
Phoenix…The Championship is Wide Open
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'd get in my vehicle and run over to that shop and go in there. And you'd have to hit the guy, push him around to get him to say stuff. And I've recorded all these lines, right? And so I'm smacking myself or punching myself, and I'd hear myself go, hey, whoa. Hey, man, watch it. You know? And I just kept beating the shit out of myself.
TJ Majors
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The following is a production of Dirty Mo Media. This is the most fun I've had in this chair in the last hour and a half. Yes.
Russell
I don't know if we've ever argued. Did I piss you off over the.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Weekend or I'm still sour that I wasn't the best man at your wedding.
TJ Majors
Who was your best man, Dale?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Tj. Tj, you don't need a cool vest for that race. What are you doing? Thinking. Get him, DJ Hell. Way to start the show.
Russell
All right then.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hey, Everybody, it's Dale Jr. Back again for another episode of the Dale Jr. Download with my friend, TJ Majors. Travis. This week's Dirty Air segment is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, North America's premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you or online@bass pro.com all right, so TJ, let's go ahead and just talk about the car store schedule real quick. That is coming out. The car store wrapped up their season at Northwest Barrel just a few few days ago.
Russell
Great races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Caden Koppel got a wind. He will be full time next year behind the wheel of the. I don't know if he's 8 or 88, but we've yet to decide that. I do know that he's going to be sponsored by Jerky Boys. Jerky Boys. Beef Jerky. The best jerky in the world. I tell everybody that and I have yet to have anybody who's tried it tell me that it is not the best jerky in the world. Everybody who tries it says, yep, you're right. You're not lying.
Russell
This might be your favorite race car.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, well, we're going to try to put everything we can behind the jerky boys promotion and try to sell some more jerky, but also go win some races. The cars tour schedule is out. We will start our season in February on the 21st at Coastal Plains Raceway. We're going to Southern National Motorsports park the week after that. We haven't been to Southern national in a year. Great to go back to that racetrack. The Diaz family. Great folks up there running that racetrack. Wake county. Nashville Fairgrounds. April 11th, Nashville Fairgrounds. We'll go to Caraway. April 25th, a speedway, Langley. May 30th, Dominion in June. July will be part of North Wilkesboro's cup weekend.
TJ Majors
That was awesome.
Russell
This past year it was.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We'll only go to Wilkesboro once this year, you know, so we won't finish the year at Wilkesboro like we've been doing. Our only stop for North Wilkesboro will be mid summer with the cup series. Awesome. And very thankful to NASCAR to be part of that race weekend. Back to Anderson on August 22nd. We'll go to Florence in September and try county as well.
Russell
Does Florence line up with the cup at all?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, that's the same weekend as Darlington. So if you got a ticket in Darlington, you come on over to Florence.
Russell
It's amazing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Friday night. Yeah, it's a Friday night race. Come on out there, hang out. I think that's Friday night. What is that? September 4th? What you got there? I think that's Friday night. Either way, it's the same weekend as cup guys. So if you got a ticket and you're over at Darlington, you're camping. Come to Florence, come see us. Come see the cars tour. It's a lot of fun.
TJ Majors
It's a Friday.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
All right, Friday night we go to try County. September 12, October 3, Newport. And then we will finish our season at the iconic South Boston Speedway on October 17th. We are so thankful for South Boston to host our final event. It is a premier short track with late model stocks and just tons of history. So thank you. This is a great schedule. Also, the pros will be in a bunch of those weekends. We'll have a 10, 10 or so race pro series schedule. All of that information is on the Carstour website or follow cars tour on their Social media handles on X and Instagram, and you'll get all of this great information. I can't wait for the season to get cranking up again. We just ended our year and now there's a lot of excitement going into next year.
Russell
I met Ben. Ben Meyer.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ben Mayer?
Russell
Yeah, Ben Mayer.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
Russell
Met him at Martinsville this weekend.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Great kid. He's our champion in the pro series. Yep. Had a great year. And yeah, we're. We love all the kids and drivers that come through our tour. We love our veterans. It's a great place to get noticed and get recognized. And you can look through the truck Xfinity and the cup series and find people that have came through the cars tour, had experience there to hone their racecraft. Let's get into the Xfinity series and talk a little bit about Sam Mayer, Jeb Burton. Sam Mayer got into it a little bit. There was a. There was a intentional crash of Jeb Burton by Sam Mayer after the checkered flag. I was talking to a veteran driver in the Xfinity series who says he might be surprised if Mayor isn't suspended or he might be surprised if he's not suspended. How could he not be suspended?
Russell
I don't.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I mean, I admitted to doing it.
Russell
I think, in the interview.
TJ Majors
You don't need to admit to doing it either.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Look, I know, and I like Sam Mayor. He's. He's part of the Junior Motorsports family. He's always going to be part of our family. I'm always going to, you know, we're always going to be boys. But we call. We call like it is on this show. Even our guys that drive here currently aren't immune to getting called out when they make mistakes and so forth. Look, this was an intentional crash. The precedent has been set. A suspension is the call. I can't. I can't see it any other way. Why would they. What would they. What would be the explanation to. To. To allow him to race in Phoenix?
Russell
I can't think of anything.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What would. What could they say? What could be right?
Russell
I mean, he doesn't. He's not raised for a championship.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. They have set the precedent, and I would. I would think it would. It would create quite a lot of chaos. Would they allow him to run? Right.
TJ Majors
Could they say. Because he's basically not racing for anything, we're going to levy a heavy fine? Because what is suspending him due to.
Russell
I can't understand between this and Indy, so.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, I'm saying there is a difference. That was during the Race.
TJ Majors
Well, no, that's not what I'm saying, though.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I know. I'm just. He's asking. He asked me a damn question. I'm. Well, I'm trying to think of like what. What would be nascar if nascar. Look, they're going to come out today and tomorrow or sometime and say he suspended. I'm sure they will. I would be blown away if they don't. But if they don't, what would the explanation B.
Russell
I don't see how you own it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
They said the happened after the checkered.
Russell
Like right, right after the line. Yeah, but still, I mean, if they.
TJ Majors
Try to say he's not going fast enough like that, that doesn't.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, they do.
TJ Majors
That doesn't work for me though. But they've done that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
They've done that. They've talked about the severity.
TJ Majors
That was during a race, not after.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, but they've talked about that too. They do. They have said that they weigh the severity because it coda. Dylan Ray wrecked the two.
Russell
Yeah, no, yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
On the front straightaway two wreck. Dylan. Yeah, yeah, that's right. I had it backwards to two. Wrecked, tied Dylan. They didn't suspend him. It was an obvious hook.
TJ Majors
It was a fine. And.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And they said that they judged severity. Hey, could be the window, maybe, I don't know. Be the possibility that we see Sam.
Russell
Some of the hardest wrecks I've seen were at Martinsville.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dude, I'm telling you, you can wreck steering wheels there.
TJ Majors
What do you make of him being upset? Like, do you think it was Sam? Yeah. Do you think he was valid?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Listen, I would say to Sam, if he were sitting here right now, his ass was out of line all night.
Russell
You know, I agree.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I mean, listen, I know he's. He's frustrated with the position he's in going into that race. Sam, to try to help you understand Sam. So Sam wants to win and be a successful race car driver so badly. Sam believes that he has and possesses the talent to race on Sunday. I think that he actually does have the speed to race on Sunday. What he's still missing is that judgment, you know, the decision making. A guy that races on Sunday doesn't do these things. And Sam is beyond this. Sam is better than this. Sam should not be wrecking Jeb Burton at the end of the race because he's mad. Because Jeb was, you know, being a jerk on the track or whatever. Right. He shouldn't be doing that. If he's a sun. If he's thinking, man, I'm a Sunday guy, I Just haven't had my chance yet.
Russell
Act like it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You can't be doing this. And so I would say that to him. I would say, look, man, you gotta. You got to tone it down. You got to get it under control. Your emotions got out of control. And, you know, talking to several people in the race, they said he was pretty damn aggressive. Way too aggressive.
Russell
He was. You know, he was aggressive, but also, I mean, his interview was.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I know. It's like he just, you know, like.
Russell
Didn'T help it at all.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I know. And I think, you know, you get to Martinsville and you see it goes on there, and you almost feel. I think you get comfortable, you know, and you get out of the car. You get out of the car, and you're kind of like, yeah, well, this is what happens here, you know, but that ain't really what we want happening there. Right? And so, I don't know, over the last couple of races at Martinsville, they've been. I've. I've gotten on this show after the races at Martinsville and literally asked them to take it off the schedule because it's ridiculous. The damn stuff that goes down.
Russell
This race was actually.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, this one was good. It was. It was a good one. But I mean, I'm just saying, like, there's been some wild stuff going on in the Xfinity races and the truck races at Martinsville. This was a good one, but it was like Mr. Sam Mayor was still a little bit too wild. I would say that Jeb was funny. Jeb gave some. They all. They all gave some great one liners.
Russell
Yeah. Sound bites.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
TJ Majors
I just wish they could have got to each other. I get why Jordan prevented it or kind of talk. Jeb often went and talked to Sam, but I, as the fan and the person, wants content. I want these two swinging.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
They said, you want to talk to him? Jeb said, oh, I'd love to talk to him. Wouldn't be much talking. I'm like, go, Jeb. Get it. Yeah, get it, Jeb.
