Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 6 - All or Nothing

Summary

The Dale Jr. Download

Episode: Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 6 – All or Nothing
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and team | Produced by Dirty Mo Media

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Overview:

This episode concludes the “Becoming Earnhardt” 1980 miniseries, chronicling Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s dramatic run to his first NASCAR championship. With candid insights, race-by-race analysis, and family commentary, Dale Jr. and guests detail the tense, controversy-laden battle between Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough — covering the crucial final races, behind-the-scenes team changes, and the aftermath that set the stage for the next era of the Earnhardt legacy. The episode also features a special segment with Kelly Earnhardt on the family’s outdoor traditions and reflections on future generations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: High-Stakes Title Race

[01:30–02:52]

• Narrator lays out the stakes: After 29 races, Earnhardt Sr. and Cale Yarborough are neck and neck in points.
  • “Pressure this, pressure that, but I really, really don’t feel that much pressure other than the normal racing pressure that we've been under all season.” — Dale Earnhardt Sr. (01:30)
• Earnhardt’s four DNFs have allowed Cale to close the gap, setting up a winner-take-all scenario.

Notable Quote

• “I don't feel any pressure at all. I'd rather be leaving than behind. And if we can just hang on to our lead, I feel like we'll beat a 1980 champion.” — Earnhardt Sr. (02:43)

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2. Atlanta Race: Feud Boils Over

[03:14–06:26]

• Atlanta Journal 500: Cale dominates, leading 269 laps; Earnhardt is trapped a lap down but battles hard.
• In the closing laps, a bitter fight as Earnhardt tries to un-lap himself. Cale refuses to yield, risking both cars.
  • “Dale Earnhardt goes below Cale… dead even, gets a nose in front… Cale probably gonna be conservative at this point because Dale is just now getting back in the same lap…” — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (04:23)
• Cale after the race:
  • “This is the worst piece of driving I’ve ever seen in my career as a race car driver... I really believe Earnhardt would rather have taken us both out… The pressure’s getting to the boy.” (05:22)
• Earnhardt responds:
  • “I wasn’t sure I wasn’t on the same lap. I was trying to win the race just like he was. I wasn’t gonna wallow on him or anything.” (06:26)

Notable Quote

• “Hell could freeze over before I’d let him go by me.” — Cale Yarborough (05:22)

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3. The Wrangler Milestone & Team Turmoil

[06:57–09:00]

• Immediately after Atlanta, Earnhardt signs a landmark million-dollar sponsorship with Wrangler.
  • “It was probably one of the first, if not the first, million-dollar sponsorship.” — Kelly Earnhardt (06:57)
  • “That was just unbelievable.” — Dale Jr. (07:17)
• Engine builder Lou LaRosa is released from the team just before the finale.
  • “He was the destruction of that team.” — Lou LaRosa (08:06)
• Tension between team personalities, notably Roland Wallica and LaRosa, is highlighted.

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4. Ontario Finale: A Battle to the Wire

[10:18–19:13]

• The Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway: Last race at the venue and for the championship.
• Earnhardt only needs to finish fifth or better (with at least one lap led) to clinch.
• Race drama: Earnhardt and Yarborough swap the lead early, but Earnhardt pits under yellow, falls a lap down. He claws back onto the lead lap thanks to a timely caution — though Junior Johnson protests.
• Pit Stop Disaster [16:17]: Earnhardt leaves before the jack is down, has to return, and nearly loses the title.
  • “He took off before the jack fell. So Earnhardt has his pit stop out of the way. Whether it’s going to be a good one or a bad one, we’re going to have to wait and see. According to NASCAR, it’s a bad one.” (16:17)
• Earnhardt manages to finish fifth; Cale finishes third. Benny Parsons wins the race.
• Earnhardt clinches the title by just 19 points.

Notable Quotes

• “Man, it was a tough one, but we came through it.” — Dale Earnhardt Sr., after championship win (19:30)
• “It’s kind of a Cinderella deal.” — Dale Sr. (20:44)

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5. Aftermath: Legacy Cemented & Sudden Team Shakeup

[21:01–32:06]

• Doug Richard, the young crew chief, celebrates unexpected title.
• “I just got in the car and I went out on pit road... there’s some girl sitting on the wall. I said, come on, get in... I just went out around. Wasn’t fast. I just running around.” — Doug Richard, on his victory lap (21:17)
• Earnhardt becomes the only driver in history to win Rookie of the Year and a championship back to back.
• Vegas Celebration [30:55]: Earnhardt and brothers celebrate with a quick Vegas trip but return home — homesick despite newfound fortune.
• Despite the promise of a dynasty, owner Rod Osterlin sells the team due to the 1980s California real estate crisis.
  • Earnhardt’s contract is sold to Jim Stacy; unhappy, Dale leaves for Richard Childress after four races in 1981.
• The episode foreshadows the legendary Earnhardt/Childress partnership, but emphasizes the turbulent, uncertain years that followed the 1980 breakthrough.

