The Dale Jr. Download — Becoming Earnhardt Vol. 3: The Boy Has Arrived
Podcast by Dirty Mo Media / SiriusXM | December 18, 2025
Overview
In this rich and riveting episode of "Becoming Earnhardt," Dale Earnhardt Jr. recounts the dramatic opening races of the 1979 NASCAR Cup Series season. The focus: his father Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s rookie campaign, from the Daytona 500’s explosive aftermath to his breakthrough first Cup Series win at Bristol. The episode explores rivalries (especially the notorious Cale Yarborough–Allison feud), shifting NASCAR politics, and the Earnhardt team's rise. Earnhardt Jr. mixes historical storytelling, personal memorabilia memories, and never-before-heard columns written by his father, all to bring to life the pivotal moment when Dale Sr. truly "arrived" as a NASCAR star.
Main Discussion Points & Key Insights
1. Aftershocks of the '79 Daytona 500 (02:00–05:00)
- The Big Turning Point: The legendary brawl between Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers at Daytona, clocked by 16 million TV viewers, catapulted NASCAR into the national spotlight.
- David Hobbs (02:18): "It was the absolute turning point for NASCAR. All the TV networks are knocking themselves over to do NASCAR. It just put them right on the map."
- Dale Earnhardt Sr.‘s Quiet Arrival: Amid the Daytona chaos, Earnhardt Sr.’s remarkable debut was somewhat overlooked, but insiders noted his "fearlessness and precision" as a rookie.
2. Building Rivalries and Fueling the Hype (05:00–11:00)
- Residual Drama: NASCAR's handling of penalties after the Daytona brawl—probation for the Allisons, then a midweek reversal giving Cale Yarborough his own probation—sparked laughs in the garage but also simmering frustration.
- Donnie Allison (06:51): "We crashed because I tried not to hit him. What I should have done... if I hadn't been on probation, I'd have just run into him, knocked him the hell out of the way."
- Rockingham Reignites Tensions: Early in the Carolina 500, the top qualifiers (Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough) clashed again, causing a massive wreck that sidelined several big names—including Dale Sr.
- Richard Petty (07:27): "[One of them] shouldn't have been going in quite that hard, being he was out in the slick stuff... that's what happens... one of them is still out there running and the rest of us is sitting here, just because they made some stupid mistakes."
- Outcome: Bobby Allison pulls off the win; Earnhardt Sr., after repairs, finishes 12th but is already earning "surprise of the circuit" headlines (09:10).
3. The Postponed Richmond Race (11:00–13:00)
- Snow Delays: Severe weather delays the Richmond 400 by two weeks; when it runs, Cale Yarborough dominates, winning his 60th career race.
- Race Announcer (12:49): "Dale Earnhardt slid in sideways and it looks like everybody is going to be able to avoid him."
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (12:57): Dale Sr. finished 13th after a lap two spin that left his car damaged and off pace for the rest of the day.
- Tidbits:
- Harry Gant mysteriously absent, rumors swirling about his team future.
- Petty’s STP sponsorship drama results in the car losing its signature dayglo for one race.
4. Team Changes and Crew Shakeups (15:00–18:00)
- Maurice Petty Suspended: Maurice Petty, Richard's brother and "Chief" mechanic, gets a two-race suspension after a shoving incident with a NASCAR official (14:47–15:29).
- The Arrival of Jake Elder: Legendary crew chief Jake "Suitcase" Elder joins Osterlin Racing, immediately impacting the team.
- Doug Reichert, crew member (16:44): "Having somebody come in like that... he was a big help."
- Elder’s storied career brings immediate legitimacy and expertise to the rookie’s garage.
5. Heartbreak and Progress at Atlanta (18:00–21:00)
- Tragedy on Pit Road: The death of 18-year-old crewman Dennis Wade during the Atlanta 500 brings a somber moment.
- Buddy Baker Wins: Baker gets his first win in three years; Earnhardt Sr. battles power steering issues, finishes 12th.
- Doug Reichert (21:08): "He kept saying, 'I can run more caster.' He was a tough guy. Then after the race he said, 'man, my arms are wore out.'"
- Dale Sr.'s Candid Columns: Dale Jr. reads from his father's period-correct columns, offering rare rookie-year self-reflection:
- Dale Earnhardt Sr. (24:15): "Let me tell you what happiness is. It's running right there in front in the Daytona 500. I was trying not to grin, but I couldn't stop myself."
- On rookie mistakes: "I didn't qualify high, but there wasn't anybody else out there then..." and “At Atlanta, it was the team driver again that messed up.”
6. North Wilkesboro: First Top Five (29:24–30:30)
- Bobby Allison Wins Again: Ends a 39-race drought; breaks suspension crossing the line.
- Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Qualifies 5th, finishes 4th (his first top-five). Leads laps 314–322, racing in front of family.
7. The Bristol Breakthrough — The Boy Arrives (32:28–39:00)
- Bristol Setup: Earnhardt Jr. narrates a running joke: asked what nickname he’d choose, rookie Dale deadpans "Darrell Waltrip II — no, wait, make that Jaws II" (31:00).
