The Curious Case of Corey Day & Cleetus McFarland's Goal At RCR

Summary

The Dale Jr. Download – Detailed Episode Summary

Podcast: The Dale Jr. Download
Episode: The Curious Case of Corey Day & Cleetus McFarland's Goal At RCR
Date: March 6, 2026
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (with Jeff Burton, Conor Zillich, Dylan Hart Jr./Cleetus McFarland, Amy Earnhardt, and others)
Producer: Dirty Mo Media / SiriusXM

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Episode Overview

This episode delves into multiple contemporary narratives in the NASCAR world — chiefly, the controversies and learning curves surrounding emerging drivers like Corey Day and Conor Zillich, and how the culture of team dynamics is shifting amongst younger talent. Another major segment features YouTube star Cleetus McFarland (Dylan Hart Jr.) discussing his transition into oval racing and his aspirations with RCR (Richard Childress Racing), highlighting the challenges faced by outsider personalities entering NASCAR.

The conversational tone is candid, insightful, and often humorous, with Dale, Jeff, and guests providing first-hand perspectives on current racing incidents, driver development, and even funny family moments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Corey Day Teammate Dilemma

(01:51 – 10:00)

• Jeff Burton gives a first-hand account of Corey Day’s current struggles as a young, talented driver with little experience, thrust into a competitive Hendrick-affiliated car (the #17).
• There is frustration within the team over Corey's repeated incidents with teammates, specifically for not 'owning' mistakes and causing wrecks without showing sufficient accountability.
• Jeff describes the team setup: "That 17 car coming out of the Hendrick shop... They're a fifth team of ours. They just happened to race out of the Hendrick building. That's the way Mr. Hendrick wants it to work" (03:30).
• Corey’s behavior is seen as part of a broader cultural shift: new generation drivers treat the sport and teammates more transactionally—“They aren't looking at their teammate in the car next to them as a long-term relationship... They get in the race car, they have no relationship to the car. They don't know where the spindles came from... 20 years ago, we knew all that. Hell, we named our damn race cars. They had personality” (06:17).
• The hosts acknowledge Corey’s talent, but stress that unless he adapts (“Corey will have to fix this or there will be severe consequences” – 05:44), he risks further consequences.
• Both Dale and Jeff feel there's opportunity for growth following hard conversations within the team: “I 100% expect a clean slate... I expect things to improve” (08:28).
• The broader context: young drivers in developmental teams aren't incentivized to build deep relationships since they're not expecting long-term stays.

Notable Quotes:

• Jeff Burton (03:19): "He's not in over his head, but dude is drinking from a fire hose... He's just in over his skis in a bunch of moments."
• Jeff Burton (06:17): “They don’t even think about... They come back to the shop and all our guys unload them out of the hauler, and it’s a frickin’... just depressing.”

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2. Driving Etiquette & The Zillich Incident

(10:12 – 13:45)

• Conor Zillich reflects on inadvertent contact with Byron during the COTA race, expressing embarrassment after only learning about it post-race: “Newsflash. I had no idea I caused that... Apologies to them” (10:31).
• Zillich and the hosts discuss how aggressive driving and mistakes can often happen under the new points structure, but Zillich’s primary focus is consistent, clean laps.
• Praise for Zillich’s road course ability: “I think that SVG is about to have company in the road course domination bracket. It appears Zillich is really, really... I mean, he's already got the racecraft to pass and make speed.” (12:23)
• The hosts debate how long it typically takes new drivers to mature, with Zillich arguing the 'three-year rule’ is a "Ponzi scheme."

Notable Quotes:

• Conor Zillich (13:21): “Passing the eye test, which, that's why I think that whole 'You need three years'... such a sham. It's a Ponzi scheme.”

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3. Trackside Drama: Victory Lane & the CAR Store

(17:19 – 19:19)

• Freddie Craft relates a recent kerfuffle in Victory Lane, clarifying who was involved in a viral video tussle and stressing that behind-the-scenes staff often have to break up confrontations.
• The segment gives a lighthearted peek at the unpredictable nature of managing races and personalities.