Notable Quote

• “My explanation of it was is it made it feel like we were just a herd of cattle... They just sold us off.” — Dale Jr. on the team sale (32:06)

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6. Lessons & Looking Back

[32:51–39:13]

• The hosts reflect on the importance of Jake Elder and Doug Richard in the title win.
• Earnhardt was still developing racecraft and control; his youthful aggression almost cost him, but also drove his success.
• “It’s easy to forget where those first of seven championships came from — 1980. It’s a gritty sophomore season that saw Dad outlast some of the greatest racers of all time.” (End segment summary)

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7. Family & Legacy: Kelly Earnhardt on Outdoors, Parenting, and the Next Earnhardt Generation

[22:24–28:11]

• Heartfelt reflection from Kelly Earnhardt on nature as a source of peace, especially after their mother’s passing.
  • “The outdoors can make you feel really at peace... I enjoy all of that just as much as I do the thrill of the activity.” — Kelly Earnhardt (22:24)
• Sharing Earnhardt family traditions — hiking, camping, racing — and parenting philosophy for the next generation (Wyatt Earnhardt).
• Kelly describes the connection with Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris, highlighting their support for the Earnhardt family and NASCAR.

Notable Quote

• “[Wyatt’s] not 13, still likes to do 13-year-old boy things... I think the most important thing I think is just for him to be a kid.” — Kelly Earnhardt (22:24)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Pressure this, pressure that, but I really, really don't feel that much pressure other than the normal racing pressure” — Dale Earnhardt Sr. (01:30)
• “Hell could freeze over before I’d let him go by me.” — Cale Yarborough, after Atlanta clash (05:22)
• “That was just unbelievable.” — Dale Jr., on the Wrangler sponsorship (07:17)
• “He was the destruction of that team.” — Lou LaRosa on Roland Wallica (08:06)
• “He took off before the jack fell. So Earnhardt has his pit stop out of the way. Whether it’s going to be a good one or a bad one, we’re going to have to wait and see. According to NASCAR, it’s a bad one.” (16:17)
• "Man, it was a tough one, but we came through it." — Dale Earnhardt Sr. on championship (19:30)
• "It’s kind of a Cinderella deal." — Dale Sr. (20:44)
• “They just sold us off.” — Dale Jr. on team’s abrupt sale (32:16)
• "It’s easy to forget where those first of seven championships came from — 1980. It’s a gritty sophomore season..." (Closing summary)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:30–02:52] — Defining the championship battle
• [03:14–06:26] — Atlanta Journal 500, Earnhardt-Yarborough feud
• [06:57–09:00] — Wrangler deal & internal team drama
• [10:18–19:13] — Los Angeles Times 500: the championship clincher
• [19:13–21:17] — Aftermath, interviews, and special moments
• [22:24–28:11] — Kelly Earnhardt on family, outdoors, & next-gen racers
• [30:55–32:06] — Vegas celebration and the abrupt team sale
• [32:51–39:13] — Analysis of what the 1980 season really meant

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Summary & Takeaways

• The 1980 season was foundational in establishing Dale Earnhardt Sr. as a force in NASCAR: he overcame mechanical DNFs, intense rivalry with a veteran champion, and chaotic team changes.
• Earnhardt’s blend of nerves, stubborn determination, and raw driving skill allowed him to outlast his peers — but youthful mistakes nearly cost him the championship.
• The Wrangler sponsorship, abrupt team shakeup, and subsequent partnership with Childress foreshadowed his future dominance but also highlighted the precariousness of NASCAR careers in that era.
• Family, grit, support from sponsors like Bass Pro Shops, and a love for the outdoors have remained constants in the Earnhardt story.

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Final Words

“I’m satisfied and at ease with what I do and and I’m in Grand national racing now. It's what I've always wanted to do. So you know, I'm very much at home in it and very well pleased with it. So yeah, I'm happy.” — Dale Earnhardt Sr. (39:13)

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If you want compelling racing history, real talk about pressure and perseverance, and a candid look behind the scenes of an American sports legend, this episode is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Dale Earnhardt]

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[Narrator / Interviewer]

The following is a production of Dirtymo 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]

They say pressure this, pressure that, but I really, really don't feel that much pressure other than the normal racing pressure that we've been under all season and I think the kale feels about the same. We both been competitive all season and it came down to the end here and both of us have been really the ones to beat in the last several races and I feel like it'll just come down to the wire at this race just like it has in.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

The rest of them.