Russell
Yeah. And jet. Look, I mean, Jeb is there to. Jeb was actually having a pretty solid night.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jeb. Now listen, Jeb. Well, if you listen to Jeb and he's raced here, too, he's part of our DNA as well. If you listen to Jeb and look at Jeb over the years, you gotta know, look, this guy here, when you talk, if you listen to Jeb in his interviews on social media, he drives. He. He views his career as an opportunity missed or like, I didn't get the benefit. I didn't get the chances. I didn't get the monetary backing, the support that a Sam mayor got. Or he could name. Jeb, could name you a list of guys, right? That, that, man, I didn't, I'm as good as them, but I didn't get their chances because I didn't have this or that and the other. Right. I didn't have all that money behind me. And if I had all that support I had because he's. Jeb has. This is Jeb's opinion. He has scratched and clawed to put together every little deal that he's ever had. And if you go into the corner and put a damn door, put a tire on his door, he ain't gonna like it. He ain't gonna be happy about it. And he is not the guy to be doing that to. He's already a little annoyed about how things are going.
Russell
He's got a chip on his shoulder already about it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He's in, you know, he likes the situation he's in. But he sees a guy like Sam Mayer in, in a Stewart Haas back to car, going out there and, and being a wild man and going, man, I, I wish I had. I, I, I, you know, I think he looks at it and says, man, I'd appreciate those opportunities better than Sam is appreciating his opportunities. Right. Not that that's exactly true, but, you know, I think, I think, you know, Jeb's not the guy to be running in the back of.
Russell
I will say that Jeb didn't just get the tire of the door. He got the.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'm just saying.
Russell
Yeah, I'm just, Yeah, I know Jeb.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ain'T the guy to be doing that to.
Russell
Exactly.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He, he has nothing to lose.
Russell
And if you go way over that line, he's going to be even more mad.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Would you go look at like the 21 Austin Hill, right? We know it's aggressive. You're at Martinsville. You're one of the guys that needs to win this race. You're trying to get yourself into Phoenix. Do you go down in the corner and knock the 21 up the racetrack? You know, your ass is getting it back.
Russell
I mean, I'm probably doing it in the three and four last lap.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Why wouldn't do it, Jeb or anybody. I'm talking about the race, TJ no.
Russell
Middle of the race. I'm going to race him smart.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And I ain't going to create problems for myself.
Russell
No, because.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Right.
Russell
Yeah, 100%.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, I would. I just got to know Better if.
Russell
You do win the race. Next week's going to be a problem with him as well now.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, pretty interesting to hear all the back and forth after that race and. All right, our championship four. Like I said, we're going to have Zillich, Allgar, Love and Quapo on the show tomorrow to talk to them about, you know, their chances and just kind of why you need to pull for them. What. What? You know, maybe it gives you a chance to kind of get to know each of the drivers a little bit better.
TJ Majors
Yeah. They're all four likable for different reasons.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. You know, Jesse's great.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I've been able to talk to him a little bit more this year kind of because him and Connor are such good friends. And it's really been nice to get to know him. And, you know, he. He listens to our show. He kind of. He plugged into the. He's plugged into the. Plugged into the. The industry. What's going on? Pretty smart guy. He's. He's watching and paying. Paying more attention than I think we get. We. You might give him credit for. The teams are actively in the shop right now getting primaries ready, primary cars ready, also getting backup cars ready. You know, typically we just, you know, load a load of blank backup car and top of the hauler and hope for the best that we don't even have to use it. But on this particular weekend, you better prepare the backup car as well as you prepare the primary. There's a ton of work and this. You look out in the shop and I think this is probably the same for RCR or most all these race teams. Even on the cup level. Everybody in the shop is spending whatever's left in the tank to make sure that they are as prepared as possible for the one final event. And they're all looking forward to the off season. They're all looking forward to a break. But whatever they got left in the tank, every guy out there, every role, they're all, you know, crossing the T's.in the eyes. And you're doing it for two race cars, not just your primary. You got to have a backup car that is as good. We saw it last year, the 7 car got in some damage, you know, got some damage in practice, had to go to a backup car. They win the championship because that backup car was pretty damn spectacular. And so that could, you know, you got to have every. All the bases covered.
TJ Majors
Yeah. Like, when you leave the crew chief, office lights, they're still on.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh, yeah.
TJ Majors
They're still. They're logging late hours.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
They were here Sunday.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Working. They raced Saturday, and they were back in the shop Sunday after Martinsville. Justin has the experience, I would say, also, when you look at Phoenix, Justin performs the best, has the best history there. Even though Connor Zillich has the most wins. You would look at the statistics this year, say he's having the better year. I think Justin can go and be competitive. I am not going to be shocked to see Jesse Love right in the thick of the battle and Carson Kwapo goes in with a, I think, an underdog mentality of, you know, I want to come in there and upset the. Upset the field. Right. And he could absolutely do that with a. With a clutch performance this weekend. I'll be watching the race. I don't, you know, probably from a pit box. I'm not usually. Like, last year, I was on the seven box, and I feel, you know, I kind of personally, I have, you know, I'm the owner of the car. Right. So I gotta go. All right, which box can I sit on? Where should. Maybe I'll go sit on the eight pit box for this one. Last year, I sit on Justin's because, man, we've been trying to get Justin that championship, and I felt like I can sit on this box and it not take away from whatever else is going on.
TJ Majors
Well, he was the only playoff driver, too.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
That's true. But, you know, with three of them in there, I might sit on the eight box with Sammy and those guys, so we'll see. I don't know. I could move around, but what's this.
TJ Majors
Week like for you?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It's great. I mean, even when we only have one in it, you know, you just. You're thankful. A lot of reflection. I've, you know, I would agree with some other drivers that would tell you that getting to this point is the hardest part. Like, the hardest part is over.
Russell
Yeah, I agree with that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I mean, this playoff system is just. It's hard.
Russell
It's a grind.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It is. And it's hard emotionally to, you know, to be up against elimination, to be up against some things that are kind of out of your control, to be up against circumstance and fortune, good and bad. So it, you know, in the. The way they stack the races, especially in the final round, you got Talladega, Martinsville. It's pretty. Pretty chaotic. So you're emotionally spent. I think once you just get through this Martinsville race, you're kind of like, you got to go refuel, you got to go fill A tank back up and get ready for Phoenix. But you know what the deal is? You go into Phoenix and you know what the deal is? You got to be the best of four. Before that, it's just chaos. And so that's. I think getting to this point is the hardest part. And now that's over. And everybody may feel a sense of relief a little bit, I think, at this point.
Russell
Yeah, I mean, before the Saturday night, before the cup race, I mean, those guys be some sleepless nights.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh, man. I mean, when. When you. So when you come to Saturday for Xfinity, the nerves come all back. I mean, you're just as nervous as you can be. And when that race is about to start, you're like, man, I don't know how this is going to turn out. And I hope at the end of the night I'm happy, but I don't know. You know, I just don't know. Yeah, now when you take three cars, you're feeling pretty good about it, but you know when you know this is.
Russell
The most cars you ever had in, Right?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No, we've had three in before.
TJ Majors
We went to home Taiwan.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We went to Homestead with three in it. We were up against it was. We had three cars in it. And. And I think Hemrick was driving for RCR and they broke early. I can't remember. Maybe it was two and.
Russell
Yeah, I don't remember.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think we had three in it before. But either way, I. Yeah, I'm feeling really good right now. But I think, you know, come Saturday, we'll all. We'll have the anxiety and the nerves that you traditionally would have.
TJ Majors
Do you talk to the drivers at all?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, yeah, I will. I think you got to tell them like, you know, Justin probably not as much. He's been here, done that. But I'll sit down with Carson and I'll sit down with Connor, and I think I might all get them collectively together and say, hey, there's a good chance that you're all going to be very good and good chance you're all going to be battling for the lead together. Let's try to do our best to take care of each other. And that means that they can't hit. Don't touch, don't. Don't rub, don't get tired, you know, don't give each other donuts, none of that. Like, I don't like them sending it off on the inside underneath them and getting loose up into each other and like that. We can't have that. Right. You got to know how to if you're going to commit to a move, you got to wrap the corner and do it right. Can't put your teammate in a precarious situation. So that's something. I think I have to say it just to make myself feel better and. But I think I'll talk to Connor and Carson just a little bit about their, you know, where their head's at in terms of. It's a. Anything can happen in this race. Like, you got to remain calm, fire off first couple laps, the car ain't turning, something's not great. You're too loose, whatever. Calm down. Look, I'll tell them, look at that race that Justin had last year. He was out of it. Multiple mistakes, multiple mistakes, multiple problems. Looked like it was completely over. Just calm. Look, you're sitting there running 8th, 9th, 11th, struggling with the balance, thinking, oh God, we're in trouble. Just sit there, just calm down. Take it. Take an opportunity to work on the car. Things are going to happen all right. You know, you'll find yourself somehow some way through the chaos of the back half of the, you know, the third stage with a late yellow and an opportunity inside the top six, you know, on a final restart, if you just.
Russell
Stay calm and you never know what happens there.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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TJ Majors
See you've been walking around with the new phone. Where'd you get that new phone?
Russell
Yeah, man, I love this phone. I recently joined the consumer cellular family and they hooked me up, man. I got a great new phone and the service is awesome.
TJ Majors
That's great. But like, how's it Iowa, Richmond, some of These other tracks because it's great when you're at home, but like when I'm on the road, my phone is crap.
Russell
You know, I travel a lot with the RFK16 and I have had nothing but success with this phone. I've actually, it has bailed me out numerous times now. I was able to flip the hotspot on and use some Internet on it. Text, calls, everything. Man, I'm, I'm, I could not be happier with this phone.