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4. Cleetus McFarland's (Dylan Hart Jr.) RCR Ambitions

(19:22 – 28:11)

• Dylan Hart Jr. (Cleetus McFarland) shares his perspective as a social media personality entering NASCAR, describing how he deals with criticism, prior experience from drag racing, and his desire to be taken seriously.
• Jeff Burton advises Cleetus on the importance of humility, focus on learning, and understanding etiquette — especially at Rockingham, where he’s scheduled for a rookie test. NASCAR requires a clean showing before considering him for Talladega.
• The two openly discuss how being “on the lead lap” and car-to-car etiquette (letting leaders by cleanly) are crucial milestones for any rookie. There’s an understanding among RCR and sponsors that Cleetus’s path is about learning, not immediate results.
• Cleetus admits the technical learning curve: "I didn't realize... The Crown Vic stuff is great, but it's just symmetrical load and it just doesn't teach you what you need... The wedge is what I got humbled by." (21:18)
• They discuss the pressure to perform and managing public expectations when coming into the sport from outside traditional racing backgrounds.

Notable Quotes:

• Dylan Hart Jr. (20:30): “As long as I'm having fun, yeah, I'm going to keep showing up at these NASCAR races. Whether I'm an ARCA truck or O'Reilly's, their words on Facebook will not change the fact that I'm going to come back and try again.”
• Jeff Burton (27:13): “It's a humble—it's going to be humbling. And just don't, don't worry too much about that. You're going to make yourself and a lot of people happy if you bring that car to pit road in one piece when the checkered flag is over.”

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5. Family Fun: Kids and Cuss Words

(31:22 – 36:26)

• Dale and Amy Earnhardt recount a humorous family moment when their daughter Isla drops her first cuss word while roughhousing — “I'm gonna kick you in the ass” (31:22). The segment explores how kids absorb language, how parents react, and family traditions around “bad words.”
• They reflect on past and present attitudes toward cussing in the household and how those habits inevitably slip out to the next generation.
• The conversation maintains a comedic yet thoughtful tone about parenting challenges, generational differences, and how language reflects broader cultural shifts.

Notable Quotes:

• Jeff Burton (31:36): “I said to Isla, I go, I let you know that's a bad word. She goes, yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I said, where'd you hear that? She goes, from you.”
• Amy Earnhardt (33:42): "I feel like they innately know bad words or bad words... Like, that sounds too sharp. That sounds like it's rough."

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Segment Timestamps

• 01:51 – 10:00: The Corey Day teammate conflict & generational team dynamics
• 10:12 – 13:45: COTA post-race breakdown, Zillich/etiquette discussion
• 17:19 – 19:19: Victory Lane drama – behind the scenes at the CAR store
• 19:22 – 28:11: Cleetus McFarland's journey, advice from Jeff, RCR rookie plans
• 31:22 – 36:26: Earnhardt family stories – Kids, cussing, and culture

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On generational change:
  “These young drivers... They aren't looking at their teammate in the car next to them as a long-term relationship... They don’t even think about... 20 years ago, we named our race cars. They had personality.” — Jeff Burton (06:17)

• On owning mistakes:
  “Corey will have to fix this or there will be severe consequences.” — Jeff Burton (05:44)

• On learning humility as a new driver:
  “It's a humble—it's going to be humbling...” — Jeff Burton (27:13)
  "As long as I'm having fun, I'm going to keep showing up... their words on Facebook will not change the fact that I’m going to come back and try again.” — Dylan Hart Jr./Cleetus McFarland (20:30)

• Family fun:
  “I'm gonna kick you in the ass” — Isla Earnhardt (reported by Jeff/Dale) (31:22)
  "I said to Isla... where'd you hear that? She goes, from you.” — Jeff Burton (31:36)

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Conclusions

This episode offers unique insights into the pressures and realities faced by NASCAR’s emerging talent — both traditional prospects like Corey Day and cross-over personalities like Cleetus McFarland. It underscores generational shifts in team culture, the importance of learning and humility, and the enduring humor and humanity at the heart of the Earnhardt family. For both hardcore racing insiders and casual listeners, the candid, first-person stories create a rich portrait of NASCAR’s evolving world.

Transcript

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

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[Jeff Burton]

Hey, everybody, I'm Dylan Hart Jr. And this is the Dirty 30. The best highlights from all of our podcast podcast this week. 30 minutes every single Friday. The Dirty 30 coming at you. Let's get right to it. This episode of the Dirty 30 is presented by Arby's. New meat in three box. Get more meal for your money. At Arby's, we have the meats. Hey, let's talk about this.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Out of the way.

[Jeff Burton]

Here comes Cory Davis back at it again.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

That's a great slogan.