[Dale Earnhardt]

And which one of us gets the brakes is running the best. Lock this thing up here at Ontario.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

After 29 races, the 1980 season long championship has come down to dad and.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Cal Yarborough three times before. Yarborough has won the title for Earnhardt. If he wins it, it'll be his first.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

While dad has five race wins, his four DNFs and only 13 lead lap finishes have allowed Cale to close in during the final weeks of the season.

[Dale Earnhardt]

The only thing I can do is just give it my best shot and hope that it's I think that we've come on a little strong here towards the end.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Things have gotten tense between the two. Cal is claiming that the pressure is getting to dad and dad insists the pressure is on everyone else.

[Dale Earnhardt]

I don't feel any pressure at all. I'd rather be leaving than behind. And if we can just hang on to our lead, I feel like we'll beat a 1980 champion.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

With two races left in the season, everyone's going to have to be on their A game if they want to become a champion.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Drama continues to build for Dale Earnhardt. Kale shuts the door on Dale Earnhardt.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

The second to last race of the season is Atlanta. And Cale is going to dominate. And his feud with dad is going to reach a boiling point.

[Dale Earnhardt]

From the heart of Georgia, the Universal racing network brings you The Atlanta Journal 500. The next to last event of major league stock car racing season. Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt, who in the close battle for the series championship, will be starting back 12th and 13th in the 40 car field. 44 points separate. Dale Earnhardt the leader. Cale Yarborough the second place car. Ain't much you can say about it. Just go out and try to win. What's the strategy for the race? Flat out. Kale's not gonna back off. I'm not neither. The number 11, Carter Jr. Johnson sailing out there clean and green. All of a sudden they discover there is a hole in the windshield. Well, first of all, if the windshield has a hole large enough, the windshield will start cracking.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Cale's gonna lead 269 laps and dad would be actually trapped a lap down. But what happens in the final laps of the race has Cale hot under the collar.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Dale Earnhardt goes below Cale and going into turn one, Dale's gonna try the daring Dooley darter. Has him right on the inside now. Pulls right up dead even, in fact, gets a nose in front of Cale coming off of two. Cael probably gonna be conservative at this point because Dale is just now getting back in the same lap or trying to. But Cale moves back to a half a car link. Now a carlink lead in three.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

During the closing laps, dad battled side by side with Cale in an apparent attempt to get back on the lead lap. Cale refused to let dad pass him. And dad refused to give Cale an inch.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Cale Yarborough not being a bit conservative, he stays right on the outside of Dale. They're running side by side. Dale Earnhardt hoping against hope that something might happen to Caleb's car that would enable him to get back around if Cale trying to battle him off. They come to the start finish line, the checkered flag is out, and Cale Yarborough wins The Atlanta Journal 500.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

After the race, an angry Cale Yarborough remarked this is the worst piece of driving I've ever seen in my career as a race car driver. Maybe it was dumb for me not to let him go, but I was so mad at what he was doing, I was determined that hell could freeze over before I'd let him go by me. I really believe Earnhardt would rather have taken us both out of the race than to see me win. I plan to speak to him about it as soon as I seen that showed. The pressure's getting to the boy. We got him worried, and I got a special feeling we're going to win in California.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Yeah, well, everything went good. I don't know what got into Earnhardt there with, you know, two laps to go and him being a lap down, there was no way he could gain any position. He was just taking, you know, a chance of taking us both out of the race. Did it worry you when Dale was pulling up beside you? Did you want to race with him? Did you worry that he might be in the same lap with you? Did that ever cross your mind? Well, I knew he wasn't in the same lap. He had been on a lap down all day, but. But, you know, I just made up my mind that I wasn't gonna let it pass me, even though I knew it didn't make any difference. It was a stupid move on his part.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Dad responded. I wasn't sure I wasn't on the same lap. I was trying to win the race just like he was. I wasn't gonna wallow on him or anything. I never touched him. I'm a racer and Cale's a racer. Cale's win would whittle the points lead down to just 29 heading into the season finale. The day after the Atlanta race, dad is going to sign a sponsorship deal that he would become synonymous with through the 1980s. Wrangler jeans.

[Kelly Earnhardt]

It was huge.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

It was probably one of the first.

[Dale Earnhardt]

If not the first, million dollar sponsorship.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

A lot of your sponsorships back then were 250,000. 500,000 was considered a really good sponsorship deal, but nobody had ever heard of a million dollar sponsorship.

[Dale Earnhardt]

That was just unbelievable.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Rod Osterlin signed a multi year deal with the company and dad was set to make his debut in the Wrangler car at the season finale in Ontario. Wrangler would run a campaign that would become iconic with dad one tough customer. Another odd piece of the story. On November 4, engine builder Lou LaRosa was suddenly relieved of his duties with the team. Lou said that when he arrived to work, he had been informed by Roland Vlaka that he was no longer employed by the team despite Rod offering him an extension earlier in the year. Here's Lou LaRosa.