TJ Majors
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Russell
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
William Byron dominated at Martinsville, but the race, the good race poll was favorable in the 70 percentage last time. 70 mid 70s last time I looked.
Russell
What was the first race? Do you know?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'd just say anything in the 70s is good at this rate. I love the tire. Denny Hamlin talked about it. Goodyear's done an incredible job. We've asked Goodyear. I remember back when I was driving, we were begging Goodyear to get softer, get softer, get softer, give us a tire. We want more fall off. We want more fall off.
TJ Majors
50% was Martinsville one.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
All right, so big improvement, dude. And I give a ton of credit to the tire. We've not really changed the car all that much. We still think the car could improve at the short tracks, but the tire obviously has helped us make some big gains. You had got, I was watching early in the race. You had Chase, Elliott, Byron, the five, all of them running there in the top three and all of them running different lines, trying to create runs up off the corner. You had Byron driving really tidy and low up off the corner and trying to keep it straight.
Russell
Larson, Larson.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Larson was big, big arcs into the corner. Same with Chase, Ellie. I mean, that is all you Asked for. Martinsville is the one track where you know it's going to be bottom dominant. And if you have, if you can go to Martinsville and produce what we saw with guys changing their entry and moving around, you've got it. Don't touch it like that. That is all you can get. That's as good as it can get. That's as good as it will get at Martinsville. And don't mess with it. Right. So.
Russell
Well, this race had the. Not the it factor, the other factor, but it had the factor where the driver came into play and how hard he wanted to run those first handful of laps. And we don't have that a lot. You could actually hurt the tires.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
Russell
In the beginning of a run and it would. You'd pay the price later. So you had guys that were meeting in the middle and passing like. There was a lot of passing late into a run. Like we, I saw in practice, we were in like 60 laps and at the end there were some guys falling hard.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
Russell
Like way off.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
TJ Majors
And you heard Rudy Fugle telling Byron at the. The start of the one run, the end, like, calm down. Yeah, you're going to get to lap traffic. That's when you can go, like, save me some tires.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, I love that. Because, you know, our drivers, they're very talented, but in some cases, a lot of cases, one of the things we're not really utilizing or asking them to do is manage the tire. Right. And so that's another element where I think some guys are better than others and some guys can separate themselves or be. Be at an advantage when put in that situation. And I want to see that. I want to see a guy who's like, ignorant and fires it off and runs his ass off for 10 laps and suffers at the back end of the run. You know, I want to see that guy and watch him like, develop as a driver. Right.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Over the course of the. His career and adjust and make them. Make the changes necessary to be able to have the good car on long run speed and be a guy.
Russell
He's passing too.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Be a good guy on old tires. Then you'll see some of the veterans who are like, yeah, go run your ass off. I'll see you in about 50 laps. You know.
Russell
You know what, what sucks though, is that, is you let them go and then the cost comes out 40 laps.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
In and then that's. That's part of it.
TJ Majors
That's the beauty of it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It is.
Russell
Which. I love it there. I mean, it's great in Both, like, all around, anytime the driver has to come into play. And like you said, do they have that mental, that mental trait of, I'm going to let you go here? And some of them, some of them say, heck with that. I don't, I'm just going to go.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Shout out to Ryan Blaney driving through the field, putting himself in a position, trying to get it done. It was a must win. And he gets out and says, hey, you know, good hard racing. I'd have done exactly what Byron did. They were a little physical. Byron gets into him a little bit. That's what we want to see when we go to Martinsville. It's absolutely what we want to see. And Blaney got out and took it like a champ. So pretty interesting to see all that happen as we go into Phoenix. Now, there's no Penske car, right? We all said that if Penske gets to Phoenix, they're the, they're the favorite. Well, there's no Penske car. They could still be in the mix among the top five racing late in the race to win at Phoenix. But it's basically Joe Gibbs Racing versus Hendrick Motorsports. Both have two cars. You got Hamlin Briscoe on the Joe Giz Racing side, and Byron and.
TJ Majors
Larson.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Larson, sorry, Brian and Larson on the Hendricks side. And so I like, I like Byron. We're going to talk about all this later in the show at the dirty, in the dirty Modeau segment. But the way Byron's looked and the way he looked this weekend, I think you got to look at him as the favorite.
TJ Majors
How much is momentum in nascar? Like another sports, you're playing the same plays and stuff where it's a different car. But how much, like, coming off a win is that important for a driver?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I, I, you can believe in momentum all you want. You go out and you haul ass and kick, you know, dominate Martinsville. But when you unload that car and go down in the turn and the thing don't cut through the center, what's momentum doing for you at that point? When you, Byron's got to unload a car at Phoenix, go into practice and get out there, and in the first five or 10 laps, it's either going to be, man, this car is amazing, or, oh, boys, we got some work to do. All right? And what's momentum doing at that point? Is momentum going to help you fix the car? So I don't know if I believe in momentum. I think, you know, it helps your attitude, it helps your personality. But I think the weight of the situation is so heavy. The weight of the real opportunity of becoming a champion is so. Is so in your face that you don't carry momentum. You might carry momentum from race 10 to race 11, right? But, man, when they got done at Martinsville, they were all greeted with the reality that now they're going to go race for a championship. And I think as the days go by and we get closer and closer and closer to Sunday and they get, they're doing a ton of media, getting asked a million questions about this. You know, how can they stay out of their own head, but stay in the right headspace and do all the right things to be in championship winning mode on Sunday? That's going to be the important part.
Russell
Doesn't like, to me, momentum is also like in a mind thing too. Like, you know what? I'm, I'm better. I'm going to. Does it push guys to work harder that week? Does it push guys be like, I got backslid at 9 o'. Clock. You're already looking at stuff for the next week, you know, Are you already looking at stuff like that?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
That's what momentum is to you? Like, is what is momentum? That is, you know, everybody may interpret. Interpret that differently. Momentum to you may be, hey, man, we're coming off a win. Let's get right back to it. Let's go into SIM on, on Sunday night. Let's go into SIM on Monday morning. I'll see you there at 6am Is that momentum? If that's momentum, then yes, momentum is working for you.
Russell
I think it's just the whole package. Like it pushes when you run good. It just makes everything. It's easier to work. It's. You want to go and get more.
TJ Majors
I'll tell you what though, if you need any extra motivation this week to work like, you should already be maxed out if you're racing for a championship. There shouldn't be.
Russell
That's enough for sure.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, I just feel like momentum in racing is great, but the car and what it can and can't do. You're at the mercy of whether that car is going to be able to do what you need it to do.
TJ Majors
They do get extended practice this week.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So that can help.
Russell
I just think it gives momentum to me, gives confidence.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think that, I mean, I think that all the driver, I think, you know, like Denny, all these guys, all four of them, the only thing, like, if they could, if they. In a perfect world, if they could snap their fingers, they would skip everything and get right in that car the next Thing they want to do is drive that car out on the track, run three or four laps to see what they got. They cannot wait to get into that first practice and learn have I got the car? Because that's it, right? And they're. They're gonna run that practice and they're gonna get out and they're gonna look at the sheet and they're gonna go, all right, how they were. How are the mother three guys? How am I average speed? My. My. My five lap, my 10 lap, my 15 lap. Man, we're not good. Man, we're great. I mean, you know, that's what. That's what they want to do next.
Russell
Don't you think, though, if you come off a win the next time in the car, you're going to be a little more confident driving that car? Like, I'm better than these guys. I'm going to be good here.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, I think you already feel that way. I mean, it's level.
Russell
Yeah, but I mean, I think Byron.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Denny, they all already believe that they're.
TJ Majors
The best you, like. Denny's had two bad weeks with car issues, and I think when he gets in that car on Friday, he ain't going to like. His mentality is, I'm still. This is my weekend.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't know. He might have a little.
Russell
He would have liked to have win Martinsville.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He might. He might feel like he's on a little delicate ice. I don't know. I.
Russell
That's what I'm saying, though. This is. He doesn't have any momentum right now, but I'm not. I don't worry about Denny because he's a veteran. He's done this numerous times.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But he, too, has said, like, I've been a little bit surprised by Denny's. Like, man, it's always something, or it's something every week, or it's one of the three things that happens every week. Right. He said he's had these comments to the media, and I've been like, man, that's. That's the kind of, like, Denny's. Denny's not holding back as much as he used to.
TJ Majors
Right.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
When he. He's always.
Russell
Definitely.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There's always been problems. There's always been things. Right. There's always. He's not having. Maybe he's having a little bit more of the mechanical woes than traditional, but he's had a really good year, too. At the same time, I'm a little surprised, I guess, by his. I guess he's at that point in his career where he's like, I don't give a shit. So I'm just going to, you know, I'm going to get out of the car and go, yeah, it sucks.
Russell
How many wins does Denny have?
TJ Majors
6.
Russell
How many wins does Byron have?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3.
Russell
I mean, how.
TJ Majors
4.
Russell
How does a guy with three time, you know, twice the amount of wins not ride in here? Like. And we're talking about William Byron being.
TJ Majors
I'll tell you why he doesn't ride in Denny 1.
Russell
If anyone, Martinsville would we be talking about. Denny will be good, but he'll definitely be good.
TJ Majors
He lost an engine at Martinsville. He had starter issues at Martinsville. He had throttle cable issues at Talladega. Power steering at Kansas. Engine blew at Chicago. Like.