[Jeff Burton]

Say. All right, so listen here, listen here. All right. This is a very, very. This is a very tough situation to be in for me. I met with Corey in Daytona. We talked about drafting. I spent about an hour talking to him, and he is a good dude. Talented, Very talented. Very, very talented. But he, Connor Zillich was a little disappointed, I guess, and in his demeanor post race. Right. And his, you know, Corey doesn't kind of know exactly what to do in those moments or doesn't seem to be interested in, you know, owning his mistake. You know, he's. It's always, well, you know, the splitter was this, the flat, the tire was flat, this and that. Other. That's Annoying. Well, yeah. And so. And. But, you know, I. I want to say I talked to Corey for quite a while at Daytona. He is a good guy, and he is in. He's not in over his head, but dude is drinking from a fire hose. He's got. He's got a lot of race car. That 17 car coming out of the Hendrick shop. We share all of our notes with them. Everything that we do well. They have. They know this information. They're. They're a fifth team of ours. They're. They're. Crew chief Adam. He used to work here as a crew chief. They're in our meetings. Corey Day was in our comp meeting yesterday. Was your engineer at one point? Yep. They're all. There are 15. They just happened to race out of the Hendrick building. And that's the way I. It has to work. That's the way Mr. Hendrick wants it to work. Jeff Gordon, everybody that, you know, we all want that. That 17 car is a teammate to us, and we all. Everybody except for the drivers seem to get that idea. And I say drivers because I've got a little story. But. But before I get to that, Corey has a ton of talent, as you mentioned. He's got a lot of race car, and he's got no experience, and he's run a handful of races last year, and now his car's even better. He's starting to run closer to the front, and he's just in over his skis in a bunch of moments. Did he wreck? Did he go through that s. Do I think he didn't go through the S's and go, man, I'm gonna just clean this one car out. But he is control. He's in control of the car, and he has to realize, that's my teammate. That is a teammate car. And Rick Hendrick owns the car I'm driving, and Rick Hendrick owns the car that I'm going to spin out, and he has to drive his car and control it so that it doesn't cause that accident. Right. And that's what we're asking him to do.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

It doesn't help. It was two weeks in a row.

[Jeff Burton]

That was the next thing I was going to say. It's two weeks in a row of kind of this. It's two weeks in a row of the same thing. And we all got together and we all sat down. Rick had a conversation with Corey, and we're all trying to help him understand. Look, man, we want you here. We believe in you. We believe you're a Winner. We want to see you succeed, but we have to do this without being, you know, without it being detrimental to each other. And so it's just a process. I know it looks ugly to fans who are watching it. It's hard for our teams. It's hard for our, you know, it's hard for all our employees to see our car get run over like that with very little regard. But it's part of the process of trying to it, you know, trying to school up these guys to become the drivers that we think they're capable of becoming. And, you know, we just continue to press that. If you're, you know, if you're making mistakes, there are consequences to those very severe consequences. Corey will have to fix this or there will be severe consequences. And I thought this was a great opportunity that the message be shared amongst all of our drivers. What Cory's doing is not new. We've had teammate issues in the past. We will have them in the future. When you bring all of these young kids into the same building, they are all on different paths. They are all eager to get that next opportunity. They're all eager to get that call from Rick or track house or somebody, any owner. And they aren't looking at their teammate in the car next to them as a long term relationship. They aren't in a cup team where, you know, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott have to figure it out and get along because they're going to be racing together for 10 years out of the same build. They're not in that situation. They're here thinking in their mind, well, if everything works out, I'm here for a year or two, then I'm gone. And this guy, that's my teammate, I won't be teammates with him ever again. And so they don't try. The drivers themselves do not try to nurture or create relationships with their teammates. They don't is transactional. They get in the race car, they have no relationship to the car. They don't know where the spindles came from. They don't know the history of the chassis. They don't know where it raced last. They don't know where the motor came from, what, how many races on that. They don't know when we used to, you know, 20 years ago, we knew all that hell, we named our damn race cars. They had freaking personality. We had our favorites. They don't even think about. And they go out there and they rip the sides off of them and run into things, all of them. And then they come back to the shop and all of our guys unload them out of the holler and it's a frickin just depressing.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

