The Dale Jr. Download — DJD Classics w/ Rusty Wallace: “The Intimidator’s Most Respected Rival”

Podcast: The Dale Jr. Download
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. & team, Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM
Guest: Rusty Wallace
Date: November 18, 2025

Overview

In this DJD "Classics" episode, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with NASCAR Hall of Famer and Cup champion Rusty Wallace for an honest, entertaining conversation about Wallace’s life after racing, his close (and at times, volatile) rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr., industry stories, personal philosophies, and the evolution of the sport. Rusty provides rare insights into his friendships, feuds, the business of racing, memories on and off the track, and how he’s adapted to life beyond the cockpit.

Key Discussion Points

Rusty Wallace’s Life After Racing (01:03–03:41)

• Rusty is heavily invested in car dealerships in Knoxville, TN (8 stores, selling about 16,000 cars a year).
• He got his start with a Pontiac store after a memorable autograph session with Dale Earnhardt.
• Still stays involved in NASCAR through broadcasting—first with ESPN, now as a race analyst for the Motor Racing Network (MRN), attending 21 Cup races per year.

Broadcasting: TV vs. Radio (03:41–08:33)

• Rusty compares the challenges and style differences between TV and radio coverage.
  • "With radio you have to sort of paint the picture. There’s no visual for people that are listening, and it seems like it’s a more difficult job." — Dale Jr. (05:06)
  • Rusty describes MRN’s system of passing the “baton” between announcers and credits MRN’s heritage and camaraderie.
  • TV relies on visual coverage for commentary, while radio demands vivid, real-time description.

The Earnhardt-Wallace Rivalry & Friendship (08:33–16:06, 18:25–26:20)

• Deep dive into their complicated dynamic: off-track friends, on-track rivals.
  • "My relationship with your dad was really, really good... We were exceptional friends off the track... [But on track] sometimes it got controversial, sometimes it was accidental conversation." — Rusty Wallace (09:18)
• Shared stories of vacationing in the Bahamas, comical pranks, and giving each other setups (with skepticism on both sides).
  • Rusty shares the infamous oil cooler/bow-and-arrow story at Earnhardt’s shop. (10:05–10:53)
• Numerous on-track run-ins: Richmond, Michigan, Bristol, and the famed “water bottle incident.”
  • On settling feuds: "Hey man, just blow that crap off from yesterday. I'm over this. I'm sorry, dude." — Earnhardt Sr. to Rusty (11:49)

“Selling T-Shirts” & NASCAR Merchandise Revolution (21:30–23:02)

• The term “selling t-shirts” — meaning on-track drama feeding merchandise sales — originated from Earnhardt Sr.’s business acumen.
• "He was the one that started that whole business and helped a lot of people…" — Rusty Wallace (22:00)
• Explains how fierce competition is never just business and how serious rivalries fueled fan interest.

Water Bottle & Fistfights: Iconic Incidents (23:13–27:12)

• Rusty tells the real story behind the “water bottle incident” after a Bristol run-in with Earnhardt Sr. (23:13–26:20)
  • "I took that bottle... I slung that bottle to give the response... I meant to hit him in the shoulder, but I hit him right in the center of the forehead." — Rusty Wallace (24:21)
• Brawls rarely escalated; disputes were often squashed by the next day. Inside perspective on the era’s “tough love” approach.

Jeff Gordon’s Arrival & “Changing of the Guard” (27:28–28:19)

• Both Rusty and Earnhardt Sr. were open about resenting Jeff Gordon’s early dominance.
  • "Yeah, I was jealous. Because it was me and Dale winning all them races, and all of a sudden here this young kid comes in…" — Rusty Wallace (27:43)
• Candid admissions about jealousy, rivalry, and how competitiveness drew hard lines during Gordon’s rise.

Emotional Low Point — 1989 All-Star Fan Backlash (28:19–35:49)

• Rusty recounts being rattled by fans booing after contact with Darrell Waltrip won him the All-Star Race (The Winston).
  • Ambulance had to secretly escort him from the Speedway Club due to fan anger.
  • "Man, you can win all the races you want... but I don't want to go across there and have everybody go boo all the time. So it did affect you? Hell, yeah." — Rusty Wallace (35:18)

On Racing Craft & “Old School” Drivers (38:17–45:17)

• Rusty attributes his success on road courses to training at Bob Bondurant’s school, plus his mechanical obsession with chassis and setups.
  • "I call it 'body English.' I could learn how to throw the car..." — Rusty Wallace (40:41)
• Emphasizes the difference between drivers who intimately understood the mechanics (like himself, Alan Kulwicki, Davey Allison) and today’s computer-driven teams.
  • "Not everybody is as passionate about wanting to understand every nut and bolt on their car." — Rusty Wallace (43:04)

Retirement — Regrets, Pressure, and the Next Chapter (45:47–52:37)

• Rusty reflects on feeling pressured toward retirement by media and friends, admits he may have left years too soon.
  • "This is the stupidest decision I ever made in my entire life. What in the world am I doing?" — Rusty Wallace, on his final race (46:16)
  • Took him “eight years” to get over leaving (48:38).
  • Penske and his wife Patty helped him adjust: "He said, don’t listen to that noise. You’re making the right decision… focus on those car dealerships." — Rusty on Penske’s advice (52:37)

Beer Wars: The Rivalry Beyond the Track (53:09–58:25)

• The Budweiser-Miller-Coors dynamic was “cutthroat,” with every brand’s pride at stake.
  • "Budweiser hates Miller, and Miller hates Budweiser. That’s just the way it is. It’s so competitive, it’s incredible on the field." — Rusty Wallace (57:06)
• Both drivers share stories about how sponsor rivalries influenced racing “harder” against each other.

