The Dale Jr. Download

Episode: Becoming Earnhardt Vol. 2 - First Impressions
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Produced by: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM

Episode Overview

In this episode of "Becoming Earnhardt," Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes listeners through the opening moments of his father Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s rookie NASCAR season in 1979. Dale Jr. details the critical races that introduced his father to the national stage, focusing on the season opener at Riverside, the inaugural Busch Clash, and the historic 1979 Daytona 500—emphasizing the moments that would cement NASCAR’s place in American sports, as well as his father's reputation as a remarkable new talent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: NASCAR’s Shift and the Coming of Earnhardt

• Context: With open wheel racing losing ground in the late 1970s, NASCAR was set to become America’s motorsport of choice, and a young Dale Earnhardt Sr. was about to step out from his father Ralph Earnhardt's shadow.
  • “Up until that point, people didn’t know him as the seven-time champion or one tough customer. Whatever notoriety he had was more for being the son of Ralph Earnhardt. Everything changed in 1979.” (01:00, Dale Jr.)

2. Riverside: The Rookie’s Road Course Baptism

• Race Overview: 1979 Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway—Earnhardt’s first road course start with the Osterlin Racing Team in a '77 Monte Carlo.
• Early Drama: Earnhardt lines up in row five, next to the very man he replaced, Dave Marcis, who bought a car from the team he’d just left.
  • “What makes this even more interesting to me is that on Dave's way out of the door at Osterlin, he purchases a car from the team…” (04:47, Dale Jr.)
• Race Developments:
  • Earnhardt quickly runs in the top five, impressing veteran drivers and broadcasters.
    • “They feel that he is probably the most promising young driver to come along in a long time. And he comes quite a racing background.” (05:50, Announcer)
  • Mechanical problems (shifter/gearing issues) end Earnhardt’s strong run early.
    • “Earnhardt was having trouble shifting gears as he went under the bridge…” (06:14, Announcer)
  • The race runs almost entirely green, rain arrives late, and Darrell Waltrip wins. Notably, this is the last race for Waltrip's car "Wanda."

3. Daytona Speedweeks: The Busch Clash & Qualifying Week

• Track Update: Daytona freshly repaved, setting the stage for blistering speeds and tire failures.
• Inaugural Busch Clash: A 50-mile sprint, first of its kind for pole winners.
  • Winner: Buddy Baker in the now-legendary "Gray Ghost" car.
    • “The car was so freakishly fast that NASCAR actually asked the team to add some day glo orange paint to the nose so that the competition could recognize the rocket ship closing quickly from behind…” (15:09, Dale Jr.)
  • Race play: Baker and Waltrip team up to break away, agreeing to draft rather than race side-by-side.
    • “They agreed not to run side by side and rather draft nose to tail to victory. And I wonder, did they split that money after all?” (15:09, Dale Jr.)
• Twin 125s (Daytona Duels):
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. recaps his father’s solid debut: passes from 8th to 3rd on lap one, finishes 4th.
  • Earnhardt’s strong result secures 10th place on the Daytona 500 grid.

4. Daytona 500: NASCAR’s Coming-Out Party

Pre-race Hype and Historical Context

• CBS Broadcast: The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised start-to-finish nationally for the first time. A massive snowstorm up and down the East Coast helps to ensure the largest viewership ever.
  • “For millions of first time viewers, this is the first glance of what NASCAR and stock car racing are all about. High speeds, door to door action, and all out mayhem.” (39:05, Dale Jr.)
• Starting Grid: Pole-winner Buddy Baker in his “Gray Ghost”; Dale Earnhardt starts 10th.

