The Dale Jr. Download

Episode: The Action Track is Back
Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Dale Jr.)
Co-hosts: TJ Majors, Andrew
Special Guest: Austin Dillon
Producer: Dirty Mo Media

Overview

In this episode, Dale Jr. and the crew dive deep into the return of short track excitement in NASCAR, celebrating a standout Richmond race, debating the evolving tire game, and breaking down the latest schedule shakeups in the Cup Series. The team also hosts Richmond race winner Austin Dillon for an honest conversation about racing, family, and the changing landscape of RCR. The tone is candid, passionate, and laced with signature banter, making it a must-listen for fans eager for unfiltered insight into the sport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Richmond Race – A Short Track Resurgence

(02:47 – 15:11)

• Dale Jr. reflects on the state of NASCAR’s short-track package, expressing surprise and excitement at how entertaining Richmond was.
  • “We got ourselves a little bit mired in the conversation around the direction of the sport… Then something will happen, there’ll be a race and we get all riled up and social media gets us riled up… Things are good, oh sky’s falling, things are good again.” (03:13)
• The discussion centers on the impact of the softer Goodyear tire, which allowed for classic bumping and passing—hallmarks of the “old” NASCAR.
  • “With this car, my complaint… was that a guy can’t drive down in the corner and hit somebody in the back bumper and push them up the track… But they did it this weekend.” (06:17)
• Tire fall-off and strategy played pivotal roles.
  • Dale Jr. credits Goodyear: “They should be applauded. Good job, Goodyear. And they want to go softer and try to get more aggressive, but it’s going to take some time…” (09:23)
• Technical talk about tire wear and track conditions, with Goodyear close to maxing out their current capabilities until further retooling at the plant.

2. The Science and Business of Tires

(15:11 – 23:55)

• Tire manufacturing constraints: Environmental regs have forced changes in compounds, limiting the “old magic” of race tires.
• The inherent tension between producing a tire that wears (“good racing”) and one that exemplifies durability/quality for consumers:
  • “If I see your tire struggling on Sunday, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to go buy it for my truck on Monday… They’re here to sell tires to the consumers, not to make racing awesome.” (19:30)
• Memorable Moment: Dale recounts Goodyear’s anxiety when drivers (including himself and Tony Stewart) trashed race tires publicly:
  • “They come up to you at the end of the race, ‘Hey could you stop… There’s a lot of people listening to you’…” (20:54)

3. The NASCAR Schedule Shakeup: North Wilkesboro & Dover

(30:40 – 37:19)

• North Wilkesboro to get a pivotal points race; All-Star moves to Dover:
  • “North Wilkesboro getting a points race is badass. I think it finishes the entire rebirth story.” (31:12)
  • “There are a lot of reasons why Dover is going to be the All-Star race… I am shocked, honestly, that they were able to even switch Wilkesboro and Dover.” (32:54)
• Skepticism about the All-Star race at Dover, concern it’s ill-suited for that format due to track/cars.
  • Dale Jr.: “Dover needs 400 laps to… have a chance at being a good show. The All-Star race—quick segments… not that compelling.” (34:54)
• Net gain for the sport with Wilkesboro’s elevation, even if All-Star suffers.

4. Special Guest: Austin Dillon

Redemption at Richmond; the future of RCR
(41:21 – 54:39)

• Wins at Richmond, narrative of redemption after previous year’s disappointment.
  • “To come in and accomplish what we did… we did everything leading up to Richmond, we executed really well… And by halfway, I felt like, okay, we’re capable of winning this race if we do our job.” (42:11)
• Dillon breaks down his unique style and approach at Richmond, especially his low, patient line. (44:12)
• Future of RCR & family dynamics:
  • Succession discussions, and the shared vision between Dillon and his brother Ty:
    • “Ty and I look at it… we both want to be able to bring our families along and show them this wonderful life that we have… If Ty and I could share that burden and that load together… really push RCR forward, I think both of us…” (48:13)
  • Anecdotes about Richard Childress’ “old school” nature.
• Heartwarming moment: Dillon shares a touching story about his and Ty’s kids in Victory Lane:
  • “What's awesome too is they're best friends… Ace cried in Victory Lane because his cousins left… No tears in Victory Lane.” (54:33)

5. Cars Tour Recap & Short Track Life

(60:16 – 68:06)

• Dale Jr. recaps his Cars Tour late model race at Anderson, SC, highlighting the competitive field and subtle differences brought by tire selection and track configuration.
  • “Car store—some of the toughest short track racing I think in the area and maybe in the country…” (67:37)
• Details the challenge of tire management, spun incidents, and the balancing act between aggression and conservation.
  • “I got up into her left rear tire, and it yanked our tires—climbed over each other, yanked the steering wheel right out of my hand. I’ve never had that happen in a race car…” (66:13)
• Reflections on how tire technology has taken away some of the tire-saving strategy that used to define short track races.