[Dale Earnhardt]

He convinced Roland that they didn't need me, they'd be more successful. The other guy didn't know. Jack said he was going to be the superstar. Congratulations, Rowland, because he promised us. And all of a sudden he'd go there, he'd smoke them. He, you know, he'd set new records and that's gone. I mean, he was the destruction of that team.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Here's Doug.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Richard Roland, he ran the place. He was the one that was always talking with Rod. You know, Roland's personality was.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

He was a very upbeat person, very witty, a lot like your dad, you know, prankster.

[Dale Earnhardt]

But he was also hardcore in the.

[Kelly Earnhardt]

Vision of where he was going and all that.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

They probably said something to one another. That was all it'd take. Yeah, I mean, those were two personalities.

[Dale Earnhardt]

That were pretty strong, Lou and Roland. And I guess Roland won.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

It's really fascinating that Lou LaRosa, the engine builder that had helped the team achieve so much, would be cut loose right before they go to the final race of the year. Lou would be hired by RCR to build Motors for Dad's team in the mid-80s during so much success. With all that said, it's time to wrap up the 1980 racing season as NASCAR is headed west one final time to California. This is going to be the final race held at Ontario Motor Speedway, which it opened back in 1970. They're going to demolish the track after the race. I remember going with dad in the mid-1980s to Riverside to compete at the old road course. And we would drive by the site of the old Ontario Motor Speedway and dad would point out features in the landscape that was part of the racetrack. It was really cool. The track was built to mimic the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and it's interesting that it did not survive very long.

[Dale Earnhardt]

From Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, this is mrn, the Motor Racing Network, with coverage of the Los Angeles Times 500 Winston Cup Grand National Stock Car race. There is a big factor in today's race that may affect the outcome of how a lot of these drivers finish as the curtain rings down here at Ontario Motor Speedway for the 1980 Winston Cup Racing season for young Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough could be the most important day in both their racing careers. Today, one of these two will win the most prestigious crown in auto racing, the National Winston Cup Driving Championships. Earnhardt is the young upstart driver Second year on the circuit. And Cale Yarborough in perhaps his last run for the championship. As next year he goes to a reduced racing schedule. 29 points is not very much. Earnhardt must finish in fifth position or better. And if he finishes fifth, he must lead at least one lap. Who will win the national driving title, the Winston cup points championship?

[Narrator / Interviewer]

As we carry on with the race weekend, Cale Yarborough and other veteran drivers seem to think that Dad's going to crack under all this pressure. However, dad seemed as loose as ever. In fact, his relationship with his old crew chief, Jake Elder, actually seemed to be strong as well. In the garage, dad arranged a low stakes poker game with Jake earlier in the weekend. As noted in the Charlotte Observer.

[Dale Earnhardt]

I believe dealer win it. I think with 30 points, 29 points and the way he's run all season, they look like they're pretty well prepared. They've been doing it all summer long. Taylor's done a great job of coming back and getting close and putting a little pressure on him. But I gotta believe that he just lucky enough and prepared enough to pull it off.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Dad and Cale both come prepared and would occupy the front row of the race after qualifying. With Cale taking the pole and dad starting outside.

[Dale Earnhardt]

They say pressure this, pressure that, but I really don't feel that much pressure other than the normal racing pressure that we've been under all season. It is anticipated that both the Earnhardt and Yarborough teams will have the same tire strategy. Both Doug Rickard and Junior Johnson are planning to change two tires and fuel up whenever there's a green flag stop. When there's a yellow flag stop, they are planning to do a four tire change. Pace car is on pit road and they're getting ready to put them under green. In the Los Angeles Times 500. Now it's Cale Yarborough up in the lead with the second place car of Dale Earnhardt right behind him, nose to tail. Then it's Steel Bonnet, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison and Darrell Walton. It's really tight and a long draft down the back straightaway heading back to the start finish line. Who's going to lead the first lap? It will be Cale Yarborough. And Yarborough picks up the five bonus points. Mike Joy. But Earnhardt just literally pushes him down the front straightaway and back into turn one. Looks like one car. They're so close. Earnhardt tries to go to the outside. Garbrough moves up a little bit. They're all strung out. Bonnet running in third place. Everybody negotiating this turn in good Shape. The leader dives into two. Cale Yarborough holding on to the lead. Running in the second spot, Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt going to challenge to the low side. No. Yarborough shuts them back. They're in the short chute, heading for turn four. It is a challenge for the lead. Here comes Arnard. He's got it. Dale Earnhardt shoots by Cale Yarborough going into turn three. Here's a challenge back by Yarborough again at turn four. Yarborough and Earnhardt side by side at four as Earnhardt almost went lost it between three and four.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