Russell
So how do you not start your first lap at Phoenix be just like that, little bit more timid?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think you will.
TJ Majors
Yeah. I agree with you. Like, I don't know how you wouldn't.
Russell
Byron's gonna be like laser sharp.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Byron's going in there not worrying about that. Things breaking now. Denny might be a little less confident. Yeah. I mean, he would feel it was. He would be in the right to be less confident. But he.
Russell
He's, you know, overcome that, man.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He'll overcome that.
Russell
Yeah.
TJ Majors
It's also like, Dale, you can speak to this, but, like, it's out of your control. So as a driver, you're just going and you only focus on what you can control. Right.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Denny's already told us in the past he's. He's been here a million times. He's like, getting here is the hardest part. The hard part's over. I'm. I'm in. Whatever happens today is what's going to happen.
Russell
Yep.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Whoever's going to win this race or be the best of those four, that's what's happening. It's not. It's kind of like out of my hands to an extent. Right. He's going to drive the car. He's going to do his best job today, and if he gets outrun that day by that guy and he does win the championship, well, that's it. But the hardest part was getting there. I don't really know who has the advantage. Damn, Chase. Briscoe's won races there.
Russell
He's got Chase.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
To me, they've been strong as anybody. They've got more points. They've scored more points in the playoffs than anybody they've done. They've done the playoffs better than any.
Russell
Other team lining up the names. Briscoe is definitely the underdog.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
To me, I Don't agree. I think it's. Who do you put in front of Wide open.
Russell
So you. You definitely think Briscoe's got a better shot than someone else, than Larson, Byron, or.
TJ Majors
I don't think anybody.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think they're equal. I think it's really.
Russell
I mean, I think it's awesome. Chase is in there, man. He's had a great year.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. I've watched it since Pocono, and he has been solid. One of the best cars in the field since then. The Earnhardt family's always relied on Bass Pro Shops for our outdoor adventures, and the tradition continues with me today. I grew up shopping there. Take my family there. It's a place I love to shop and check out all the new stuff. Need to get over there and get me a new bow. I went bow hunting this past weekend, and I believe that it's time. Time to hand my bow off to a friend and get. Maybe get me another one. All right.
Russell
Did you shoot your bow?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I did a lot. Practice.
Russell
Practice shots?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nope.
Russell
Okay.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'm very particular. I saw a lot of great. I saw a lot of great deer, but I did not see one I wanted. I'm also very grateful with Bass Pro Shops that Johnny Morris and his entire team have supported everything we're doing here with our race team, with Dirty Mo Media. They love what we're building, what we're doing. They've stood behind us every step of the way. They're incredible partners and great people. Check out what they have to offer, whether it's fishing, camping, hunting, just going outdoors with your family. You'll find everything you need at the nearest Bass Pro Shops. And you can shop online as well. I've got the app on my phone. You can go to Bass Pro and find some great deals every day. Hey, Everybody, it's Dale Jr. Here. You've probably heard me talk about my Chevrolet dealership in Tallahassee, Florida. Part of the Hendrick Automotive Group, we've got a huge selection of new and used vehicles, and we specialize in commercial trucks. In fact, we're proud to be the number one seller of crane trucks in the country. Whether you're upgrading your daily driver or growing your fleet, our expert team is here to help you find exactly what you need. But just don't take my word for it. Here's TJ with a recent customer review.
Russell
I recently purchased a new 2025 Chevrolet Trax from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet and had an outstanding experience, thanks to Michael Turner. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the car, took the time to answer all my questions without rushing and provide an all around great experience. My experience was stress free and I would recommend him for anyone looking to purchase a vehicle.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
That's the experience we aim to deliver every day. We've got hundreds of trucks in stock offer free delivery anywhere in the continental US and we're part of the top rated dealer group in the country. For online reputation, check out our full lineup@dell junior chevy.com Chevrolet together let's drive.
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TJ Majors
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hey, everybody. How you doing? Thanks for tuning in for this Xfinity Ash Jr segment here on the Dale Jr download. We've been sitting here for five minutes, Andrew, waiting on you to get down to the office.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I was told Ash Jr. At noon.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Why do you think it would be at a specific time?
Andrew (Video Editor)
Because that's what. That's the time Travis sent out in his call.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I know, but we just get there when we get there.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Russell
It's never the same. Exact.
TJ Majors
Never exactly early, folks. You should be happy.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Who should be happy? Are you not listening up there?
TJ Majors
He should be outside the door waiting.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You're not upstairs listening?
Andrew (Video Editor)
No, I'm working on other stuff.
Russell
What are you doing?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What are you working on?
Andrew (Video Editor)
I'm cutting clips. I'm the video editor.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Okay.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, here we are.
Andrew (Video Editor)
But I'm happy to be here.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Over the past 11 years, Xfinity and the Xfinity series has grown into something very special. They've backed young drivers. They've helped tell their stories. TJ giving a lot of shots, making it into the cup series. And they brought the fan, all of us along for the ride through. Amazing content giveaways and access that you don't get anywhere else. And now the series is changing the name. But Xfinity, they're not going anywhere. Eleven years, one incredible ride. But the next lap is going to be just as good. We're very thankful for everything Xfinity does here at the Dirty Mo Media office and everything they've done for the series. It's been incredible. But we've got some great questions today, so let's get going.
Andrew (Video Editor)
100%. Yeah. It's good to see some familiar names in the YouTube chat as well. Bev, tuning in from Maine. But this first question is from Matt. If you could put an event together with three bands, which three would you pick?
Russell
Oh.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Doesn'T matter. Dead or alive?
Andrew (Video Editor)
Sure, I'll say.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Dead or alive? Anybody?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I was supposed to go see Nirvana with a friend of mine. At Atlanta at The Omni in 1994 or three, I was in. I was going to school at Mitchell Community College, taking automotives and my buddy Tommy, and he's probably going to listen to this. Tommy Donaldson. We were going to go and he bailed on me that morning. We get to school, I'm pumped. Me and him are going to drive to Atlanta. We're gonna buy our ticket and we're gonna go see the show. That was way out of character for me. We had no plan other than that.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And we get there that morning. He's like, man, I don't think I'm going. I'm like, well, if you're not going, I'm not going. What the hell? I was so mad we didn't get to see him. So Nirvana would be one. Vegas or. Yeah, Vegas or Hawaii. Elvis would be the other. And.
Andrew (Video Editor)
It'S tough.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It is tough.
Russell
It's very tough.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I'm trying to think of my own. I can't.
Russell
I. I would have to go with someone that I. That I listened to as a kid.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I would.
Russell
That has a lot of songs. Maybe like a Steve Miller band or something.
TJ Majors
I don't know.
Russell
But I know they're not probably super popular.
TJ Majors
I'd want to see Waylon Jennings.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Cash.
TJ Majors
Like if you see the Highwayman.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I had tickets to see Jimmy Buffett and it got cancelled and I never saw him. And so I would put him on my list.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
H. All right, I got one more. I gotta feel a blank in there. Let me see.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Would you like some suggestions?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No, I don't.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Is throwing in their own answers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Okay, yeah, I'll take them Jet. I didn't thought your own you were gonna give. No, I know what kind music you listen.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I'm seeing Creed. Billy Joel.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Billy Joel.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Michael Jackson.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, I'll go with Billy Joel.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Okay.
Russell
Yeah, that's pretty dude.
Andrew (Video Editor)
That's good.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I forgot about that.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I watched the Beatles.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I watched. I just recently watched that documentary on Billy Joel. It's really good.
TJ Majors
I need to check the documentary out.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It was good. And. And it made me really wish I'd have seen him. So. Yeah, I mean, he's got the hits, man.
Russell
He does a lot of them.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So many. And the way the documentary is good, how he kind of like was like, I'm gonna build the band I want to play with and make the record I want to make. And it ended up working pretty cool.
Russell
I've seen some clips from that and it looks really good.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Good.
TJ Majors
You might have told this before, but how'd you become a fan of Dwight Yocum?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, he just kicks, you know, kicks ass.
TJ Majors
Yeah, I know that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But, like, so I think I just liked his songs. And, you know, maybe I'll be Fast as yous. I don't know. Feels like a racing song. And he. This is like a rumor. Maybe it ain't true, but remember Sharon Stone, right? So, you know, what was that movie she was in? Like, put her on the map. God, I can't. Basic Instinct.
Russell
Yeah.
TJ Majors
When James speaks, he nails it every time.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
James is our resident carpenter, so of course he knows that. All carpenters would know. Right around that time when she was in the height of her fame and he as well, was in the height of his. There's a rumor that he took her out on a date, and he pulls up in her car wearing his hold Holy jeans and his cowboy hat in a. In a late 60s Corvette. This is just a rumor. I'm not sure if it's true. Things didn't absolutely go that well. So he wrote the song fast as you. That's the rumor.
TJ Majors
So Sharon Stone famously compared kissing Dwight Yocum to eating a dirt sandwich. Holy Internet.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But then maybe that's why he writes the song fast as you. Can you find out whether that actually he did write it about her or no.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Travis will do some more research.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sandwich.
Andrew (Video Editor)
There was a video that just received us of Dwight Yocum playing that song, I think, at a racetrack with you.