Mentorship, Teammates, and the Next Generation (54:39–58:25)

• Rusty candidly admits he wasn’t a natural mentor, finding the teammate dynamic draining and against his competitive instincts.
  • "I was never good at saying, I'm gonna get a teammate and I'm gonna teach a teammate." — Rusty Wallace (55:02)
• Contrasts his own experience with Dale Sr.’s and Rick Hendrick’s approaches to developing young talent.

Family & Legacy (58:25–64:11)

• Rusty updates on his son Steve Wallace, now a fabricator, racer, and new father—prefers the Truck series but focused on super late models currently.
• Shares humorous and touching stories about Steve and the Wallace family’s lake adventures, and reflects on “softening” as a grandfather.

Pranks, Paybacks, and Garage Antics (64:41–68:20)

• Legendary prank: sardines in Rusty’s seat (by Earnhardt’s crew), and Rusty getting last laugh by stealing Dale’s steering wheel before the race—a snapshot into the mischievous garage culture of the era.
  • "Damn, Dale Earnhardt doesn’t have a steering wheel, you know… I said, no more sardines in my seat, dude, that was epic." — Rusty Wallace (66:54–67:34)
• Apologies were rare, brief, and never emotional.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Broadcasting:

• "With radio you have to sort of paint the picture. There’s no visual... it seems like a more difficult job."
  — Dale Jr. (05:06)

On the Earnhardt Friendship:

• “My relationship with your dad was really, really good. And we were exceptional friends off the track... On the track, we had to race each other. And sometimes it got controversial...”
  — Rusty Wallace (09:18)

On Giving Dale Sr. a Bristol Setup:

• “I gave him exactly what I run. We went to Bristol next week, and I won the race... He goes, 'No, I don't know what to tell you, man.'”
  — Rusty Wallace (10:50)

The Oil Cooler Bow & Arrow Story:

• “…He pulls his arrow back and he shoots it and it goes right through the building… right through his brand new oil cooler for the Daytona bushcar.”
  — Rusty Wallace (10:09–10:53)

On Settling Scores:

• “Hey man, just blow that crap off from yesterday. I'm over this. I'm sorry, dude.”
  — Dale Sr., after a run-in (11:49)

The Water Bottle Incident:

• “I took that bottle... I slung that bottle... I meant to hit him in the shoulder, but I hit him right in the center of the forehead. I hit him right in the forehead, and it was game on…”
  — Rusty Wallace (24:21)

On Gordon’s Success:

• “Yeah, I was jealous. Because it was me and Dale winning all them races… here this young kid comes in…”
  — Rusty Wallace (27:43)

On Fan Rejection Being a Low Point:

• “Man, you can win all the races you want... but I don't want to go across there and have everybody go boo all the time."
  — Rusty Wallace (35:18)

On Modern Drivers and Teammates:

• “I was never good at saying, I'm gonna get a teammate and I'm gonna teach a teammate...”
  — Rusty Wallace (55:02)

Prank Wars:

• “Damn, Dale Earnhardt doesn’t have a steering wheel, you know… I said, no more sardines in my seat, dude, that was epic.”
  — Rusty Wallace (67:34)

Rusty’s Grandpa Era:

• “I’ve changed a lot. I really have… My phone’s full of birthday pictures for little kids… so I’m kind of a little softy right now. I’ll do whatever they want.”
  — Rusty Wallace (63:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:03–03:41: Rusty’s dealership business & current post-racing life
• 03:41–08:33: Broadcasting—TV vs. Radio, transitioning roles
• 08:33–16:06; 18:25–26:20: Earnhardt-Wallace rivalry/friendship stories
• 24:21: “Water bottle incident” retelling
• 27:28–28:19: Gordon’s impact & new generation
• 28:19–35:49: The emotional aftermath of the 1989 All-Star Race
• 38:17–45:17: Rusty’s technical approach, road courses, short tracks
• 45:47–52:37: Retirement, regrets, and life after NASCAR
• 53:09–58:25: Beer sponsor rivalries, mentoring, teammate dynamics
• 58:25–64:11: Family updates, Steve Wallace, and grandchildren
• 64:41–68:20: Legendary garage pranks, sardines and stolen steering wheels
• 68:20–68:31: How apologies happened (if ever)

Podcast Tone & Language

The episode is casual, storytelling-heavy, and like a conversation among old friends. Rusty is candid, sometimes self-deprecating, and full of energy, often speaking in direct, vivid language. Dale Jr. and the team encourage openness and reminiscence, resulting in detailed behind-the-scenes stories and genuine laughs.

Conclusion

This episode of The Dale Jr. Download is a goldmine for anyone intrigued by NASCAR’s golden era, driver rivalries, and the personalities behind the legend. With Rusty Wallace’s straight-talking style, fans get an unvarnished look at the joys and bruises of racing, friendship and competition, and how the sport and its stars have evolved.