The Dale Jr. Download – "Choose Your Own Adventure"

Podcast: The Dale Jr. Download
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. with co-hosts TJ Majors, Travis, Russell, and guests
Date: October 21, 2025
Episode: “Choose Your Own Adventure”

Overview

In this episode, Dale Jr. and the crew dig into the nuances, debates, and drama of the NASCAR playoffs, discuss short track racing and regional series, dissect recent Cup and Xfinity series happenings, and share behind-the-scenes insight into teamwork, strategy, and the ever-blurring line between teammate cooperation and cut-throat competition. They also have an extended talk with Talladega winner and championship finalist Chase Briscoe. Lighter moments include humorous debates about bathroom etiquette, relationship milestones, collecting diecast cars, and hunting season stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NASCAR Playoff Points System – The Old vs. The New (03:00–05:45)

• Dale Jr. reflects on ongoing fan debates about the current playoff format versus "old school" points systems.
  • Dale Jr.: “A lot of people go back to [Benny Parson’s] 1973 championship...he never finished on the lead lap except for the race he won. What they fail to tell you is, if there were 28 races, only 12 times did someone else finish on the same lap as the winner.” (04:35)
• Emphasizes that racing—and how we crown champions—has always been complex. Points systems simply reflect changes in the sport.

2. Bathroom Etiquette and Relationship Milestones (06:00–09:40)

• The crew launches into a hilariously honest debate about closing versus not closing the bathroom door at home and when it’s “okay” to start leaving the door open around a new partner or fart in front of each other.
  • Dale Jr.: “If there’s anyone else in the house, I’m closing it. That’s a great point.” (07:30)
  • Travis: “I think it’s a gradual thing…like, get up in the middle of the night, or you’re in the bathroom at the same time. It just kind of happens.” (08:20)
  • Dale Jr.: “Holding a fart because you know it could be make or break the relationship—God almighty, that’s a terrible feeling.” (08:30)
• Provides a light-hearted break that fully embodies the show’s casual, unfiltered banter.

3. CARS Tour Season Recap (10:00–16:40)

• Complete rundown of the CARS Tour finale at North Wilkesboro:
  • Pro Late Model: Keelan Harvick wins the race; Ben Mayer wins the championship via consistency—despite not securing a win.
    • Dale Jr.: “In our season-long points format, consistency pays off. And he was more consistent than any other driver.” (11:35)
  • Late Model Stocks: Kaden Quappl (full-time with Junior Motorsports next year) wins the finale; Landon Lewis wins the championship driving for Kevin Harvick.
    • Landon Huffman highlighted as a key up-and-comer.
• Owner champion Rick Ware receives special mention for fielding several drivers and bringing energy to the series.

4. Regional & National Racing Series – ARCA Debate (18:00–22:22)

• Discussion about NASCAR’s “Regional Top 10” power rankings and the blurring of series lines.
  • Dale Jr.: “When did ARCA become part of regional racing?...ARCA to me has been kind of like a very similar series to the Xfinity Series.” (19:30)
  • Believes folding ARCA into “regional” rankings diminishes the legacy of both ARCA and true regional racers.

5. Junior Motorsports, Crew Chiefs, and Career Moves (23:44–27:26)

• News: Jim Pohlman will become crew chief for Kyle Busch at RCR next year.
• Dale Jr. reflects on Junior Motorsports’ role as a “farm team” and its impact:
  • “Are we better with him? Yes, we’re a much better race team with Jim in the building—but that’s what this team is about.” (25:54)
• RCR praised for its respectful approach to recruiting; Dale is excited to see the pairing of Pohlman and Kyle Busch.

6. Xfinity Series – Team Strategy at Plate Tracks (28:29–43:39)

• In-depth breakdown of team dynamics at restrictor-plate races (Daytona, Talladega):
  • Dale Jr. details the perennial struggle to balance “teammate help” vs. individual ambition.
  • Dale Jr.: “Choose your own adventure. The race is going to start, and we’re all going to meet at the front of the field. How you get there is your responsibility.” (32:16)
  • Pushes the philosophy: Be a good teammate, but ultimately everyone must look out for their own shot at victory.
• Insights on why it’s so difficult to mount a coordinated attack against dominant cars/teams, especially in pack racing.
  • TJ: “If Justin pulls out of line, the two is not going with him…If you’re the fourth car in line, you’re riding, you can’t go anywhere.” (34:52, 47:50)

7. Cup Series & Penske/Plate Track Drama (46:24–53:36)

• Dissects the late-race restart at Talladega and Penske’s frustration that Brad Keselowski wasn’t pushing teammates “enough.”
  • TJ: “The fourth car is not the reason the 34 car passed around the outside.” (51:00)
  • Dale Jr.: “I just wish the 22 was closer, I wish the 6 was closer… Why would they say what they said?” (51:01)
  • Conclusion: It’s more about front-row coordination than anything a fourth car can do.