They both take turns leading early in the race. But then disaster began to strike everybody here.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Mike Joy is wondering has something happened to the Earnhardt car or is he just taking it easy, playing it safe until the field sorts itself out? He is continuing to drop back in the field.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Dad's gonna fall a lap down. When he pitted too early during a yellow flag on lap 71, Earnhardt comes.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Scooting in again in the Wrangler jeans machine. So a lengthy pit stop for Earnhardt, but they're checking the car all the way around. We saw no apparent adjustments on the suspension on the car. Just a four tire change as they put him back onto the track. Roland Wallica has confirmed that the problem is the wind. Apparently they're running a bit of a taller gear in the Osterland car than they might have run under ordinary circumstances. And Roland suggested that that is what's causing the car to be buffeted around round. In particular.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

He would fall tonight. And Cale is going to continue to contend for the victory. And he'd take over the points lead mid race.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Riding just ahead of the leader is Earnhardt. He may go a lap down in turn one.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Dad is going to fight back and actually get around Cale as the next caution flies. This is going to get him back on the lead lap.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Caution is out here at Ontario Motor Speedway. The leaders did not not get the caution with 151 laps completed. If Dale Earnhardt can come around to the caution flag ahead of the leader, it will put him on the lead left. Dale Earnhardt better be careful because Hilton sees that engine coming right out of two and it could be a little bit oily. Dale Earnhardt, who has worked his way back to the front of the pack, is now on the lead left.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Junior Johnson actually protested saying this was an illegal move.

[Dale Earnhardt]

This will be a tremendous move break for Dale Earnhardt.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Dad's final pit stop is going to come on lap 183 and the plan was to get fuel.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Only one more pit stop for these drivers here this afternoon, and that is going to put the pressure on these pit crews. You screw up, drop the jack wrong, do something wrong on a wheel, whatever, and it's all over. There begins to be some activity on pit road. Doug Richard and the Austerlin crew getting ready to bring Dale Earnhardt in. They are wheel to wheel. Earnhardt and Yarbrough, they were the front row for the race there. And here comes Earnhardt. Almost lost it. Earnhardt coming into the pit. I was changing the front tires, so I was into that. And then Dave d' Ambrosia was on the rear.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Marv Acton was on the jack.

[Dale Earnhardt]

And we're going to focus on the Earnhardt team. They've got tires for the outside. One can going in so far. They're jacking up the right side of the car at this point, trying to get that thing out of here as quickly as they possibly can. This is a green flag stop. Here goes the second can of fuel in. Earnhardt ready to leave. And he's gone. So a quick stop for him. Dick Brooks, you had an observation on that. Yeah. 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. Dale was in an awful big hurry to go. He took off before the jack fell. So Earnhardt has his pit stop out of the way. Whether it's going to be a good one or a bad one, we're going to have to wait and see. According to nascar, it's a bad one. They're calling Earnhardt back onto pit road. This could easily cost him the national driving title here this afternoon. The problem, Barney, was not so much with the tire change, but they are saying that Earnhardt drove over the jack. He started to pull the car away before the jack went down. That is an infraction, and he will have to come back into the pits. That is going to hurt him. They're gonna hold him just long enough to make sure that the lug nuts are tight on the car. If they are, he'll be able to go right back out. All he had to do was come in and stop and. No, they're holding him. They're holding him at the pit, checking the lugs on the right rear. And it looks like they're gonna have to stop and tighten him up. And Earnhardt backs up and misses the wrenchman. This is gonna be a costly error for sure. They're gonna have to retighten the lugs in the right rear before he can pull away. Now, finally, Earnhardt is away from.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Now, had dad fallen off of the lead lap, he would have handed Cale the points championship. It was just that close. But despite all of this, Dad's able to fight back within striking distance of Caleb.

[Dale Earnhardt]

There are 11 to go here this afternoon. And still in front is Bobby Allison. Riding second is Benny Parsons. Third right now is Neil Bonnett. They're showing Yarborough as fourth. And we have a runner at the scoring stand to find out exactly how much ground that Dale Earnhardt has lost to the front four. It's possible he may be in the lead lap yet, Barney. And that would put him in the fifth position as long as he can hold onto that lead lap. And that would sew him up the championship. Providing that Cale Yarborough does not win this race.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Benny Parsons is going to go on and win this race. Cale finishes third, and dad comes home fifth.