6. Cup Drivers in Xfinity/Truck Series – The Debate Returns

(68:16 – 77:08)

• Adam Stern’s report that NASCAR may loosen limits on Cup driver participation in lower series
  • Dale Jr. sees both sides:
    • “As a car owner, there’s a perfect balance… If we were to be overran, like in the 2000s… it would… be really really hard on teams like ours.” (73:49)
    • Advocates for perhaps one mentor-style Cup driver per series (cites Mark Martin’s influence), not a full-scale return.

7. Lifestyle, Fandom & Dale’s Cat Tales

(78:09 – 85:56)

• Hilarious and heartfelt stories about Dale’s rescued cats living on his race bus, dealing with diabetes, and fighting off mice in true “race shop” fashion.
  • “So we built right next to the bedroom, there was a little big drawer. We took that drawer out… put a door… crawl through this hole into a litter box… he lived on the bus.” (80:33)
• Rescue attempts for a fierce Maine coon—plus, Amy’s mouse-in-the-bed ordeal!
  • “Jumped on Amy’s chest, dropped that mouse… that mouse ran down her leg under the covers…” (83:53)

8. Dirty Mo Doe – Daytona Betting Preview & Shootin’ the Breeze

(91:51 – 104:05)

• The crew makes picks for the upcoming Daytona race—emphasizing the “crapshoot” nature of superspeedway betting.
• Banter about spotter nicknames and inside-joke culture.
  • “You cannot self-proclaim a nickname. You are a real strange fellow if you give yourself a nickname.” (92:26)
• Analyst “Professor” Russell provides statistical deep-dives on possible parlay combos.
• Picks for top finishers by manufacturer, highlighting Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, and Bubba Wallace.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On tire drama and classic racing:

  • “All I want… I want NASCAR—my NASCAR that I love… I love tire marks, donuts on the side of each other’s cars. Loved walking into the shop and seeing… donuts on the right side, we’re passing people… donuts on the left, we must have been getting passed.”
    — Dale Jr. (22:09)

• On the schedule shakeup:

  • “North Wilkesboro getting a points race is badass. I think it finishes the entire rebirth story.”
    — Dale Jr. (31:12)

• On family and RCR’s legacy:

  • “His worry of turning over that position to Ty and I would be… he knows the sacrifices he had to make and he doesn’t… want us to have that burden a little bit. It’s a great thing but it’s also… time consuming to run well.”
    — Austin Dillon (48:13)

• On Cup drivers in Xfinity:

  • “All you need really is one good Cup guy… the one we all learned from was Mark Martin… you don’t need like 10 of them out there.”
    — Dale Jr. (74:06)

• On giving yourself a nickname:

  • “You cannot self-proclaim a nickname. Correct. You are a real strange fellow if you give yourself a nickname.”
    — Dale Jr. & Russell (92:26)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Short Track Racing Discussion Begins: 03:15
• Goodyear’s Tire Evolution: 05:14
• Race Strategy & Tire Management: 10:13
• Schedule Change: North Wilkesboro & Dover: 30:40
• Austin Dillon Interview: 41:21
• Late Model/Cars Tour Recap: 60:16
• Cup Drivers in Lower Series Debate: 68:16
• Dale’s Cats & Family Life: 78:09
• Dirty Mo Doe/Daytona Betting Preview: 91:51

Tone & Language

• Candid & Passionate: Deep, honest takes on NASCAR’s direction; real talk on the sport’s personalities and business.
• Playful & Banter-Filled: Frequent jabs between Dale Jr. and TJ, especially about TJ’s “jokes” (“Your jokes are great, but they’re always like little digs. They’re not jokes, really. They’re just…they’re insults.” – 29:40).
• Heartfelt & Community-Minded: Austin Dillon’s discussion about family and RCR’s future roots the episode in generational loyalty.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a lively, honest exploration of where NASCAR is succeeding and what still needs work, especially on the short tracks and in policymaking. The joyful circle-back to old-school racing at Richmond, coupled with a look ahead to Wilkesboro’s return, gives fans hope. Other segments—including betting advice, team debates, late model racing tales, and heartwarming shop cat stories—showcase the diversity and richness of the Dirty Mo Media world.

For fans seeking the pulse of the sport—with a heavy dose of real-life racing insight—this episode is not to be missed.