TJ Majors
Yes.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So I. Somebody surprised me. We were out at Fontana and we said it was, I don't know, I'm retiring or it's my birthday or something. There was some occasion, and they surprised me and had Dwight come by. That's cool. Literally, it was weird. So I know he's coming, right? I know I'm going to meet him. I'm excited. I'm pumped. And they're like, hey, man, Dwight's here, and this is race morning. I'm nervous. I'm anxious about the race, too. Right. I get super nervous on race morning. And I step out of the camper, he's got his guitar and starts playing and singing the song. And I'm like, what do I do here? He's walking toward me singing this song that he knows I like. And I'm like, well, I'm not going to let him sing it to me. So I'm going to sing it with him.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Right.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So it's less awkward. It'll be still awkward, but less.
Russell
That sounds awkward already as well.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It was awkward, but I tried to make it less awkward by singing along and yeah, we laughed. We had a little laugh about that. But he played my.
TJ Majors
Hall of fame.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
My hall of fame party.
Russell
Oh, that's right.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It was awesome.
TJ Majors
That was a surprise too, right?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't. I guess it might have been.
TJ Majors
I think Amy set it up.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yes. Yes. That. It was awesome. I mean, I literally stood there and just watched him, you know, play all the songs that I love and. Hey, and he. He did write a song and he mentioned me in it. Oh, yeah?
Andrew (Video Editor)
Which one?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There's a song where he talks about Adele junior Poster, about this girl who has Adele junior Poster on her wall. It's a good song. That's cool. Yeah.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Did you know that lyric was gonna be in there?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Or, like, you just.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'm a mad list. Yeah. He writes this song, came out later in his career, and so I'm already a fan.
TJ Majors
International heartache.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yes.
TJ Majors
Tossed out his clothes, boots, bud cap, and signedale junior poster. Then shot the whole mess neon green with a. With a can of dupont spray.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. This is a breakup between a guy. She threw all his stuff out in the yard, including his Dale Jr. Poster.
TJ Majors
I'm sorry. She didn't keep the Dale Jr. Poster.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, it's written in history that she threw it out, so what can we do? I guess it reminded her of her ex boyfriend.
TJ Majors
What are you, like, at a concert? Are you like.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What am I like?
TJ Majors
Yeah. Are you, like, singing, jamming out? Are you just kind of, like, mellow?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'm. I jam.
TJ Majors
Do you?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So, I mean, I. I get in the mosh pit.
TJ Majors
Oh.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh, yeah. I mean, I don't know if I'd do it at this age, but, like, I went to see. I saw Tool Primus, Green Day live. There used to be. So I went to see Green Day Primus Tool at this place called the Hornets training facility in Charlotte back in the 90s and got in the pit every time, man. I. I mean, I was. It was in the 90s, I wasn't. I wasn't anybody important. And, you know, you just run in there and jump around and bang around and bounce off people, and then you're like, pick me up and use crowd surf. And they throw you over the rail into the security, and security picks you up and sends you back around to the back of the crowd. And you go back around the crowd and run back up in there and get all back in it again. It's so much fun. And so years ago in the. In the 90s, late 90s, early 2000s, they used to have this big Concert. A radio station called 106.5 in Charlotte would put on this big concert called the Weenie Roast. And they would have all these great bands. Like all the bands from the 90s all came and played. And I took my mom out there. There's about 20 of us that went. And I took my mom, Brenda with me. And I didn't know they. This is an amphitheater, but on the. Up on the. Where we were at was the grass grassy area. And so they had like. I'm looking at the list now, Alice in Chains, you know, what year. But I mean, this, this is, you know, they had a lot of alternative music, which I was a big fan of. And so hear me out. So I. This was probably 2002, 2001. This is a long time ago. You're looking in. Yeah, there you go. So listen, so we're in the grassy area. We're not down in the seats. And we got a couple blankets and there's a bunch of us, right? And my mom. And my mom likes the same kind of music I like. She likes Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple, Pilot. She used to get me to make her mixtapes and stuff. And I love that because, you know, it's cool that she listened to the same music I listened to. And so I'd record her maker tapes and so. Or CDs. And we're sitting there watching somebody play and it's. We're standing. I don't know, it's pretty awesome stuff. Awesome enough that there's multiple mosh pits happening on the grass. And I'm like, mom, I'm gonna go get in this pit. And she's like, yar. And I was like, I gotta. And so I'm like, come on with me. And so I took my mom and she stood on the side like it's a big circle. And I mean, it's about a 20 foot by 20 foot circle. And she stood on the edge of it. And I run through there and bang into a bunch of people and get on the other side and turn around and go, look, did you see that? And she's like, holy.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And I'd run back through there, back to her, get cloth lined or get turned upside down. I don't know, man, I. I thought it was fun. It's fun.
Russell
Can you show me what a 20 foot by 20 foot circle looks like?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What? What do you mean?
Russell
I don't know what you meant by that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It's a. It's an empty. So everybody's crowded around tj. Everybody's all crowded around, and the circle's empty in the middle.
Russell
Oh, I got you.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And we're run, and people are jumping around.
Russell
I didn't. Circle had two measurements.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It's 20.
Russell
It's like, I get it now.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
20.
Russell
I can't believe you get in there.
TJ Majors
Damn it, TJ.
Andrew (Video Editor)
That's one of the things that clip out.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
That's a tj.
TJ Majors
Yes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
One liner for tj.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I appreciate you, tj.
TJ Majors
You ever get in a mosh pit before?
Russell
No, I'm not getting no mosh pit.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I was. I was just in a mosh pit. The other.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The real.
Russell
No, no.
TJ Majors
You were in the pit.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No, no, no, no, no. Has anybody.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Openers for cloak room at Bobby Marcos's show had a mosh pit. And I, I. I was not in there for long.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You didn't know it was gonna happen, and it happened.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah, I got Help me. Give me help.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There's nothing worse than having being surprised by a mosh pit.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah. I kind of had to go with the flow because that was. You had to go through the mosh pit.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You had to act like you knew that that was going to happen. And you were like, yeah, I'm gonna ease out.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah, it was awesome.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Now, I'm not. I'm not talking about the type of mosh pits where people are literally windmilling. You know, those are nuts. I'm not trying to get punched in the face. I mean, you might get in the mosh pits I was in. We were all just kind of, like, jumping around, Right? Jumping around. Just bounce. And if you got knocked over, the great thing about it.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Like, when we would go to. When we're at Primus, I was a big Primus fan. My name is Mud and Southbound Pachyderm. Primus gets a lot. Catches a lot as a band, but I was a big fan. And then Green Day. Yeah. Tunics, tool. So when you. When I was going to those. And if you fail, man, people were, like, quick to pick you up. Yes. Get him up. Pick him up. You know, if you fell over. Got fell over, people grab you right up. Pick you right up. It was all. It was always good.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Like, I hear, like, people are very aware.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Nobody's trying to let anybody get hurt.
Russell
I was picturing, like, Limp Bizkit at that Woodstock.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, dude. I want. I actually do want to see Limb Biscuit. They're.
Russell
That'd be cool.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You know, their. Their bases just passed away, but they're going to continue their tour, and, man, they're killing it. And they got that new. They had put that new song out that went to number one. Like, they're just still doing whatever they want to do.
Russell
When they played at Woodstock, I was a bit.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I was. I was all about limbizing.
Russell
When it was good stuff.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
When it was. When it was new. Their song, I played a lot of it.
Russell
Their songs fit to something in your life, it seemed like. You know what I mean?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. I mean, I was a big Limp Bizkit fan with the original, like, $2 bill, all that stuff.
TJ Majors
Wait, is the new song Making Love to Morgan Wallen? Yeah. What a name of a song.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And it goes to number one. It's like they made it as a joke.
TJ Majors
It was an SEO play.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Well, I've been a fan of theirs for way back because I liked Jonathan. He was. He came here and took a tour. They found they kind of were the.
Andrew (Video Editor)
John Otto.
TJ Majors
No, no, no, no. He's talking about a different band.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. I don't know why I can't think of his name. They're probably sitting in the chat right now, but they kind of shepherded Limp Bizkit into this world, and it's gonna drive me crazy. Well, I see YouTube channel be so mad.
Andrew (Video Editor)
See if y' all can help us.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I know they're probably already telling us.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I am seeing a lot of people saying, hell, no. Not getting in a mosh.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh, I wonder if anybody in the chat has. Is anybody in the chat has done a mosh pit? Is there one?
Andrew (Video Editor)
Few yeses.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Yeah.
Andrew (Video Editor)
James and Brittany both said yes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Gotcha.
Andrew (Video Editor)
So, all right. We have some brave souls.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
YouTube chat. Yeah. All right, well, what's the next question? That's fun.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
TJ Majors
Was it corn?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Corn. Yes. I'm so mad at myself for not knowing that. I was a big Corn fan. And. And Jonathan came here, brought his. Brought his family. Jonathan, the lead singer of Corn, has been here, like, a couple years back. They were touring through Charlotte, and he come over and we took him for a tour around the shop. But they kind of. So I was listening to Limp Bizkit early, before Limp Bizkit was even really MTV yet, through Corn, because they were kind of helping them.
TJ Majors
Damn.