[Dale Earnhardt]

As they come down to the line, Benny Parsons will win the Los Angeles Times 500. Here he is taking the checkered flag. And Mike Joy. Here comes the battle for second. Three seconds behind him, diving to the inside is Cale Yarborough. He moves the Junior Johnson Chevrolet up to within two feet of Neil Bonnett. And Bonnett will get second at the wire. And awaiting Dale Earnhardt posted in the fifth position at the tail end of the lead lap. As long as Earnhardt comes around to take the checkered flag, unofficially, would be the Winster cup champion. Earnhardt gets the checkered flag, and his crew jumps up and down in congratulations.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Dad's gonna win the 1980 NASCAR championship by just 19 points.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Well, we have a new Winston cup champion, and he is standing by on pit road with Dick Berggren.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Now, naturally, dad was on top of the world after the win. He would go on to say, cale won three championships in a row. So I don't see why we shouldn't try. We got a young crew and young ideas, and we're gonna go for it.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Dale Earnhardt, the brand new Winston cup champion. Dale, how do you feel right now? Well, first of all, I want to thank the good Lord for seeing us through the whole year and, you know, letting us win the champion. And I'd like to thank all the people who was involved with Austin racing this year. Mike Curb and WarnerHuysen. And now Wrangler Jeans is involved with as a sponsor. And hope we won the championship for them and everybody included. The whole team did a good job. All my fans and family Back home would like to say hi to them. And man, it was a tough one, but we came through it. Dale, what were you thinking in the early laps when you were a full lap down? I wasn't thinking too good of thoughts, but we just kept on running in there and we got to running a little better and got where we could be competitive with the front cars and got our chance to get a lap back and. And fortunately we did. And then our last pit stop, we sort of messed up. The guys started to change tires and they changed their mind and we ran over the jack. Just turned the jack over under the car. And then they brought us back in, penalized us a half a lap and looked like it was going to be in a bind again. But it all worked out. I just can't really say how happy I am. You deserve to be. It's the toughest championship in the world. 1980 Winston cup champion Dale Earnhardt. It's kind of a Cinderella deal.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

It wasn't something that I strived for. It just happened, right? I didn't ask for it. It just happened and I'm proud of it. I'm still the youngest creek chief to.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Ever win a championship. The only thing I can say about.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

The 1980 season was it shocked a lot of people because no one expected Dale Earnhardt to win the championship. Doug Richard reportedly took the car for a victory lap of his own on the way back to the garage.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Well, the race was over.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

We won the championship. I just got in the car and I went out on pit road and.

[Dale Earnhardt]

I was going down pit road and lo and behold, there's some girl sitting on the wall.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

I said, come on, get in. Bullshit.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Did got in the car and I just went out around. Wasn't fast. I just running around.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

What happened to the girl?

[Dale Earnhardt]

I don't even know.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

I didn't know her. Yeah, dad to this day remains the only driver in history to win rookie of the year and a championship in back to back years. Don't go anywhere. There's more. Becoming Earnhardt. Presented by Bass Pro Shops. Up next. But first, check out what my sister Kelly has to share about the next generation of Earnhardt racers and outdoor enthusiasts.

[Kelly Earnhardt]