8. Chase Briscoe Interview: Strategy, Playoffs, and Phoenix (55:08–64:47)

[55:08–64:47 – Notable Quotes Indexed Below]

• Briscoe’s perspective on the Talladega finish:
  • Chase Briscoe: “My full intention, truthfully, when I made the move into [turn] three was kind of just to hedge my bet against William leading the bottom lane because I did not want him to win the race. And then when Ty went with me, instantly I felt like I was going to be in a pretty good position.” (57:09)
• On pushing and comfort in the Next Gen car:
  • Briscoe: “It’s definitely better...but it's still not easy. We still wreck all the time, so they can't be too easy.” (59:11)
• Martinsville with no pressure:
  • Briscoe: “All of us want a grandfather clock…You don’t want to go to Martinsville and run terrible and carry that into Phoenix. You want to go there and have a good run and carry that momentum.” (59:22)
• On Phoenix and Penske threats:
  • Briscoe: “It's no secret…they [Penske] went to Phoenix and just dominated…So, I do not want a Penske car to go there.” (62:27)
• A heartfelt Talladega moment:
  • Briscoe: “Johnny Morris was in victory lane…He said he had not been in victory lane at Talladega since ‘99 with your dad. That was pretty cool.” (64:07)

9. Collectors’ Corner & the “Ultimate Ultimate Racing Collector” (65:13–79:19)

• Features Howard Hitchcock, CEO of Lionel Racing, who gifts Dale a rare commemorative Goodyear diecast.
• Spotlights Tiny Boyer for his epic at-home sheet metal/diecast collection.
• Announces Matt Frederick as the "Ultimate Ultimate" Racing Collector, winning tickets and exclusive suite access to an upcoming race.
  • Matt Frederick: “Every one of these cars tells a story. Every one.”
  • Dale Jr.: “It’s our jersey. The diecast car is unique to our sport.” (78:41)

10. Hunting Stories – Downtime & Disconnecting (81:38–96:56)

• Dale shares insights and stories from his annual deer hunting trips, the rituals, why bow hunting is his preference, and the family legacy of the hunt.
  • Dale Jr.: “I just like to sit in a tree stand in the woods—it’s just nice.” (82:33)
  • On morning hunts: “You gotta get up at 5:00 in the morning…It’s chilly, you climb, walk into a stand, not real familiar…but as soon as the sun comes up, everything starts moving. The world wakes up. I love that.” (85:41–87:33)
• Hunting as a way to unplug from racing and real life for a bit—a passion passed down from his father.

11. NASCAR & Pop Culture: Favorite Commercials and the “Flipping Off” Debate (97:07–109:51)

• Dale shares behind-the-scenes stories of classic commercials (the “Dale Call,” Amp Energy camel race, Water Cooler Dale).
• The crew addresses Austin Hill flipping off fans at Talladega—context matters; embrace personality, don’t over-penalize.
  • Dale Jr.: “Denny has opened doors to show, hey, this is how you engage with fans. This is how you can give it back to them…It was once. It was a response to some individuals in the grandstands. They’ve cleared it up and I think it’s fair game.” (109:01)
  • TJ Majors: “It's actually fun. It's actually kind of fun.” (108:47)

12. Martinsville Preview, Betting, and Playoff Picture (113:33–126:16)

• The betting segment (“Dirty Mo Doe”) dives deep into predictions for Martinsville:
  • Consensus picks: Blaney and Chase Elliott as favorites; potential for Denny Hamlin or Bubba Wallace to factor in.
  • Blaney’s precision style and recent Martinsville record earn special praise:
    • TJ: “Nobody runs Martinsville like Ryan Blaney nowadays…6 inches off the curb the entire race, both ends.” (117:00)
• Playoff implications:
  • Four drivers “must win” at Martinsville; Penske cars are biggest threat at Phoenix should they make the championship round.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dale Jr. (On playoff philosophies): “Choose your own adventure. The race is going to start, and we’re all going to meet at the front of the field. How you get there is your responsibility.” (32:16)
• Chase Briscoe: “My full intention…was just to hedge my bet against William leading the bottom lane because I did not want him to win the race.” (57:09)
• Dale Jr. (on the value of diecast cars): “It’s our jersey. The diecast car is unique to our sport.” (78:41)
• Dale Jr. (on drivers showing emotion): “Denny has opened doors to show…this is how you engage with fans. This is how you can give it back to them.” (00:00, 109:01)
• TJ Majors: “Nobody runs Martinsville like Ryan Blaney nowadays…6 inches off the curb the entire race.” (117:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:00–05:45: Playoff Points System Debate
• 06:00–09:40: Relationships & Bathroom Talk
• 10:00–16:40: CARS Tour Recap
• 18:00–22:22: Regional Series, ARCA Discussion
• 23:44–27:26: Crew Chief News & Junior Motorsports as a “Farm Team”
• 28:29–43:39: Xfinity Strategy—Teamwork vs. Self
• 46:24–53:36: Penske Drama, Plate Racing Tactics
• 55:08–64:47: Chase Briscoe Interview
• 65:13–79:19: Diecast Collector Features
• 81:38–96:56: Hunting Stories & Legacy
• 97:07–109:51: Commercial Memories & The "Bird" Debate
• 113:33–126:16: Martinsville Preview, Betting, Playoff Calculus

Tone & Language

The episode maintains an irreverent, straight-shooting tone, with candid, unfiltered conversation typifying both the racing content and offbeat personal stories. Dale Jr. and his co-hosts blend technical expertise and locker-room levity, making for a show that appeals to hardcore fans and casual listeners alike.

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