. The rear end of that car almost came around on him. And Richard Petty backed out of it and gave him a little room, breathing room. But it has allowed everybody to close up on the second place car, Mike Joy.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

So dad may have three wins total in his career now, but the respect in the garage area is kind of wearing thin.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Dale Earnhardt just put the move on Neal Monic. They swapped a little paint and a little sheet metal. Earnhardt trying to go downstairs. As Yarbrough stays up, he changes his mind. Slams the door on it. Goes right back in a single file formation.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

The veterans are fed up with his aggressive driving and carelessness.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Yeah, well, everything went good. I don't know what got into Earnhardt, but, you know, I just made up my mind that I wasn't gonna let him pass me, even though I knew it didn't make any difference. It was a stupid move on his part.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

And the tensions inside the Osterlin team are kind of starting to crack with.

[Race Announcer]

Blown engines, smoke trailing from Earnhardt's machine. What a tough break for him as he heads down the back stretch.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

And Barney Hall. He must have had a premonition about the problems because Earnhardt was well off the pace as he entered turn number one.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Short tempers and misfires in communication.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

They only changed one tire. They changed the right rear tire on it for some reason or another. They went around with the right front, but they never did put it on.

[Race Announcer]

Everybody here wondering, has something happened to the Earnhardt car?

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Now the question isn't just whether dad can keep winning. It's whether this whole operation can hold together long enough to chase after this championship.

[Dale Earnhardt Sr.]

Earnhardt almost lost it. Earnhardt coming into the pit. Has the wake caused you any anxieties? Well, not yet.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

It had.

[Race Announcer]

So Earnhardt is going to be called back to pit road. This could easily cost him the national driving title. Here this afternoon.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Becoming Earnhardt is a Dirty MO Media original podcast series. It is written and produced by me, Dalen Hart Jr. With Bobby Marcos and Colby Bass. Sound design by Alex Timms Production assistants Tiff Powers, Mike Davis, Micah Caldwell and Evan Vecchia. This project is in partnership with mrn, the Motor Racing Network, and the Appalachian State University Stock Car Collection. Special thanks to Sirius xm, Silver Tribe Media, NASCAR man and Bob Ellis. For additional Dirty Mo Media content, visit our YouTube page and follow us on all major social media platforms. Thank you to Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops for bringing us another episode of Becoming Earnhardt. They are such a great friend and supporter of everything we do, so remember to gear up for all your adventures at Bass Pro Shops, North America's premier outdoor and conservation company.

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