We spend time in the outdoors, you know, a lot of times doing stuff right. So whether it's hunting or it's kind of a hobby or a sport, but in this particular instance, after my mom passed in 2019, a couple days after that, my family, my kids, me, Wyatt, Carson, Kennedy and lw, we went to a local state park probably maybe about an Hour and a half away and went hiking. The outdoors can make you feel really at peace, you know, and kind of just hiking up through the trails and waterfalls and just really admiring, you know, there's so much that you can look at in the outdoors that's, that's something Even like with hunting, I don't care as much about going out and getting an animal as I do just like sitting in a tree stand. You're out there at the crack of dawn and you get to see the sunrise and you get to hear the birds chirping. And then you start, start getting to hear animals running around, whether it's squirrels or birds or whatever it is, until the big, big book comes out or whatever that you're looking for. But you know, I enjoy all of that just as much as I do the thrill of the activity that we're doing, it's just really kind of looking around in nature and if you get to studying it, you know, it's a, it's complex out in nature, you know, everything that's going on and how things grow and, and you look at a tree and you go, I wonder how old that tree was or is or whatever it is. Things that are starting from seeds to growing out in the wild. So there's really a lot to take in, I feel like in the outdoors and it can bring a lot of peace to you. In that situation with my mom, I even look back at pictures and I scrapbook. So I've got albums after albums after albums made for my kids and pictures and, and I look back on it sometimes and I think, wow, we stay really busy. But, you know, it's, it's simple things like going camping or, you know, going fishing or going hiking or doing stuff like that. You know, there's a lot of different things. Butterfly museums. There's just so many things that are out and about that you can, that you do. And I look at that. We just do. We do a lot of things and spend a lot of time outdoors. Our plans for Wyatt are just to kind of continue to do what we're doing now. We race a lot of different types of things. We go to about 80 races with Wyatt a year, which is a lot. And just trying to get him, you know, diverse in terms of things that he's driving and what he's learning and how he can learn. But kind of the most important thing I think is just for him to be a kid. You know, he's not 13, still likes to do 13 year old boy things. So he video games and he plays farm sim and hunting games on video and iracing and all kind of things. And he likes to go out and ride motorcycles and four wheelers and all that kind of stuff. So he still likes just being a kid. So we'll just see where it takes him. You know, we, we got five years left of school, so that's important to us. And there's a lot of things that are important to us before he actually decides if racing is going to be a career of his or not. I love watching Wyatt and Johnny Morris interact. Johnny has just been taken aback by Wyatt and his skills and the fact that he's, you know, been an 11, 12, 13 year old kid doing some of the things that he's done. Johnny, you know, he'll pick up videos, I'll send him videos of Wyatt racing or doing something and he'll pick those videos up. And at his company, a lot of times he does like daily. I mean, there's nothing stopping him from just calling a quick five minute meeting across Bass Pro Shop and they get the video going and they get all this stuff going and then he'll, it'll, he'll show a quick video of Wyatt and he'll be like, look at this kid, look at what he's doing. You know, isn't this awesome? Da da, da, da da. So he just enjoys it. I think that's one of the fun things, things to see about Johnny and whether it's he's interacting with Wyatt or he's interacting with someone, he is passionate about racing. He's passionate obviously about the outdoors, he's passionate about our military. And it's fun to, to watch Wyatt's reaction to Johnny too, you know, because I don't think 13 year old kids really understand somebody like the magnitude of somebody like Johnny Morris, you know, and what he's accomplished and you know, how hard he's worked in his life to grow Bass Pro Shops and all of that. You know, that's hard for really a 13 year old to comprehend, you know, but it's been fun. It's fun to watch their relationship and watch it grow and see Wyatt's reaction to Johnny and definitely Johnny's reaction to Wyatt and what he does. The Earnhardt family has always relied on Bass Pro Shops for our outdoor adventures. And that tradition continues with me today. I grew up shopping there and now it's a place I love sharing with my own family, gearing up together for everything from weekend getaways to fishing in the pond. I'm also incredibly grateful for the support Johnny Morris and the entire Bass Pro team have shown across our business ventures, from the race team to DirtyMomedia. They believe in what we're building and they've stood behind us every step of the way. They're not just great partners, they're great people. 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 basspro.com legendarysalute.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Zoe. This thing weighs a ton. Drew Ski lift with your legs man.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Santa Santa, did you get my letter?

[Dale Earnhardt]

He's talking to you Bridges.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

I'm not that of course he did.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Right Santa, you know my elf Drew Ski here.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

He handles the nice list.

[Dale Earnhardt]

And elf I'm 63 what everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile. You you can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies, right Mrs. Claus?

[Narrator / Interviewer]

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]

Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

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

[Dale Earnhardt]

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 with no trade in needed and now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 month bill credits for well qualified customers plus tax and $35.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Device connection charge credit send and balance.

[Dale Earnhardt]

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[Narrator / Interviewer]

After winning his first championship, 29 year old Dale Earnhardt is gonna hop on a flight from California to Las Vegas with his brothers Randy and Danny. And within 30 minutes of hitting the Strip, he's gonna win $500 playing blackjack. But 18 hours later, despite the money, the moment and the excitement, homesickness kicks in. The three Earnhardt brothers from Kannapolis, North Carolina spent less than a full day in Vegas before heading back home to their cotton mill town where they felt most comfortable. So with a championship trophy in hand and a long term contract in the other, dad and his highly motivated Osterlin racing team seemed primed to go on a dynasty like run. But as history would have it, Rod is going to sell the team before all of that could be accomplished. You see, a housing crisis in California is going to cause Osterlin, who made all of his money in real estate, to sell out the team in the middle of the 1981 season.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Yeah, I'm like Dale, I didn't know a thing. I mean, my explanation of it was is it made it feel like we were just a herd of cattle and.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

They just sold us off. The threat had been looming at the beginning of the 1980 season. And this was a big reason why Les Richter orchestrated the meeting between Mike Curb and Bill France to help keep Rod and Dad on the grid. Here's Mike Curb explaining how it all went down in California.

[Dale Earnhardt]

We had a huge savings and loan.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Crisis in 79, 80, 81.