So do you feel like after yesterday things will progress in a better like

[Jeff Burton]

it is a yes. Things are. If with everything that we said and all the conversations that we had, I 100% expect a clean slate. I mean, a clean slate. Our drivers should have no animosity towards Corey. Corey should look at this as an opportunity to start anew and start to build a rapport and a reputation that he wants to have. And he's just learning how to handle these things. I too think that he comes from a completely different discipline and that, you know, that culture in the garage, the mindset of a racer in the, in the world that he's lived in, it's completely different. Not, not better or worse, just different. And so he's coming here and having to learn like, wow, okay, I got four guys out there that I have to race uniquely comparable to the competition, you know, and so he's got to have, he's processing all this stuff for the first time in his life. But I think that, you know, a lot of hard conversations were had this week. I expect things to improve and that, you know, Corey Day isn't the only one on the racetrack in our group making bad decisions. So, you know, we had a lot of conversations this week about expectations, etiquette, respect, you know, what we, what, what should happen going forward, what can never happen going forward. And again, not a new conversation. We've been here before.

[Conor Zillich]

Hey guys, welcome to Actions Detrimental post coda.

[Jeff Burton]

Have you seen the, the, the, the

[Conor Zillich]

driving etiquette at all change now that

[Jeff Burton]

we're in this new points structure towards the end of these races,

[Conor Zillich]

It seemed calmer to me. It, it seemed calmer to me. I mean short of the zillich thing in turn one, that. Newsflash. I had no idea that I caused that.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Twitter did.

[Conor Zillich]

I had no idea. I had no idea. I just barely got in the back of Byron, I think, and then it ricocheted him. Ricocheted him. So I was that guy this weekend. God, that sucks. I, I really thought that I had a complete race in the sense of like I did from a lap time perspective. My goal this race is like not if you look at the lap time graph. My goal is to never not have any of these laps that pop way up and then you lose eight to ten positions. You know what I mean? I just, let's just like have a day and no incidents, no contact, no nothing. And I thought I Did. And then I see at the end of the race and I'm like, oh, like actually I was part of that turn one thing. So apologies to them. Connor. Holy crap. Was he. Did he have a legit shot to win this race on speed? I mean, he drove through the pack, right?

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

I don't know if he did or didn't. I, but he just seemed like he was everywhere.

[Jeff Burton]

He did drive through the pack, though. He got wiped out twice.

[Conor Zillich]

What was the first time,

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Suarez?

[Jeff Burton]

Hmm. He had a weekend.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Conor Zillich. He did.

[Conor Zillich]

He did.

[Jeff Burton]

That's.

[Conor Zillich]

That's actually top of the list. Zillich and Day, we'll get to that. But I think that SVG is about to have company in the road course domination bracket. It appears Zillich is really, really. I mean, he's already got the racecraft to pass and make speed. He didn't qualify well, didn't practice great. I mean, he had good speed but not great speed. But as the weekend went on, he just kept getting better and faster. So I. I think that we're going to be talking about him for definitely a handful of races here where we turn left and right.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah, Connor's one of these guys too, that he's buried in points in 32nd, but I feel like in the first three races. Pass the eye test.

[Conor Zillich]

Yeah. No question about it. I mean, Atlanta, he was a little aggressive and whatnot. I. I get it. He's. He's wanting to just go right from the beginning, but yeah, passing the. Passing the eye test, which. That's why I think that whole. You need three years. Such a sham. So that is. It's a Ponzi scheme.

[Jeff Burton]

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[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

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[Freddie Craft]

I'm good. I'm good. How to pretty uneventful weekend.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Slow newsweek.

[Freddie Craft]

Slow newsweek in the card store.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Do we want to clear the air that we did?

[Jeff Burton]

I hear you say my verse. I'm sick of you. No. As you were flinging barnsy out of the way.

[Freddie Craft]

Yeah.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Poor barnesy.

[Freddie Craft]

So it actually was my sister that you see in the video that is slinging him backwards with josh kosick. I was on the other side

[Jeff Burton]

when he.

[Freddie Craft]

When he went in the window. At first, like, if they were gonna come up and just have a little heated conversation, he's gonna get in the window, say, hey, you, man, whatever, and walk away. Like I was gonna give him the opportunity to do that. But the second that his hands went in the window net, I'm like, all right. So I grab around his arm and I like, muscle him as hard as I can with my body, like, towards just away. And then I look, I see kennedy and she's standing there like this and he falls into her arms and josh's arms and they just finished him the rest of the way off. And I think a lot of people thought that kennedy was me because we do look alike. But the. The bad that was yarding him backwards was my sister.

