The Dale Jr. Download

"Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 4 - Jake Packs His Suitcase"

Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Podcast by: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM

Overview

In this richly detailed episode of the "Becoming Earnhardt" saga, Dale Jr. chronicles a pivotal, turbulent period in his father Dale Earnhardt’s 1980 NASCAR championship hunt. The story delves into the mounting pressures on the Osterlin Racing team, a string of on-track misfortunes, and—most notably—the dramatic departure of legendary crew chief "Suitcase" Jake Elder. The episode examines how leadership changes, personality clashes, and tense relationships shaped the fate of one of NASCAR’s brightest rising stars.

Tone: Insightful, candid, reflective, peppered with NASCAR grit and humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Mounting Pressure and On-Track Struggles

• On-Track Setbacks: The Osterlin team endures a series of misfortunes—pit road mistakes, engine failures, and close calls, all of which start to erode Dale Earnhardt’s points lead.
  • "Mistakes, pit road blunders, engine failures. They've reduced his points lead to just 61 points. The team desperately needs a rally to finish the season on a strong note."
    (Dale Jr., 02:38)
• Aggressive Driving: Dale Sr.'s aggressive driving both excites fans and frustrates competitors, sometimes leading to costly incidents.
  • "His aggressive driving style has annoyed the competition and at times cost the team some opportunities at good finishes."
    (Dale Jr., 05:16)

2. The Winston 500 & Competitive Tension

• Earnhardt vs. Baker: The episode revisits the breathtaking duel at Alabama’s Winston 500, where a two-tire call thrusts Earnhardt into a late-race showdown with Buddy Baker.
  • "Buddy would come out 16 seconds behind dad, but he would track him down. And with two laps to go, pass dad to win by a few hundred feet."
    (Dale Jr., 09:50)
• Strategy and Frustration: Different pit strategies ignite post-race debate over risk vs. reward.
  • "He said we wanted to break away from him, break that draft if we could. Says he can go the rest of the distance now... ‘I'd do the same thing because I knew we could go the distance on four tires and two was questionable. I’ll not take a chance on a driver’s life.’”
    (Waddell Wilson, 08:29)

3. The Tipping Point: Jake Elder’s Boiling Frustrations

• Sportsman Distraction: Tension rises when the team attempts to field an additional Sportsman Series car, sparking bitter disagreement.
  • "Jake says, Larry Penn didn’t quit. And he goes on to say, Roland lied. And I don’t like anyone to lie to me... There are too many good jobs around to have to put up with this."
    (Dale Jr., 13:44)
• Crashes and Missed Opportunities: Earnhardt’s Sportsman race crash and then a disastrous World 600 bring issues to a head.

4. The Fallout: Suitcase Jake Leaves Osterlin

• Jake Quits: After a disastrous weekend and a series of escalating disputes, Jake Elder hands in his keys—true to his reputation for not sticking around when frustrated.
  • "Jake felt that working on this sportsman car was a distraction from the cup program, which they desperately needed to get back on track... I’d had it. Jake felt that working on this sportsman car was a distraction from the cup program, which they desperately needed to get back on track."
    (Dale Jr., 13:44)
• Heated Recriminations: Post-departure, both sides share unfiltered opinions in the press.
  • "Roland wouldn’t make a pimple on Jake’s ass."
    (Lou LaRosa, 20:39)
  • "Jake, however, was far less kind, saying Roland could screw up a five car funeral... I wish I’d never gone there. They never appreciated a thing I did..."
    (Jake Elder, paraphrased by Dale Jr., 20:52)
• Attempted Reconciliations: Jake attempts to walk back harsh comments with public apologies, then penning a letter to the influential Grand National Scene.
  • "A lot of things I said were true, but a lot of them didn’t come out the way I wanted. I’m man enough to eat those words..."
    (Dale Jr. narrating Jake Elder’s apology, 25:22)