[Dale Earnhardt]

And it really hurt people like Rod Osterlin. It really hurt people like Warner Hodg and it really a number of those guys.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

But the crisis would eventually outweigh the love for racing. And Rod would sell his successful race team to Jim Stacy, also known as JD There are very many accounts that dad did not like Jim Stacy and was really unhappy that his contract was sold to another owner. So after just four races, he would depart and link up with his new hunting buddy, a fellow named Richard Childress, to finish out the remainder of the 1981 season. I would like to say here that Neil Bonnet had actually driven for Jim Stacy in the late 70s. And I have to wonder that Neil and Dad being close friends, maybe Neil got in Dad's ear to pre warn him about a relationship with J.D. stacy. Now, I know what you're thinking. This is the beginning of the Intimidator, right? Well, not quite. You see, Richard's race team wasn't quite the superteam as we know it is today. Richard had been driving the car himself up to that point and and was really just a middle of the pack, independent running a modest operation. He will admit that he was in no position to field a car for a champion like dad. And despite some funding that came from Wrangler, Richard found himself in a massive amount of debt after the 1981 season from trying to step up his operation and be more competitive. He actually recommended that dad take other offers for more established teams. One of those offers would come from legendary Bud Moore. And in 1982, dad would take over the famed 15 car with Wrangler by his side. The Ford years were terrible for him. Ford was having its own problem. And then, like I said, his career plummeted and he was wrecking and mechanical problems. And a lot of the veteran reporters wrote him off that he was just that. He had had his success, and unless he changed his attitude and changed his ways, he wasn't going to have any more success. Dad would race for Bud Moore for two seasons, winning a few races. But ultimately his affinity for General Motors products had him considering other opportunities. Sounds a lot like Bobby Allison's experience as well. Here is where dad and RC formed the ultimate partnership that becomes legendary. They would rejoin in 1984 with the number three car and Richard Childers says it best. The rest is history. So what did dad learn from this season? Honestly, I think that a lot of credit needs to be given to Jake Elder because the team starts the year out relatively strong and put together a lot of great finishes. Dad is still very inexperienced and overly aggressive. There were some results probably at both Rockingham events, the first Martinsville, several races where his aggressive style and sort of his inability to see the bigger picture got him in trouble. He's still young, still learning racecraft, not really understanding how to put together a full season of results to be a championship winner. And everyone else around him knew how to do that. Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough. It's really amazing that the team could be as competitive throughout the year as they were. So even though he was cantankerous and a pain in the butt at times, I'm going to say Jake Elder played a big role in giving the team the points foundation to finish it out once Doug comes along. Now, when Doug comes in to be the crew chief, he's young, Yes, I think he's very inexperienced. He does know enough about the cars, but I think he and dad put their knowledge together and were able to be competitive enough with what they knew on how to put the cars onto the racetrack and set them up. Dad's pretty sharp about all this stuff. He has a mechanical mind. He understands springs and shocks and he runs around and works on all his stuff and talks to all the other drivers. So Dad's a sponge of information. I think on paper, when you just look at how strong Junior's team was with Cale, you would assume that they're going to win this championship. But somehow dad and the team pulled it out. Guts, youth, just energy, you know, they just made it happen. Dad's gonna go on and have some tough years after this before he would eventually, you know, have this incredible career with Richard Childers. But I really love to look back on these two years, 1979 and 1980, you know, just how fast he came onto the scene once he established that full time ride. All of this is so compelling to me. A lot of credit needs to go to Rod Osterlin for giving the guy a chance. If Rod doesn't give dad the break, if Dave Marcus doesn't quit and allow dad to go from the B driver to the A driver, there's so many little things that had to happen for this whole career to pan out like it did. So pretty, pretty awesome to relive this. I learned a ton. I really appreciate everybody who's listened to this? I hope you enjoyed this look back on these specific times in Dad's career. He's going to become a household name through the late 80s and early 90s in that familiar number three behind six championships and dozens of race victories. But it's easy to forget where those first of seven championships came from 1980. It's a gritty sophomore season that saw dad outlast some of the greatest racers of all time, but ultimately the experience he gained is going to help guide him through a career worthy of putting himself into that category of greatest racers of all time.

[Dale Earnhardt]

I'm satisfied and at ease with what I do and and I'm in Grand national racing now. It's what I've always wanted to do. So you know, I'm very much at home in it and very well pleased with it. So yeah, I'm happy.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

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 SiriusXM SilverTribe 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.

[Dale Earnhardt]

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[Narrator / Interviewer]

Rights are rightfully yours.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Before your sleeper turns.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

In a season no one saw coming before, stats and projections turn into points.

[Dale Earnhardt]

On the board and your lineup falls perfectly into place, you flip the lid on a can of on nicotine pouches.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

And as you make your first pick, you know this is the season where.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Fantasy'S going to surpass reality. It's on products for tobacco consumers 21.

[Narrator / Interviewer]

Years of age or older.

[Dale Earnhardt]

Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.