The Dale Jr. Download – "Denny vs. Bubba, Making Up Job Titles & Parenting Advice"

Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (with TJ Majors and guests)
Date: October 3, 2025
Podcast Network: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM

Episode Overview

This week, Dale Jr., TJ Majors, and a crew of frequent NASCAR insiders dive into one of the season’s most contentious moments: Denny Hamlin’s controversial move racing Bubba Wallace at Kansas Speedway, which resulted in both drivers losing their shot at victory—and opened the door for Chase Elliott’s win. Together, the hosts break down the racing incident from multiple perspectives (driver, owner, spotter), explore the complexities of team relationships, and have some lighter discussions about the evolution of job titles in NASCAR and the perplexities of parenting—particularly when you can't tell your kids apart.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Denny Hamlin vs. Bubba Wallace: Racing Incident Dissected

• Rundown of the Move:
  The show opens immediately with analysis of Hamlin’s high-stakes pass attempt against Bubba in the closing laps at Kansas (01:32–08:41).

  • Both hosts and guests agree Hamlin "sent it" into the corner, leading him to wash up the track and put the #23 (Bubba) in the wall.
  • The consensus: racing for the win justified aggressive moves, but execution could have been smarter.

• Dale Jr. Perspective:

  "I like Denny going for it... But I think he took—he just sent it a little bit too hard. You can't, you know, putting the 23 in the wall. Even though Denny gave him a car length and a half, that—Denny knows how the air works."
  — Dale Earnhardt Jr., (05:07)

• TJ Majors on Risks:

  "When two guys go in too deep like that, you know they're both not coming out the other side. And it cost them both."
  — TJ Majors, (02:47)

• Strategic Fallout:
  The incident gave Chase Elliott the win and, as TJ points out, put an unwelcome Chevrolet into the playoffs:

  "What you really did was put the guy that nobody wants in the playoffs back in the playoffs."
  — TJ Majors, (03:59)

2. The Owner-Driver Dilemma: Hamlin's Mindset

• Denny’s Defense (12:11–15:53):
  Hamlin joins the conversation post-race with a firm stance:

  • No Apologies:

    "If they're wanting an apology, they can turn off now. I'm racing for the win and I definitely won't apologize for racing for the win."
    — Denny Hamlin, (11:47 & 12:14)

  • Driver First, Owner Second:

    "On Sunday, I am the driver... The person in the 11 car is the driver. That's where the disconnect comes from; people expect me to be the guy with a 23:11 shirt on when I'm in the 11 car, and that's just not possible."
    — Denny Hamlin, (12:24)

  • Reflecting on Hindsight:

    "There are things I would do differently, no doubt about it. Had I seen what I see now, no question I would have backed off early."
    — Denny Hamlin, (15:54)

• Spotter’s Take (Freddie Kraft):
  Bubba’s spotter, Freddie Kraft, weighs in with balanced disappointment and understanding:

  "I'm not really mad at him. I'm a little disappointed. If the roles were reversed, he would be rather disappointed in us as well... He did ruin our chances. You know, that's it."
  — Freddie Kraft, (20:02 & 22:23)

3. Team Dynamics: Racing Your Own Car

• Internal Drama:
  TJ Majors and Dale debate whether it’s ever wise for a car owner to jeopardize one of his own team’s playoff shots.

  "Not with your... not with the car you own."
  — Dale Earnhardt Jr., (07:57)

  “If I was out there and drove down the corner and put one of my guys in the wall, how many fires would I be putting out today?"
  — Dale Earnhardt Jr., (08:03)

  John Wood later chimes in about the pressures and expectations inside storied teams.

4. Social Media & NASCAR Team Image

Guest: John Wood of the Wood Brothers Racing

• Unique Social Approach:
  Wood details managing the team’s famously self-deprecating Twitter, the permission he received, and the occasional line-crossing.

  “My dad was like, just don’t get us in trouble. Don't make us lose a sponsorship. ... But it started because my sister had to go to a wedding, so she gave me the login.”
  — John Wood, (28:18 & 28:51)

  "What worked was… I still don’t know how to Photoshop… So I made up for that with words where I couldn’t post a really cool picture. … I would come up with a phrase or sentence or words that still got the message across."
  — John Wood, (28:53)

• Handling Social Flubs:

  "It was totally—no malice intent at all."
  — John Wood, (31:14)

5. Parenting Advice: When You Can’t Tell Your Twins Apart

“Bless Your Heart” Segment with Dale and Amy (32:12–33:44)

• A listener confesses he can’t tell his four-year-old identical twin daughters apart, resorting to color-coded hair ties—his wife is unimpressed.

• Amy’s Take:

  “This poor guy just isn't paying enough attention."
  — Amy Earnhardt, (33:44)

• Dale’s Assurance:

  "I think it should get easier…just wait it out."
  — Dale Earnhardt Jr., (32:48)

• Anecdotes ensue about twins switching classes and the ‘Parent Trap’ movie, ending on a light note about the inevitable mischief twins can muster.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Racing Too Aggressively:

  “I like Denny going for it. But I think he could have done it differently to not let the 9 win. Someone else win.”
  — Dale Earnhardt Jr., (05:02)

• Hamlin’s No-Regrets Attitude:

  “Race manipulation. Holy—people lose their minds. ... I think Bubba said it very accurately. We were going for the win. Both guys were going for the win.”
  — Denny Hamlin, (14:12)

• Spotter’s Real Talk:

  “He talks about racing other people, he talks about withdrawals and deposits. Well, that was a pretty big withdrawal yesterday.”
  — Freddie Kraft, (22:30)

• On the Social Media Account:

  “Anything where you’re like, whoa—that’s me.”
  — John Wood, (31:51)

Timestamps – Important Segments

• Denny vs. Bubba Kansas incident breakdown: [01:32–08:41]
• Denny Hamlin's no-apologies post-race interview: [11:25–15:53]
• Spotter (Freddie Kraft) perspective: [19:09–22:55]
• John Wood on social media, job titles, & team PR: [25:47–32:03]
• Parenting identical twins Q&A: [32:08–33:56]

Summary in the Podcast’s Tone

Full of candid, knowledgeable banter, this episode nails what NASCAR fans love most about The Dale Jr. Download—blunt racer talk ("What’s he supposed to do? Drive backwards around the track?"), camaraderie, and honest insights into the sport’s layered drama. The crew dives deep into the collision of ambition, loyalty, and career legacy that turns each Cup race into more than just laps on asphalt. And even as the tone shifts to parenting headaches and social-media “oops” moments, Dale and company keep it relatable, sharp, and fun.