5. Life After Osterlin: Jake and Darrell Waltrip (DieGuard Racing)

• Jake Lands at DieGuard: Jake Elder is quickly hired as crew chief for Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip expresses full faith in Jake’s abilities.
  • "It’s just a deal where I know his abilities and I know what he can do for a racing team. I think the Osterlin team is a good indication. I think Jake built that team to the caliber it is right now."
    (Darrell Waltrip, 34:04)
• DieGuard’s Dysfunction: Despite the change, DieGuard’s issues—engine failures, management clashes, public threats of replacing Waltrip—persist.
  • "If I don’t get away from these Gardeners, they’re going to drag me down the tubes with them."
    (Darrell Waltrip, paraphrased by Dale Jr., 37:57)
• Waltrip’s Contract Drama: Waltrip’s fight to escape his DieGuard contract becomes a high-profile saga.
  • "So we go to the bank... Bill Gardner said, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, you owe me 25 more thousand dollars.’"
    (Dale Jr., 41:01)

6. Osterlin’s Gamble: Promoting Doug Richard

• Doug Richard Steps Up: With Jake gone, 20-year-old front tire changer Doug Richard is promoted to crew chief—an astonishing move given the championship context.
  • "Who’s this young kid from California that suddenly is Dale Earnhardt’s crew chief? His personality was so opposite from Jake’s."
    (Dale Jr., 44:09)
• Performance Pressures: The team’s points lead shrinks precariously, with Dale Sr. now staring down racing legends Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough.
  • "With just a handful of years of experience, [Doug Richard] will have to find a way to rally the Osterland troops and help defend a 13 point lead..."
    (Dale Jr., 46:08)

7. Special Segment: Family, Mentors, and Bass Pro

• Kelly Earnhardt’s Reflections: Kelly Earnhardt shares touching stories about the family’s long-running connection with Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops.
  • “He just really holds my dad in. In a very high regard... He comes at it from a passion and from an enjoyment of things he does... it’s almost like you’re sharing it with your dad...”
    (Kelly Earnhardt, 30:53)
• Bass Pro’s Tradition: The Earnhardt family tradition of gearing up at Bass Pro Shops becomes a symbol of generational connection, community, and support for service members.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Team’s Frustration:
  "You don't mix alcohol and dope with business. Not with somebody's life on the line."
  – Jake Elder (as quoted by Dale Jr. from media remarks), (21:59)

• On Jake Elder’s Presence:
  "Once you figure them out, they're a whole lot easier to work with. Don't push their buttons... He was the backbone, so to speak. And when he came around Earnhardt, Earnhardt understood what Jake was telling him."
  – Interviewer, (24:17)

• On Jake’s Volatility:
  "Jake, again, I get he’s got a volatile personality and he leads with emotion all the time. ... But, man, when things got ugly, he got ugly. It was wild to see him making these public comments into the media."
  – Dale Jr., (24:45)

• On Transitioning to Doug Richard:
  "About the only thing anybody – well, first of all, nobody could figure out how to spell his name and then how to pronounce it. Who’s this young kid from California that suddenly is Dale Earnhardt’s crew chief?"
  – Dale Jr., (44:09)

Timeline of Key Events (Timestamps)

• [02:38] – Team errors and points lead falter
• [07:46] – Winston 500 two-tire call; Earnhardt vs. Baker
• [13:44] – Rifts escalate between Jake Elder, management over Sportsman distraction
• [16:36] – World 600 crash, growing pressures, and points lead falls
• [17:46-18:22] – Jake Elder quits Osterlin Racing
• [20:39] – Lou LaRosa and Jake’s infamous rebukes of management
• [25:22] – Jake’s public apology and media narrative spin
• [30:43] – Kelly Earnhardt’s Bass Pro reflections
• [34:04] – Jake Elder hired as DieGuard’s crew chief; Waltrip’s endorsement
• [41:01] – Darrell Waltrip’s $325,000 contract saga
• [44:09] – Doug Richard promoted to crew chief
• [45:05] – Season enters final stretch with slim lead and rookie crew chief

Conclusion

This episode pulls back the curtain on the relentless stress, towering egos, and old-school confrontations that shaped 1980’s NASCAR. With intimate perspective from Dale Jr., sharp-edged quotes from key figures, and a focus on both the practical and personal, listeners gain a clear sense of how the departure of Jake Elder (“Suitcase Jake”) threatened not just team stability but Dale Earnhardt’s entire championship ambitions. As a rookie crew chief takes the helm and the points battle intensifies, the story leaves off with the Osterlin team’s future uncertain, but hope and hard-edged determination burning on.

End note:
The story of "Suitcase" Jake and the Osterlin team is a raw, revealing look at the people and personalities behind racing legend—and a powerful reminder that even on teams aiming for greatness, the margins of success are razor-thin.