Dale Earnhardt Jr. wears a lot of hats these days. He’s a part-time driver, a full-time team owner at JR Motorsports, and a series owner with the CARS Tour. He’s also a podcast host, a NASCAR commentator, and—if you ask any Junior fan—a historian. Specifically, a NASCAR historian. You know exactly what we mean if you’ve seen his show ‘Lost Speedways’. Dale Jr. is passionate about NASCAR history. On the show, he explores old, abandoned racetracks, digs into their rich past, and meets the people who were part of them. In fact, his deep dive into NASCAR’s past helped lead to the revival of the North Wilkesboro Speedway. Recently, Junior opened up about how his “history bug” all started. And trust us, it’s a good story.
Historian Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It’s important to remember that Dale Jr.’s fascination with NASCAR history extends far beyond Lost Speedways. On Glory Road Champions, which showcases 18 championship-winning vehicles from NASCAR’s most memorable seasons, he has also teamed together with the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Fans may see vehicles like Richard Petty’s 1964 Plymouth Belvedere, a real trip down memory lane, and Dale Sr.’s 1980 Monte Carlo. “All the teams had media packets in the media center,” he added. Every time I went to the track, I would pick up a postcard and other wonderful mementos from each squad. With the access I had as a child, it was enjoyable.
Something within of him seemed to be stirred by that brief time. “I was at Joe Whitlock’s house in the late 1980s,” he continued, revealing the beginning of his fascination for NASCAR history. Joe was a well-known member of the NASCAR media, and there was a lot of racing history at his home. Two VHS tapes of Bud Lindemann’s Car and Track were given to me by him. There were 20 brief highlight reels of previous NASCAR events on each cassette. For those who are unaware, Whitlock was the person who knew all there was to know about car racing, including NASCAR.
Additionally, Dale Jr. was very close to him because he managed a young Dale Sr.’s firm. It’s interesting to note that those VHS cassettes played a significant role in Dale Jr.’s show Back in the Day. Joe Whitlock deserves a great deal of praise for providing Junior with access to all those historical races and tales. It should come as no surprise that it ignited Junior’s storytelling talent. His interest didn’t end there; starting in 1966, he started collecting stock car periodicals. Furthermore, it is undeniable that he is devoted to preserving NASCAR history through his podcasts, shows, and other endeavors. The Pennsboro Speedway’s comeback is sufficient evidence.
Junior’s fascination in history brings Pennsboro back
He investigates deserted racetracks around America in the two seasons of the “Lost Speedway” television series that have already aired. Even though Dale Jr. isn’t actively involved in the repair, his show plays a significant role. Junior took viewers on a tour of the storied dirt track in “Pennsboro Speedway: The Miracle,” the second episode of Lost Speedways season 2. Originally utilized for horse racing in the 1800s, the track was transformed into a center for auto racing nearly a century later. One of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history even happened there.
The show delved deeply into the rich history of Pennsboro and resonated deeply with viewers. The song is scheduled for a significant comeback in 2022. The Ritchie County Fairgrounds and XR Events are helping to revitalize Pennsboro Speedway. Junior was ecstatic when the Mason-Dixon 100 was held there in 2024. He wrote, “This is amazing,” when he posted the news on X. His social media has been inundated with fans requesting that he highlight more older songs that might profit from his historical bug. Will this result in additional track restorations? We’ll find out in time. What are your thoughts on Dale Jr.’s enthusiasm for NASCAR history? Do you share our obsession with his past?
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