[Jeff Burton]

I thought it was you. Kennedy became the muppet now. So we gotta hang Kennedy's picture. Thank God.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

I'm gonna get. And I do want to be clear. That was. You would have done that for whoever won the race.

[Freddie Craft]

That's the other thing is while. Yes, it was a jrm car in victory lane that was next next. I would have had to do that no matter who it was.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

So, I mean, that's your victory lane with that is.

[Jeff Burton]

That's one Thing like, she runs it like, this is my sh. I know, I know.

[Freddie Craft]

And like, it's crazy.

[Jeff Burton]

The.

[Freddie Craft]

The list of things that have happened to me since managing Victory Lane. I've gotten ran over by Spencer Davis. I've taken a champagne court to the eye. Thank you, tj. I got thrown up on by a child. I've poured water down Kaden Cooper. I think that was one of Kendall Sellers kids, maybe. And then I think. And then now we've gotten in a fight. So it's. Yeah, it's never, Never a dull moment at the car store.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

I appreciate all the advice you've been giving me, too.

[Jeff Burton]

I'm always open to helping you, man. I mean, you're a good guy. I want you. I want you to have a great experience. I think you're genuine at heart, and I think you really do, you know, want some. Want feedback and helpful information. Anytime I've been critical, you text me and say, hey, man, I saw your thing, and I appreciate this. You know, I saw what you said. I appreciate what you said. You know, sometimes people don't take that stuff very well. You know, some drivers don't know how to. Some drivers don't know how to hear criticism or.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Yeah, it's one of those things. You know, I think being a YouTuber for so long, like, I've just. I've had everything in the world said about me, you know, and I expect way more. I. When I went into drag racing, I was the class clown.

[Jeff Burton]

They.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

They all thought I was a joke because of the mic, the way I had my car set up and the way we ran it, it was a joke, you know? And I think right now I'm. I'm the rookie, and people can say whatever they want, but when. When I keep coming back every time and they realize that their words don't affect me time and time again, they're gonna run out of breath.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Because as long as I'm having fun, yeah, I'm going to keep showing up at these NASCAR races. And whether I'm an arca truck or O'Reilly's, their words on Facebook will not change the fact that I'm going to come back and try again. As long as I'm having fun, I love that.

[Jeff Burton]

I feel like. I feel like that everybody can get behind the idea of partnering up with RCR because of the tools and the help that they'll give you to get better. I think everybody can get behind the idea of you getting a late model. And even if you're just racing laps at Your own track on a Tuesday afternoon, just getting laps. Right. Buy four sets of tires, go out there and spend four hours by yourself. It don't matter. I think when people see that and then you run an Arkhamor work into it, just a little bit of work, that's all I think they need to see.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

And I think to your point, too, it's like for me, the getting a sponsor is ever. A lot of guys have to rely on their driving skills to get sponsorships. And for me, I'm relying on something else. So to have this ticket in with, you know, no driver skill, show up and just do stupid stuff like. I absolutely understand the criticism and that's why I'm hoping to do exactly what you said I should do and then understand that wedge a little more. I didn't realize, you know, in stock car racing, the crown. The Crown Vic stuff is great symmetrical, but it's symmetrical load and it just doesn't teach you what you need in there. The wedge is. That's what I got humbled by.

[Jeff Burton]

Well, I look forward to seeing what you do this year, man, and talking to you over the course of the process. And I appreciate you coming today. So do you know what the races you're running. Can you tell us what race you're running?

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

This is actually something I meant to talk about. So I had. We intended to run the super speedways because I told them that's what I want to do. I love the super speedways, but NASCAR said I cannot run Talladega unless I go to Rockingham first and do well. So the plan is I run Rockingham, don't do anything stupid.

[Jeff Burton]

That's soon.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

That's soon. Yeah. I get a rookie test.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

And then I'm going to go to Rockingham, do the actual race.

[Jeff Burton]

Is the rookie test at Rockingham.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Yep.

[Jeff Burton]

Yep.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

So do you know when that is? I do.

[Jeff Burton]

Can't tell me.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Do you want to go? I don't want to say it on here, but.

[Jeff Burton]

Okay, let's not. Yeah, you can tell me later.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Okay. Just so you know.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

We're not being filmed.

[Jeff Burton]

Don't want to be. I don't want everybody.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

I just don't want any pressure that I know. But if you want to go.