- The Race: Dale Sr. climbs through the field methodically, challenging Waltrip and Allison. A pit stop miscue briefly costs him track position, but strategic tire changes and a quick pit stop by Elder’s crew put him back in front (34:44–35:26).
- The Win: In only his 16th Cup race, Dale Earnhardt Sr. grabs his first career victory at Bristol, leading 164 laps, moving to 5th in points, and launching into NASCAR lore.
- Radio Call (36:05): "And back to the stripe — rookie Dale Earnhardt earns his first NASCAR Winston cup series win, the Southeastern 500 here in Bristol."
- Doug Reichert (36:21): "Oh yeah, I mean, coming to take the checker flag... it was just like that at that point. It's like, we did it. Right? It was our first win."
- Jake Elder (as quoted, 37:17): "I saw how the boy ran at Daytona and I was impressed... We're gonna win some races this year with the way he can drive, as long as something doesn't hit us..."
8. The Reactions and Afterglow (37:32–41:00)
- Praise From the Stars:
- Darrell Waltrip: "Dale ran good, really good. He was the only one to beat. Dale has done something I couldn't do—win a race as a rookie."
- Richard Petty: "Dale did a hell of a job, ran hard all day... It didn't surprise me he won here."
- Cale Yarborough: "Dale has about as much potential as anybody I've ever seen come into the circuit in a long time. If he doesn't rush it, he'll make it big."
- Earnhardt's Own Words (from his second column, 39:48):
- "I started crying, and then I was laughing at the same time... I thought about a million different things... There's just no way to describe it. No matter what happens, I'll always savor every inch of that last lap at Bristol."
- On Victory Lane: "I thought the guys were going to get in the car with me... They worked hard and they deserve that win as much as anybody, maybe even more."
- Borrowed equipment: "I had borrowed a neck strap from Richard Petty the morning of the race because Jake was worried about me getting tired."
- Behind the Scenes:
- Doug Reichert, keeping a promise, quit smoking on the spot in Bristol’s Victory Lane (39:10).
- Dale Jr. discovers he owns the exact race suit his father wore for that victory, a prized personal artifact (44:15).
Notable Quotes and Timestamps
- David Hobbs on Daytona 500’s Impact:
“It was the absolute turning point for NASCAR. All the TV networks are knocking themselves over to do NASCAR. It just put them right on the map.” (02:18) - Donnie Allison on Feud Fallout:
“If I hadn't been on probation, I'd have just run into him, knocked him the hell out of the way.” (06:51) - Richard Petty on Rockingham Wreck:
“...one of them is still out there running, and the rest of us is sitting here, just because they made some stupid mistakes.” (07:27) - Dale Earnhardt Sr. on His Rookie Year (Column):
“Let me tell you what happiness is. It's running right there in front in the Daytona 500. I was trying not to grin, but I couldn't stop myself...” (24:15) - Doug Reichert on Dale Sr.'s Grit:
“He kept saying, 'I can run more caster.'... Then after the race he said, 'Man, my arms are wore out.'” (21:08) - Dale Sr. on First Win (Column #2):
“I started crying, and then I was laughing at the same time... I'll always savor every inch of that last lap at Bristol.” (39:48) - Jake Elder on Earnhardt’s Potential:
“We’re gonna win some races this year with the way he can drive, as long as something doesn’t hit us…” (37:17) - Darrell Waltrip on Earnhardt as a Rookie:
“Dale ran good, really good. He was the only one to beat. Dale has done something I couldn't do—win a race as a rookie.” (37:59) - Cale Yarborough on Earnhardt Potential:
“Dale has about as much potential as anybody I’ve ever seen come into the circuit in a long time. If he doesn’t rush it, he’ll make it big.” (38:48)
Episode Timeline & Timestamps
- 02:00–02:18: Daytona 500 aftermath, TV breakthrough
- 02:28–06:00: Earnhardt Sr. at Daytona and arrival on Cup scene
- 06:00–09:10: Rockingham, probation drama, and Earnhardt crash
- 11:00–12:57: Richmond race, Cale’s win, rookie trouble
- 15:36: Maurice Petty’s suspension and team drama
- 16:32–18:47: Jake Elder joins Osterlin
- 18:00–21:42: Atlanta 500, tragedy in pits, Baker wins, Earnhardt Jr. reads Sr.'s column
- 29:24–30:14: North Wilkesboro, Earnhardt’s first top-five
- 32:28–37:17: Bristol narrative, Earnhardt’s first Cup win
- 37:17–41:00: Reactions, rookie race, aftermath
- 39:48–44:15: Dale Sr.’s second column, aftermath of the win, mustache mishap, uniform story
Final Thoughts
Dale Jr. artfully weaves narration, archival commentary, and personal family insights, illuminating how a young, hungry Earnhardt Sr. made his move from rookie upstart to immediate contender. The episode highlights the tensions and camaraderie shaping NASCAR’s transformation into a national institution, and gives listeners an unguarded glimpse into the Earnhardt family story—full of humor, sentiment, and racing’s signature grit.
Next Up: The saga continues with Earnhardt’s efforts to ride the “Bristol boost” through the Lady in Black at Darlington and a wild showdown at Talladega.