The Race Itself

• Early Events: Rain delays, long pace laps to dry the track; caution laps foul the engines of top contenders (Buddy Baker, Waltrip, Parsons)—all three drop out with mechanical issues.
  • “Having such a powerfully tuned engine meandering around a large oval at less than half speed can foul spark plugs and burn pistons.” (23:58, Dale Jr.)
• Dale Earnhardt’s Rookie Breakout:
  • Earnhardt battles inside the lead draft and astonishingly leads his first-ever Cup Series lap.
    • “This is the very first lap in Dad's cup career that he has led.” (27:49, Dale Jr.)
  • He remains a frontrunner for much of the race, ultimately losing a cylinder with 10 laps to go, finishing 8th—a lap down but having led multiple times.
    • “He would lead the field as late as lap 142 of the 200 lap event.” (39:37, Dale Jr.)
    • “Dale did a masterful job all week,” (Rod Osterlin, 41:29, via Dale Jr.)
• Multi-Car Accidents and Race Cautions: Multiple incidents, many under yellow flag conditions, define the race and challenge pit crews and drivers alike.
• Iconic Final Lap Fight:
  • Lap 32: Allison brothers and Cale Yarborough involved in a wreck—foreshadowing later events.
    • “You want some foreshadowing? Well, it happened on lap 32 in a wreck that involved three drivers. And you guessed it, it’s Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough.” (25:20, Dale Jr.)
  • Last Lap: Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough collide vying for the win, crash out. Petty and Waltrip sneak by; Petty claims his sixth Daytona 500.
  • The infamous fight: Bobby Allison stops to check on Donnie, a fistfight erupts between the Allisons and Yarborough. The moment is immortalized on live national TV.
    • “There’s a fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison. The tempers overflowing… They’re angry. They know they have lost.” (37:05, Race Announcer)
    • “Kale, he got out of his car and he called me a dirty bastard. Bobby stops his car and Cale poked him through the window screen. Then Cale swung his helmet at Bobby. Donny felt as a leader that he had the right to go anywhere on the track that he wanted.” (37:28, Dale Jr.)
    • “If he'd ever touched me, I’d have probably killed him.” (37:15, Donnie Allison, via Dale Jr.)
• Richard Petty’s Perspective:
  • “I radioed to my pit crew and asked them where the wreck was and all they said was, ‘go, go, go’. I couldn't believe it when I saw both those cars sitting in the grass.” (38:21, Richard Petty via Dale Jr.)

Aftermath and Impact

• Consequences: NASCAR fines all three combatants $6,000, puts Donnie on probation.
  • “Bill France Jr. said, ‘We've got the greatest show going on in sports. We don’t need wrecks and fights to sell tickets.’” (39:32, Dale Jr.)
• Cultural Impact: The broadcast brings NASCAR to a massive new audience; CBS wins an Emmy; the event is regarded as the launching point of NASCAR’s national popularity.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Dale Sr. Stepping Out from His Father’s Shadow:

  • “Up until that point, people didn’t know him as the seven-time champion or one tough customer … Everything changed in 1979.” (01:00, Dale Jr.)

• On the "Gray Ghost" Busch Clash Car:

  • “The car was so freakishly fast that NASCAR actually asked the team to add some day glo orange paint to the nose so that the competition could recognize the rocket ship closing quickly from behind…” (15:09, Dale Jr.)

• On the Infamous Last-Lap Fight:

  • “If he'd ever touched me, I’d have probably killed him.” (37:15, Donnie Allison, via Dale Jr.)
  • “There’s a fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison. The tempers overflowing… They’re angry. They know they have lost.” (37:05, Race Announcer)

• On the Broadcast’s Impact:

  • “For millions of first-time viewers, this is the first glance of what NASCAR and stock car racing are all about. High speeds, door to door action, and all out mayhem." (39:05, Dale Jr.)

• On Dale Sr.’s Performance:

  • “He would lead the field as late as lap 142 of the 200 lap event.” (39:37, Dale Jr.)
  • “Dale did a masterful job all week.” (Rod Osterlin, 41:29, via Dale Jr.)

Episode Structure & Key Segments

| Segment | Time | Content | |---|---|---| | Riverside ‘79 | 01:00–08:59 | Earnhardt’s rookie debut, early road course promise, mechanical issues; Waltrip’s win | | Daytona Speedweeks & Busch Clash | 12:26–18:55 | New Daytona surface, blistering speeds, the legend of “Gray Ghost,” Earnhardt's solid qualifying efforts | | The Daytona 500 | 19:49–41:29 | Live TV coverage, Earnhardt’s breakthrough, mechanical woes for frontrunners, multi-car wrecks, lead swaps, and the dramatic final lap and brawl | | Cultural Aftershock | 41:29–End | NASCAR’s national moment, penalties, legacy, and Dale Sr.’s strong rookie debut |

Memorable Moments

• The contrasting images of Dale Earnhardt Sr.—rookie, yet right out front, trading the lead with legends like Richard Petty.
• The almost incredulous TV confusion over whether the rookie was a lap down or actually leading, as he forges his first lap at the front (27:23–27:49).
• The near-mythic status of the last-lap brawl, beamed into millions of new living rooms, shaping NASCAR’s durable, rough-and-tumble image (37:01–38:21).
• Dale Jr.'s personal touch and pride in narrating his father's first national “first impression.”

Conclusion

"Becoming Earnhardt Vol. 2 - First Impressions" is a rich narrative tapestry blending racing history, behind-the-scenes details, and compelling first-person anecdotes. For fans and newcomers alike, the episode provides a vivid account of how 1979 became both Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s launching pad and NASCAR’s leap into mainstream American culture—driven by gritty racing, a touch of controversy, and the unforgettable image of a brash young star coming of age on racing’s biggest stage.

Next Episode Tease: Dale Sr. follows up the Daytona drama with his first Cup Series win at Bristol…