[Jeff Burton]

I love that. Dude. You're like the. That's what people want to see, is that you're like self aware about, you know, man. Hey, I want to go there. I don't want any pressure. I just want to focus on this. I want to do this.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

That's all I want to do is I like, I have to almost take off my YouTuber hat when I get in these cars, which is not the usual case.

[Jeff Burton]

Yes.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

In the drag car cars, I can stay a youtuber. I can stay Cletus, but when I get in these damn nascars, I gotta start taking that hat off.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah, but. All right, so you run to Rockingham, do Rockingham. If everything goes well.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Yeah. Then it's, it's in NASCAR's hands to.

[Jeff Burton]

Oh, one. Oh, just Rockingham. And if you do well, they might clear you for Talladega.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

That's the goal. I would love to run this Talladega. I love Talladega. It's so wide.

[Jeff Burton]

I mean. Yeah. Let me tell you something. They'll be judging you about how like to know this. So there is a chance that you will be passed by the leaders.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Correct.

[Jeff Burton]

Right at Rockingham, you will be, you will be judged by how well you get out of their way. That will be a thing that people will pay attention to. And so I would have conversations with, with RCR about what the etiquette is, what they would expect in certain situations, you know, and do your best. Like in those moments again, it's like, damn, I don't want to give up a ton of lap time here. But, but, dude, just do what you need to do to make it easy for those guys when they're trying to go by in that moment. Just, just, just.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

And that's a.

[Jeff Burton]

Stay bottom to have conversations with rcr. I'm not going to tell you that.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

That's, that's a good point.

[Jeff Burton]

That's for the team to tell you.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Probably going to be their cars.

[Jeff Burton]

Your cars.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Yeah.

[Jeff Burton]

They need to tell you and you need to hear it from them on like what the etiquette is and what they would expect. And I would, you know, that will be a moment where it could go really good or really bad. Right. If you impede. Even if you were just to impede somebody and cost him a position or something. Right. I mean, that's gonna, people are gonna latch onto that. Right? So, like, you know, I, I will give you some advice on, on. I won't tell you what RCR is going to tell you to do, but like, if, if a guy's trying, if you, if it's very bottom dominant, which Rockingham typically is pretty bottom dominant. Right. There's not a, there's not a high groove. So the guys, as they're driving around the track, elite guys, they're trying to get into the corner and get right into the bottom. Groove. And if one of them's coming by you on the outside, don't drive into the corner with them and not allow them to get that bottom. Like just lift that car length earlier to let them clear in, in front of you. Right. If you go into the corner and make them work the corner on outside the groove, they're a little annoyed by that. So just silly little nuances like that. Don't worry about it today, but have a conversation with RCR and they'll give you the tools and information to be like, all right, man, when leaders come, there's a couple things they like. This is a couple things that I probably would be paying attention to. And it's less like the, the, the more you can make it a non issue, the better. Right. The, the, the, in that moment be the non story. Right. I like that as the lapper is those guys are coming by and they're racing side by side and stuff. You want to be, you want nothing to do with it. Yeah. Right.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Just want to be a blur on the screen.

[Jeff Burton]

That's right.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Okay.

[Jeff Burton]

And that could happen in, in, in parts of the race and that's fine. You know, I got lapped in all my first races. I don't, you know, I went to Daytona, I wrecked. I went to Daytona and Talladega and wrecked out of the first five times I ran there before it actually started, like clicking. I wrecked. I wrecked it. Daytona, Talladega, Daytona, Talladega, Daytona, Talladega. Over and over and over before it finally started, like making sense. So, I mean, it's that kind of thing where like when you're running that race and you're sitting there going, I'm 25th or whatever and it's. And I'm not fast. I'm. Here comes the leaders. Man, this is hurt. It's hurting my pride.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

Yeah.

[Jeff Burton]

You know, you just got to kind of stay the course. It's a humble. It's going to be humbling. And just don't, don't worry too much about that. People are going, you're going to, you're going to make yourself and a lot of people happy if you bring that car to pit road in one piece. When the checkered flag is over, all you got to worry about.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

I do feel really, really good about the, the pressure side of things. Like, I'm not going to feel bad if I'm 30th.

[Jeff Burton]

Nobody's going to care.

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

RCR. Nobody on the same page. Tommy's Express. We told them this is going to be, you know, a total learning thing and like they they were on board with the fact that I'm getting this opportunity to learn and they know you

[Jeff Burton]

know Winter no one is going to care where you finish. It ain't about a performance thing. Can he get out there?