Andrew (Video Editor)
That's crazy. Ryan wants to know how was hunting this past weekend?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hunting was great, man. I'm telling you. I. I didn't. I did not get a deer. Saw a lot of great deer. Didn't see anything that I was willing to shoot. I'm pretty particular. So I took a friend of mine. His name's Sean. He's Never shot a deer. And we've been, we. I've taken him a couple times and, and I'm like, man, you know, he saw a deer one day and I said that that would have been a great deer for you to shoot, you know, but. And you kind of got to start at a certain. The way I am and I've kind of done this to myself is like I don't ever want to shoot one smaller than the last one. And so I'm just not gonna. It just doesn't do anything for me. If it's like a 150, you know, 10 point buck, I'm just gonna let it walk. I'm just gonna watch it, enjoy watching it and see how it acts and see what it's doing, try to learn something and. But it, I'm at this point now, I think, you know that it's going to have to be pretty impressive for me to want to, want to go through all the trouble of getting it processed and taking care of the meat and everything and doing all that. So once you shoot the deer, you're going to be messing with that thing till midnight, getting it to the processor and everything, making sure it's all done right. But. And so, you know, I love going. I actually, I'll be honest, man, I love going as much as the actual opportunity to get a deer. I love sitting in the woods and watching the sun come up. And like you, I go into the woods and I climb in this stand, it's pitch dark and I sit there and. And I don't know what I'm about. I don't know what I'm about to see. I don't know what the landscape looks like, what the horizon looks like. And I'm hunting some of these stands for the first time. I've had this property for 10 years, but there's a lot of places we got new stands and all that. And so I'm sitting in this stand that I've not hunted on one of the mornings. And to watch the sun come up behind you and start to like, you know, start to paint the landscape, it's just amazing. It is so much fun. And I sit there, I sat in that morning stand from 6 o' clock till 11. Like typically we get out at 9:30, but I kept seeing deer and I every time. And L.W. my, my brother in law gave me some great advice. He's like when you see a deer that resets the clock for 30 minutes. Like if you want to kind of know when you should. Yeah, like so when you see a deer, doe, whatever come through that resets the clock. You're gonna sit in that stand for another 30 minutes at least. It was pretty busy. Had a lot of. Lot of traffic. And, man, it's. You'll. You'll be sitting there, and you're looking at this. You're looking at the woods around you, right? And in an hour or two, you're like, you got a great understanding of where everything's at. And when you see a little movement that's something that's unnatural, your eyes go to it. And sure enough, like, kind of coming through the woods is this doe, or you're not sure if it's a doe. It might be a buck. Is it a buck? I don't know. Okay, it's a doe. All right. Well, usually they walk in pairs or two or three or four. So there's a couple doe coming, and now you're like, I don't want to get found out, right? So I want to be real careful. I got to make sure I'm real steel. That buck could come in behind him. He could be chasing them. Who knows, right? But if those see you get spooked and they're going to blow. They're going to ruin the whole hunt. So you got to be really careful and real quiet. And you're literally, like, front and center. You're 20 yards from them. They can look right there, and you're like, well, that's. That wasn't there yesterday, you know? And they. They do. They look up there, and they're like, that wasn't there yesterday. What is that? And they'll. They'll. They'll look at the ground and back up at you, see if you moved. And they'll be like, oh, and you just got to sit there still. One night, I sat in the stand one night. I literally didn't move for three hours. Not nothing. Didn't move my hands, feet, nothing for three hours. Just try, because I had deer on me in the field. And you can't give yourself away, you know, because you don't know where that buck's at. It is so much fun. And, you know, if I get to see a spike or a six or eight or a little basket rack or whatever, come through there and get to watch them in the rut and trying to work and trying to figure out how to find. Find a mate, it's just funny.
TJ Majors
So you went out in the morning?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I went in the morning, and in the evening.
TJ Majors
Whoa. Thought we weren't doing that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, Amy told me Amy told me to man up.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Was, oh, good.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Amy basically told me, like, get up.
Russell
Get out there.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Get out there and do it. I was like, ah. Because I like to drink beer. We really. Well, yeah. So we hunt in the evenings, and we get done. We're gonna grill some really, really cheap steaks and, like, cheap, cheap steaks. And this is what we do. We get really cheap, thin steaks, and we get cans of green beans and cans of corn. We put the green beans, corn in the pot, heat that up, grill the steaks, and we. Same thing every night. And then we go out, build a fire and burn some cardboard and all our paper and then, you know, sit around, drink beer and I don't want to get up at 6 or I don't want to get up. I don't want to get up at 5 in the morning.
Andrew (Video Editor)
The next.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't want to get up at 5 in the morning. But we went easy that night. Got up in the morning, hunted all morning, had a blast, sat in the woods, guys. Clears your mind. It is so awesome. I don't get to do it enough. I want to go back.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Was Truex with you this trip?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Truex came in as we were leaving. Trix was coming in. Trix is racing his RC boats. You know, you. I don't know a lot of them all the time.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Because we did have people asking, how's Truex doing?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Truex is doing great. Tricks is doing great. I'd be lying if I knew where he was, where he's been spending his time. He's in a great. He's in a great relationship that's going really well, I'm aware of. And he spent a lot more time up in Jersey, I believe that. That, you know, he's kind of. He put his. He's put his place in North Carolina on the market. I don't know if it's sold or not, but so he's. He's got a place in Florida and a place up in Jersey and. And he's happy. And he's running around doing tons of hunting right now. Races, Races, Boats. RC boats.
Russell
He's always been really good at building them.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Boats. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He builds them and they're meticulous. Dang. And they fly. He sets records. Like, he sets Guinness and world records with these boats.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Oh, my God.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And he runs them around on the lakes and stuff. And so he. He's always, like, building new boats to break records. Break new records.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, that's cool.
Andrew (Video Editor)
We got, got. Got a YouTube comment that I Thought was funny. Joshua said I farted and scared two deer this morning, if that counts. Yeah, yeah, sorry about that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I love. I'm telling you, man, I wish I was sitting. I wish I was going again. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go back. I had and I've only. We've owned this land. Me and Truex and my brother in law own this property. We've owned it for 10 years. We've curated it. We've got some friends there that live local that help us a lot. Some farmers, they farm the land and in turn do some of our food plots for us. So it's a really nice little agreement we have. And we have a very basic sort of bunk bed, camp, camping sort of situation with all of our stuff there. It's perfect.
TJ Majors
Why Ohio? What made you guys.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, I. There's really, really good deer in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas. But we wanted to get something that we were going to drive to. Could drive to, but we're willing to drive to. That's about five and a half hours. Kansas and Missouri, Illinois, bigger deer, better opportunity. But yeah, you're gonna have to fly. You could drive out there, but it's just, I don't know, you can make.
TJ Majors
A nice little weekend trip out of it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, it's fine. And where we are, there's an historic town. So. And there's wineries. There's all sorts of things to do around there. So if you want to take the kids go shed hunting. I took Isla shed hunting. So we walk around the property and looking for deer sheds during off season and you can take them into town and they'll have fun. And there's all kinds of candy shops and all kinds of stuff. So. Pretty cool. Yeah.
Andrew (Video Editor)
We got time for one more question. This surfaced on social media. It was, I guess an old Reddit thread that you were in the game Scarface.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
Andrew (Video Editor)
And that you used to beat your character up in the game. So people want to know, want to know about that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So this was, this was Scarface. When did that come out? I don't remember.
TJ Majors
2007.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
All right, so this was in the 2007. Right. This was in the height of. This was in the height of. Of of our. You know, it's weird for me to discuss it, but it's in the height of our, our racing celebrity.
TJ Majors
Right.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We were in the throes of the heyday of it. Yeah, the heyday. And so I get asked to be. To do a voice and I'm like, what a. This was this was. I was excited. As excited about doing a voice for a character in this game as being asked to do mtv. Chris. It was super cool, right, to be in Grand Theft Auto. And, I mean, we hear about, you know, the anticipation for the next game coming out when everybody's just going crazy over this. And so it was a big deal back then, too. I am this nondescript, sort of anonymous dude working in this shop. I'm a mechanic in an old greasy shop. And this is a big, giant world, right. Of all kinds of characters roaming around. And I'm one of just. I'm one of hundreds or thousands. Right. Of the characters. And. And so I would. I would get on. I'd get in my vehicle and run over to that shop and go in there, and you'd have to hit the guy, push him around to get him to say stuff. And I've recorded all these lines, right? And so I'm smacking myself or punching myself, and I'd hear myself go, hey, whoa. Hey, man, watch it. You know? And I just kept beating the shit out of myself just so I could hear myself go, hey, dudes, come on. Cut it out. You know, whatever. My guy says we should do it. We should get the game.
TJ Majors
Yes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And we should go beat myself up.
TJ Majors
Whenever we get mad at you, we'll just put on the video game, and.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Then we could see what. You know, we could play this. This would be probably a good little dirty mo. Media social clip.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You guys, I don't know why you haven't even thought of this.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Beating you up.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I wonder. I forgot my name. I had a name. It's like Clarence or something. I don't remember. You should know.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Did it look like you? That's what James. Oh, I doubt was just some random non.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, they're not in the thread. I don't think it's gonna have all that information, but this was just recently.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Amazing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Oh, what a. What a pleasure. What a. What a cool. What an honor.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
To be any. To be even as a little grain of sand in everything that. That franchise has become. And what a great game.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So much fun. I played that thing for hours.
Andrew (Video Editor)
And people are asking, which game? So that's Scarface the world is yours.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'm not sure.
TJ Majors
I don't know if it's that one or it's.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't think it was. I think it was the one after that.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Okay.
Russell
All right.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I played that Scarface the World is Yours a ton, but I believe it was the second one or the one after Scarface. It might have been. I don't know.
Andrew (Video Editor)
That is hilarious. Well, people in the YouTube chat and listening. Go beat up Dale if you have.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It, is going to virtually.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Yeah, yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Show us some clips of your whooping that mechanic's ass. Yeah, get your pipe ring, go in there, show them guys. Show him a thing or two.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Draw some blood, maybe.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
His name was Johnny. Sound like he was Johnny pipe wrench. Johnny didn't have the car ready, so we had to show him a little.
Andrew (Video Editor)
Well, thanks to Xfinity for this, Ash Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It was. In racing and in life, speed isn't optional, especially in what we're doing as a series team owner. Going into Phoenix with three cars racing for the championship, we have to perform under pressure. That's why I go with Xfinity Wi Fi. Fast, dependable Internet. One price locked in for five years. No contracts, no slowdowns, no nonsense. Xfinity, they're proud premier partner of nascar. I am a customer. I'm a customer, a paying customer of Xfinity Wi Fi. I can tell you that it does everything I need it to do and more. And they. They don't. They boosted my speed multiple times over the last several years and just send me an email and say you're paying the same rate. We're just speeding you up a little bit. Everybody on the block getting a little boost. So, yeah, all right. Appreciate you, Xfinity. See y' all later.
Russell
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen. Place your bets. All right, everybody, it's time for the Dirty Modeau segment with Tampa Tim's. This segment's brought to you by FanDuel. We've got Russell here, T.J. everybody ready to talk about who might win next race? I suppose. We also have the championship coming down in Phoenix, so a lot of possible bets to be placed.
Russell
I don't know.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Who's the favorite?
TJ Majors
Who do you think?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Everybody says it's wide open.
Russell
Yeah. Who's the favorite? Travis, you first.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Wide open.
TJ Majors
I know the answer.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It's wide open. All I've heard since then, the end of the Phoenix race, is how wide open this is. Everybody's so happy about how wide open it is. Who's the favorite? Russell.
TJ Majors
Well, who do you think, Dale?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Is it wide open?
Russell
Survey says Russell.
TJ Majors
Am I allowed to say Travis or not? I want to know what the models.
Russell
Oh, my God.
TJ Majors
The model say first.
Russell
Geez.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The model says that it's William.
TJ Majors
Byron is the favorite.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh, it's not Denny.
TJ Majors
Okay.
Russell
Hey, Travis, who's next?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, I mean, he's gonna be in the top four. Okay, Travis, But I'm just curious. He's worried. The winner of the race.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I have.
TJ Majors
The winner of the race is Christopher Bell.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Christopher Bell wins the race on the Model. It's him neck, neck and neck with Ryan Mulaney. Man. All right, then.
TJ Majors
Then we have the championship.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Four guys after that.
TJ Majors
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There's definitely a Penske car up in the top three, if not two Penske cars. Right. I mean, they're gonna. They're gonna muddle.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But of the top five, one or two of them possibly. So, yeah, that kind of throws things into a. You remember when Ross Chestn was up there winning that race? And Ryan off. Ryan Blaney.
Russell
Ryan's done the same thing, though. Ryan was not in the final four. At some point, there and just kind of rode, kind of rode up there. Didn't really force anything.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, yeah.
Russell
So, yeah, there will be somebody up there doing that. Just.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, all right. So Blaney, or. I'm sorry, Byron is your favorite. That's my favorite with the model. Is it wide open? Is it a tight race? I think it's. It's wide open. Tight race, wide open. Everyone's right. I thought the media was just trying to, you know, get it. Yeah. Get everybody excited at the uncertainty.
TJ Majors
Who we have.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Like, who else could you. No. I don't know. I'm just giving everybody a hard time. I. I believe. I also. I also agree. It's wide open.
TJ Majors
It is the name of the podcast. So Denny is actually the odds on favorite to win the championship, not to win the race.
Russell
How many sports?
TJ Majors
Plus 200. Byron is plus 275. Larson plus 250. Briscoe 370.
Russell
Here's my betting advice for you on that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Just bet him to win the race.
Russell
Because you get better odds. Denny's plus 400. Larson's plus 500. Byron 600. Briscoe is 700.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Listen to that information, everybody. If you bet, if you think x driver is going to win the championship, better odds to bet they win the race.
Russell
Yes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And the champion tends to always sort of win this race if not run in the top two. Right. So you got a real shot if.
Russell
You'Re betting, you know, winners are the bet here.
TJ Majors
Russ, do you have, in the current format, do you have how many times a non playoff driver's won? Just Chastain, right? Yeah. So to your point.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Well, I don't see Stain slipping up in there. He could, you know, they do things like that.
Russell
He does, Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't see him slipping up in there. The only thing I'll be worried about is, is the, you know, the Blaney. The Blaney, Ford and Lugano, not so much Logano, but still, you know, Phoenix Bell, too. I don't know if he can beat one of them Fords in a straight up race. Bell by bell. And Blaney. Blaney every time.
Russell
I agree.
TJ Majors
What do you think about Denny versus Briscoe head to head? Denny's minus 140. Briscoe plus 100.
Russell
I think Denny. Yeah. I don't know how. You don't.
TJ Majors
I didn't know what the plus. If you would just not. Not with.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Not with that.
Russell
No.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Did we do a parlay last week? We did. I think we did.
TJ Majors
I didn't hit.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No surprise.
Russell
Our parlays are not very well.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I talked to some betting experts and they told me to quit messing with them parlays.
TJ Majors
We've only been telling you that for 36 weeks.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, I don't want to hear from your ass. Every bet you share with me is a parlay.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You're not. You're not. Following your advice.
TJ Majors
I send you some individual bets.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hell you do.
TJ Majors
I have.
Russell
I actually have a parlay this week. Oh, here we go. What is it? That the all four championship drivers for a top ten. It's plus 125.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nice. I feel good about that. I do, too.
Russell
That. Yeah. I don't know how that would not happen.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
That's one of those great. About that one, those juicy bets where I have to actually remind myself that I cannot bet in nascar. There was like this initial reaction, like, damn, I'll get in on that. No, I won't. No, I won't. Yeah.
Russell
Yeah. I bet you're not. I'll bet you're not.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No, no. Not with the landscape the way it is today.
TJ Majors
You want to go play poker?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No. Well, be no poker in my future. I got these great glasses. Oh, man. All right. Could a non playoff driver win? Probably. We said he wouldn't win last week. They didn't. I don't think they don't got a chance. Wait, Blaney. I think Blaney. Yeah. Now we're changing our tune a little bit.
TJ Majors
Penske's the only way there's. I think, a non playoff winner.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
All right.
Russell
I'm agree.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I mean, does he, you know, does he. He. He will potentially have the car that can do it. Do they. Do they get that aggressive as if they were in the final four? I don't know.
Russell
I don't either. I don't know.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You're not a.
Russell
If it's two up there fighting for it. I don't think he.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He ain't with it.
Russell
No. If there's one, it might be like.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But if he's. If he were to be positioned out front, right, have the track position, drive away. Drive away.
Russell
If he comes off pit road first and he's the leader and can get out front, you know, I think he goes right, but I don't.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
If he say he's running third and.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Say there's 50 laps to go, he's running third and he catches the second place guy and the second first place guy or champion, he's not going to.
Russell
I don't want to be that guy.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Which is crummy place to be it is crummy spot to be for him. That'll be interesting to see how he plays it. If he's put in that situation, Blaney, will he go for it?
Russell
Or anybody. You know somebody, right?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Well, we know Ross. We know what Ross does. Ross is going to win. He's going to knock it out.
Russell
There's a few.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There's a few guys like that. He's not the only guy.
TJ Majors
Who else would be up there to have the chance, though?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Svg, if svg. I mean, fast enough to pass them. He was gonna do it. He's gonna do it. He's gonna win him a race. He's gonna be like, I don't care. I'm Australian. Or, no, he's New Zealand. Sorry, I'm New Zealand. I don't care. What are they gonna do, chasing me back to New Zealand?
Russell
I don't think SVG gets that aggressive like that. There. There are a couple guys for a first win.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He's been running good.
Russell
No, he's been svg.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Shout out to svg. Getting better on the ovals.
Russell
Yeah, he's been really good. Different style racetracks. Like, short track, intermediate.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I saw a graph on the Internet.
Russell
Oh, boy.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It's going down.
Russell
It's going down.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Average, average finish on the ovals. Going down. Getting lower.
Russell
Shout out to. I thought Casey Mears drove a really good race on Sunday as well in that 66 car. He was. He did a really good job to.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Show up and not have no time in the next gen. His lap times aren't that bad. I mean, he qualified right on the 51's heels.
Russell
He was competitive in the race when everything was there.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. And that car shows up, they don't have all of the tools. They don't, like, get to the racetrack and travels. And we've seen them kind of miss it. Not, you know, give them. But I'm just saying, like, you know, they don't have all the tools that the other teams have.
TJ Majors
They.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
They are way off, and they're actively, like, grinding to get that car competitive in just a short amount of time they have at the racetrack on Saturday. Great job.
Russell
And Casey's experience in this car, like you were saying, nothing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Got none.
Andrew (Video Editor)
I know.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Shout out, Casey Mears. Hey, y' all know Casey Mears is almost to 500 starts, and that's why he's doing this.
Russell
Yeah.
TJ Majors
What's he at now?
Russell
He's passed it. He's passed.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Now. He's got, like, three left. Three or four left.
Russell
Hold on.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He ran a truck that last weekend, too. Yeah, he's trying to get to 5, 600, 600 or something. Yeah, he's there. Oh, so that's it. I thought it was, like, just a couple races ago. He was still.
Russell
He's run a couple, though, now in this car.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think it's. No, he's short.
TJ Majors
Coined AI 500. That's what he's going for.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. And he has 400.