[Dylan Hart Jr.]

That's the goal.

[Jeff Burton]

Have understand the etiquette and the racing and and get it home. Bring it home.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

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[Jeff Burton]

Junior Motorsports and I have a new partner this year and we couldn't be more excited about this. A lot of y' all may have heard Arby's has come on board and we're loving every second of it. And Arby's has entered the chat with a meal deal that raises the bar for value. Introducing the new meat and three box for $7.99 that's filled with Arby's quality favorites. Each meat in three box includes your choice of one sandwich. The classic roast beef that is hand sliced and slow roasted, or you can go with the crispy fish sandwich. All this comes with the melty mozzarella sticks, some crispy curly fries. Everybody loves those. And a peach cobbler roll for dessert. Guys, you got to try that dessert. It's really good. And you get a small drink. It's called meat and three. But you're actually getting five items, all for only 7.99. Nobody out there is giving you this much value for your money. This is a value meal that won't leave you hungry. You know, you don't have to settle for less when you get more from Arby's. Available for a limited time at participating locations. While supplies last. Prices may vary. Get your Meat and three box at an Arby's near you today. So, yes, couple days ago, me and Isla are horseplaying, and Isla likes to try to, like, swing and gymnastics. Kick me in the butt. Like, that's her thing. And she says, I'm gonna kick you in the ass.

[Amy Earnhardt]

That's what she said. So I wasn't in the room, but I heard she said a cuss word and nobody would repeat it, so I didn't know what she said. She said, oh, my God, Not Isla, too. We're doing something wrong.

[Jeff Burton]

Daley's learning this for the first time. And I said to Isla, I go, I let you know that's a bad word. She goes, yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I said. She goes, I. It just came out. It just came out. I said, where'd you hear that? She goes, from you. And I was like, yep, valid. Oh, man.

[Amy Earnhardt]

I was like, no wonder nobody would tell me what was.

[Jeff Burton]

And I told her, I don't think we were. We. You didn't seem like you wanted to know. You were kind of like, well, because

[Amy Earnhardt]

you seem like you had it handled, and I didn't want to make it a bigger deal, but I asked her later what it was she said, and she's like, nothing. Don't worry about it.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah. I was like, isla, that's one of them words you can't say again until you're older. So just go to put it away. So she's like, all right, but what are you gonna do?

[Amy Earnhardt]

Well, Nicole, same day, ask April before they were getting ready for ballet. She goes, can I say what the hell?

[Jeff Burton]

Yes. Yeah. What happened?

[Amy Earnhardt]

What was going on in the living room that day?

[Jeff Burton]

I don't know.

[Amy Earnhardt]

We're in trouble.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah. So when we. When me and Amy decided we're gonna have kids, and we, you know, went through probably the first three or four years super strict with ourselves about our language.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Yes.

[Jeff Burton]

And I feel like in the past, it did. I think in the past two years. I don't know about Amy, but I've. I've gotten tired, gotten loose about it, you know? And they'll be. I'm like, I'm in a conversation with somebody on the phone in the truck, and they might say something accidentally, not knowing I'm on the phone, you know,

[Amy Earnhardt]

not knowing his whole family's in the car.

[Jeff Burton]

Or I'll say something accidentally on.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

And I'll.

[Jeff Burton]

And I'll hang the phone up and I'll say, isla, did you hear a bad word? And she might say, no. I'm like, all right. Because there was a bad word in a song the other day that me and Amy were listening to. And I said, hey, Isla, did you hear a bad word? She goes, no, it's a Taylor Swift

[Amy Earnhardt]

song she likes to listen to on her own.

[Jeff Burton]

She say she sings along, but she doesn't know there's a bad word in there. But sometimes I ask her, I say. And she'll say, yes, yes, I heard a bad word. I'm like, okay, well, you know, you ain't supposed to. You know, I just. We just have a little conversation. I don't know if it. I don't know what it amounts to. She needs to know that it's bad at least. And if she wants to get herself in trouble by using it, then that's her choice.

[Amy Earnhardt]

But I feel like they innately know bad words or bad words.

[Jeff Burton]

I always felt like I did, too.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Yeah.

[Jeff Burton]

Like, I would hear a bad word, a cuss word, when I was a kid, and I didn't know immediately that that was a cuss word, and I would never say it. You know what I mean? It was like.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Like, that sounds too sharp. That sounds like it's rough. Like, what are you.

[Jeff Burton]

Like, the F word? That was, like, super taboo.

[Amy Earnhardt]

You don't say that right.

[Jeff Burton]

When I was a kid. Kid.

[Amy Earnhardt]

I remember. So I don't remember my dad cussing too much. He said quite a bit.

[Jeff Burton]

Or. Damn, we heard f All the time from dad and his friends.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Really?

[Jeff Burton]

Yes. Like, Rusty Wallace says the F word every three words.

[Amy Earnhardt]

That's how you used to be.

[Jeff Burton]

Yes.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Dad used to say, what? The buck?

[Jeff Burton]

Really?

[Amy Earnhardt]

Yes. Son of a buck. That's why you say son of a buck.

[Jeff Burton]

Well, yeah, but nobody says son of a. I know.

[Amy Earnhardt]

It was for son of a.

[Jeff Burton]

You know. Oh. Oh.

[Amy Earnhardt]

But he didn't say any of that stuff around the son of A book. And he would say it was such

[Jeff Burton]

a. I don't say the. I don't say the B word because I feel like women don't.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Like, you're in a house of, you better not be bad for you.

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah, but I don't. I wouldn't even say it. Not referencing a woman.

[Amy Earnhardt]

It doesn't matter. All of us would go, excuse me.

[Jeff Burton]

Damn, that's a B. I don't even say it, like, in general. Yeah, because it's. I feel like women would. Women. When. When a woman hears it, do they go, what? What? Does it hit you wrong? Even when it's used out of context,

[Amy Earnhardt]

like something being A. Like, damn, that was a. Is it if you and I are talking to each other?

[Jeff Burton]

No, but what's the equivalent, the male equivalent to the B word?

[Amy Earnhardt]

To the B word? No, man, my granny's going to kill my. Oh, why are you trying to beat me? You're tearing me up for trouble.

[Jeff Burton]

You women don't use it.

[Amy Earnhardt]

We do it when we're talking about you behind your back.

[Jeff Burton]

Really?

[Amy Earnhardt]

I'm like, in the pantry just going,

[Jeff Burton]

yeah, she's just saying, in the pantry.

[Amy Earnhardt]

Wherever I'm hiding. Do you ever mumble, Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Of course I do. Of course I do. And of course you do. I mean, I ain't gonna lie through my teeth and say, no, of course I do. It's better than doing it to your face. You and I would be like, oh, really?

[Jeff Burton]

Yeah.

[Amy Earnhardt]

And there would be, like, the clash of the titans, just one up at each other. That would be bad.

[Jeff Burton]

Well, yeah, but Ayla said her first cuss word. I was proud. A little tiny part of me was

[Amy Earnhardt]

proud because it was you that showed me.

[Jeff Burton]

That's also the delivery of it.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

Like, the way she delivered it. But you have to be proud of that.

[Amy Earnhardt]

While they were fighting. I'm gonna kick you in the ass. That's kind of cute.

[Jeff Burton]

I wasn't mad. I don't know why.

[Amy Earnhardt]

From her, because she's so sweet. It seems like, oh, that's cute. Versus Nicole's saying. It feels like it's too intense.

[Jeff Burton]

There's certainly some words I would be angry if she said them and how she said them. But in the context, in the moment, it was just funny. But I didn't let off too much. I didn't say, hey, I'm proud of you. I didn't say anything like that.

[Amy Earnhardt]

That's good for you.

[Jeff Burton]

I was like, that's a bad one. Tuck that one away. That's my parenting file, that one. Way, way deep back in there. All right. That was another episode of the Dirty 30 presented by Arby's. New meet in three boxes. Get more meal for your money At Arby's. We have the meats. Welcome to the ultimate fan zone at the NASCAR hall of Fame. You'll get the inside stories from the racing legends who live there. Take on the competition in our racing simulators or enter the greatest victory lane of all in our hall of honor with over 800, 150 artifacts and 50 interactive exhibits. If you didn't walk through our doors as a lifelong fan, you're bound to leave as one Plan a trip to the NASCAR hall of Fame in Charlotte. [e-mail] NASCAR hall of Fame this is our sport. This is our house. To be a Team USA skier, it takes dedication, determination and lots of hard work.

[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

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[Jeff Burton]

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[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]

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[Jeff Burton]

of the Olympics and Paralympic Games.