TJ Majors
Could be going for 500 cup, but he just. He just passed 670. Well, Whoopi can do. He's going for the cup number.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He's going for the cup number. Russ, Damn it. Do you not. I'm just trying to tell you what the man himself told me he's trying to do. And you're trying to tell me what he's actually trying to do. I talked to Casey Mears on this. On this podcast today. I talked to Casey. I talked to Casey. He told me this stuff. Now you want to talk to him? Tell him what he's actually doing?
Russell
The computer says, yeah, well, the.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The predictor tells me, Casey, that you're actually going for this number.
Russell
You know what was funny on Sunday? Oh, Russ walked by me here on the roof, and I was talking to some radio guys, and I said, oh, here he comes. Here comes the predictor. And they all started laughing at him. I was pretty happy about that.
TJ Majors
Great story.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hell of a story there, T.J. you.
TJ Majors
Had me on the edge of my seat.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
His name's a professor. Even the predictor I want you to wear.
Russell
You should have said tag on it. That has that.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You should have said, here comes the professor with the predictor. That would have been the thing.
Russell
Yeah, I think we just. Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
His name's the Professor.
Russell
Well, the Professor. He can't be the Professor. That's like a basketball guy, right? That's that guy that shows up at the school or them.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He's the Professor. Yes. Like the guy in the N1 series.
TJ Majors
We all.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We all know him.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yep. All right. Well, this has been extraordinary. What do we. What did we not do?
Russell
Head to heads. Do we have.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We don't have no Head to head.
Russell
You gave one.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't see one.
Russell
Yeah, he said 1.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Head to head.
TJ Majors
Coming out. Some other head to heads. Ryan Blaney versus Christopher Bell. Minus 130.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Blaney.
Russell
Blaney.
TJ Majors
Larson versus Byron Larson's minus 125.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Byron. Byron for me, bud.
TJ Majors
Tim's minus 105 for Byron. You taking that?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I think Byron's gonna win the championship.
Russell
Yeah. I think Byron.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He's hot right now. Yep.
Russell
Yeah.
TJ Majors
Ross Chastain versus Logano. Logano's minus 140.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I'll take Logano.
Russell
I think of Logano there.
TJ Majors
Top tens.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Put the four in a parlay.
Russell
Telling you.
TJ Majors
Anybody else?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sorry. Put the four. Championship four and a parlay.
Russell
That's it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Four, championship four and a top 10 parlay.
TJ Majors
Lock it in. Driver. We think could be a top 10.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't know, man. You gonna mess up and drop another driver in there. Drop a fifth in there. No, no. On its own.
TJ Majors
On its own. Yeah. Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Experts will tell you not to be messing with them parlays.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
This is the.
Russell
This is the most confident. This is where we mess it up. Like, this is where we overthink. Mess it up.
TJ Majors
No, I'm saying we gotta parlay. Is there.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
All right, visual. I. I would take. What about the championship four plus. No, no.
Russell
Here we go.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Christopher Bell and add Blaney.
Russell
No, just take the chat. Is. That's actually pretty good. Come on.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Add Christopher Bell and Blaney. Six of them. Go for it, guys. Go for it. Let's live on the edge.
TJ Majors
238.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Let's live on the edge.
Russell
This is the most, like, predictable weekend, though.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I know you're right.
Russell
So if you're going to do it, this is the week.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So predictable. You don't need the predictor. You just use your own head.
Russell
All right, Russ, See you later.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Use your own brain.
Russell
Anything that stand out that we haven't talked about, Russ, that.
TJ Majors
I like Busher as a standalone top 10 finish.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
All right.
TJ Majors
Top 10. Last four there.
Russell
Yeah.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Would get you by himself.
TJ Majors
Don't.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Don't add him.
TJ Majors
No, I mean, we could.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Don't do it.
Russell
What about Priest? Does he have anything good?
TJ Majors
Busher is plus 115. Top 10.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Take that by itself. All right.
TJ Majors
If you wanted to. Plus 627 now.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Oh, boy.
Russell
No, if I lose on the busher, I'll be pissed.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah, I would, too. I wouldn't put him in there.
TJ Majors
You can do multiple parlays, though.
Russell
You can. But again, the advice was you get in trouble.
TJ Majors
I wonder if you could round robin that.
Russell
Oh, here we go. Oh, boy.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I don't like the name. I don't like the phrase round robin. So I never. I never utilize that feature. They need to call it something else for me to get excited. Full throttle. Wide open.
TJ Majors
Wide open parlay.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The Dirty Mo do segment is brought to you by FanDuel, the premier gaming destination in the United States. Thank you, Russell, for coming out. Thank you, Tim.
Russell
Thank you. Yeah. See you, boys.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
White flag. All right, it's time for the white flag. The teardown was live on YouTube and Twitter following the race. If you haven't already headed over, get to dirty mo media's YouTube page and hit subscribe. Turn on notifications. You won't miss anything. All of our shows, all the clips, all the shorts, everything. You'll get alerts, you'll see everything we're talking about, everything we're doing. Actions detrimental Dropped on Monday. Denny sharing his mindset going into the championship for a race. How many more opportunities will he have at this? This could be his best. We say that every time, but really, I think we all believe it.
TJ Majors
It's wide open this year, though.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Yeah. Door Bumper clear Also dropped on Monday, Speed street with Herman Straighter. I think on Door Bumper clear we had Jordan Bianchi.
TJ Majors
Yep.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Speed street and Herman Schrader will drop on Wednesday. I'm going to interview the Championship four for the Xfinity series as well on Wednesday and Thursday, an episode of Bless yous heart. Then Dirty 30 on Friday. Hope you all have a great week and we'll see you.
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Episode: Phoenix… The Championship is Wide Open
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Co-hosts: TJ Majors, Russell, and Travis
Date: October 28, 2025
This episode captures the energy and anticipation of the NASCAR playoff finale in Phoenix, as Dale Jr. and his crew dissect the aftermath of the Martinsville races, discuss the upcoming championship showdowns, and offer candid thoughts on everything from driver behavior to tire performance. With Dale Jr.’s trademark storytelling and the crew’s banter, the episode moves from serious racing insights to quirky personal stories, all while building up to the “wide open” championship battle.
"We're going to try to put everything we can behind the Jerky Boys promotion and try to sell some more jerky, but also go win some races."
— Dale Jr. (02:28)
"Look, this was an intentional crash. The precedent has been set. A suspension is the call. I can't see it any other way."
— Dale Jr. (05:53)
"...at this particular weekend you better prepare the backup car as well as you prepare the primary. There’s a ton of work..."
— Dale Jr. (15:26)
"Don’t take yourself out of it in stage one or two because you’re panicking. That’s easy to do."
— Dale Jr. (21:36)
"Martinsville is the one track where you know it's going to be bottom dominant. If you can go to Martinsville and produce what we saw with guys changing their entry and moving around, you've got it. Don't touch it.”
— Dale Jr. (25:03)
"All I've heard since the end of Phoenix race is how wide open this is...I also agree: it’s wide open."
— Dale Jr. (71:47, 73:40)
"If you bet, if you think x driver is going to win the championship, better odds to bet they win the race."
— Russell (74:05)
Driver Accountability:
"We call like it is on this show. Even our guys that drive here… aren't immune to getting called out when they make mistakes." (05:53, Dale Jr.)
On the Track, Off the Track:
"I would say to Sam [Mayer], if he were sitting here right now, his ass was out of line all night." (08:19, Dale Jr.)
Martinsville Tire Management:
"You heard Rudy Fugle telling Byron...save me some tires.” (26:03, TJ Majors)
On Betting as a Team Owner:
"No, I won’t. No, I won’t… I have to actually remind myself that I cannot bet in NASCAR." (76:04, Dale Jr.)
Wide Open Championship:
"I believe. I also agree. It's wide open." (73:40, Dale Jr.)
| Segment Description | Timestamps | |:---------------------------------------------------|:------------------| | Cars Tour 2025 Schedule Announcement | 01:34 – 04:51 | | Sam Mayer vs. Jeb Burton Debate | 04:56 – 13:01 | | Xfinity Championship Four Preview | 13:38 – 17:03 | | Playoff Grind & Phoenix Preparation | 17:16 – 21:37 | | Martinsville/Martinsville Tire Situation | 24:08 – 27:26 | | Phoenix “Wide Open” Debate & Team Breakdowns | 28:20 – 35:52, 71:15 – 84:13 | | Dirty Modeau Betting Segment | 71:15 – 84:13 | | Personal Stories & Ash Jr. Q&A | 42:11 – 69:30 | | Music, Mosh Pits, and Voice Acting Stories | 43:05 – 54:07, 65:18 – 68:12 | | Hunting and Ohio Trip | 56:52 – 64:44 |
The episode weaves between technical analysis, inside-shop details, and classic Dirty Mo humor, blending stories of competition with personal anecdotes. Dale Jr.'s tone is candid, self-deprecating, and enthusiastic, whether critiquing a driver or recounting mosh pit memories.
If you missed this episode, you’ll come away with a comprehensive look at the evolving Xfinity and Cup playoff picture, preparations for the Phoenix finale, and a fresh perspective on both team and individual dynamics at the highest levels of NASCAR. The personal stories and banter add depth to Dale Jr.’s industry insights, serving both racing diehards and casual fans.
For more, follow @DaleJr and Dirty Mo Media on all platforms, and stay tuned for next week’s championship reactions and stories straight from the garage and the hunting blind.