The Dale Jr. Download - 302 - Dale Jr.'s Hall of Fame Moment

Episode Date: June 17, 2020

An emotional Dale Earnhardt Jr., surrounded by his family, finds out that he will forever be enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame as a member of 2021 class. Listen as the news breaks live on the podcast and the congratulations roll in from well-respected members of the racing industry. Special guests Rick Hendrick, Mike Helton and the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Executive Director Winston Kelley join the show. Dale Jr. and co-host Mike Davis reflect on this major milestone and hit on some of the hottest topics in racing, including Dale Jr.’s return to the driver's seat at Homestead. Dale describes his most anxious moment and what it was like to race in front of an empty grandstand. Last week, NASCAR took a major step forward in becoming a more inclusive sport by banning the Confederate flag from its tracks. The DJD gang offers their perspective on the ban and the social media reaction that followed. Plus, find out why Dale wants to cancel, cancel culture. The All-Star Race is headed to Bristol Motor Speedway for the first time in the event's 36-year history with a new twist on paint schemes that has everyone all fired up. How did our host start his big day back in the Dirty Mo Studio? With a redneck root canal, of course! Don't ask, just listen and laugh. All of this and more on a truly memorable edition of the Dale Jr. Download. Check out Dirty Mo Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, here in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Sports Hall of Fame, Hall of Faves by three. This is a production of Nerdy Mo Media. You will hear the announcement live. At the same time, the three inductees and their families hear the news, too. The year 2020 as 366 days. Since the pandemic hit. We've been away from our studio for 14 weeks, a total of 98 days. 2,356 hours.

26.78% of the year has gone by. One thing stayed constant. The Dale Jr. download. We didn't shut down. We didn't stop bringing you content. Well, the time has come. We're back in Moresville at the Dirty Mo Media Studio. And damn, it feels good.

It's true. Hey, everybody, it's Dale Jr. back again for another episode of the Dell Jr. download. We're back in the studio. We're so glad to be back in the studio. Got Mike Davis with me, Matthew Dillner. Leah's here. We got a lot going on in this show, and we're recording this show during the Hall of Fame induction announcement, which we're one of the nominees, right?

You are. I kind of get that confused. nominee, inductee. You're a nominee. Hoping to be an nominee. Yeah. Well, we're going to find out whether we are, we're going to make the cut. So we decided to do it during the show.

We hope that we don't regret that decision. I don't think we will. Either way it goes, we're already honored. So I'm glad to be back in the studio. Can't tell you that how much this means to me to be back. And we got a great-ass junior coming up next. It's been so long. This feels awkward.

Yeah, you have to get yourself back into it. It's the way it's going to be with everything. Okay, we're good. Hey, everybody. It's Dale Jr. Here for the Dale Jr. Download. We are back in the studios, as you can see, which is pretty awesome.

This is the Ask Junior portion of the podcast. Obviously, you're watching us via the Dirtymo Media YouTube, so we appreciate the support to that. This all is brought to you. This segment of the show is brought to you back, Xfinity, the premier partner. of NASCAR and of this podcast and your partner for Fast Internet. They are just such great friends of the sport. You know that they sponsor the Xfinity series, but they've been involved in our sport for a really long time.

I got to tell you right out of the gate, we are sitting down just starting to record this podcast, and I had a root canal today. So, yeah, I had one. It's funny. So I was going to save the root canal story for the open segment, but maybe you'll want to hear this. I've only had one, and about 15 years ago was when I got it.

And I had it earlier today around 11, 30 or 12 o'clock. And I went home and went to sleep. Amy was on the couch, so I laid in her lap. And that's an instant night night, taking a nap when that happened. And so I guess still a little numb, as you can tell. Still a little, still not everything working the way it's supposed to. But anyways, I had this root canal 15 years ago. And it's the only one I've ever had.

And I went into the dentist to get a cleaning. You know, we're all going back to the dentist to get the cleaning that we need. And it's been a while. And I didn't have any pain or discomfort or anything, but he did x-rays. They just, you know, everybody's getting their x-rays redone again. All of us are going through this process when we go back to the dentist. And he's like, hey, man, that root canal that you had a long time ago, he didn't do it and another guy did it.

He's like, it's got some, it's got some issues and we need to take a look at it and I'm going to send you over to this other guy. I don't even know the name. I don't even know the name of the doctor that did the work today, but it's a strange name that I'd never heard of. Like his name or what kind of industry he does? The dentistry. The one that does those surgeries.

EEOC. Yeah, what is that? Etherdontist or no? No, I got it right here. Hold on. Well, it's not your speed dial dentist. Endo. Oh, endodontist.

Yeah, whatever that is. I don't know. But anyways, I'd never heard that word before. But this guy was incredible that worked on me today. But I go in there to get this root canal taken care of. They're just going to redo it, I guess. I go in there and, crazy thing, two weeks before this, and I may be violating some laws here,

but two weeks before the same, he had the same procedure on the same exact tooth as me. same problem. We both went back to the dentist. We both had the same root canal. We both had the same root canal and the same tooth with the same issue. And so she goes to this, she gets sent to this guy. She has the same thing done. Well, I go get checked up at the dentist.

I go and find out I had the same problem with the same tooth, and they send me in there. And as soon as I sit in a chair, the dentist, this guy goes, would you send your wife in here to make sure all, you know, this is going to be okay? And she was the guinea pig. And if she came out okay, you were going to come in? He gave me a hard time. Anyhow, he goes and does this, really, they put me in this thing where it kind of rotates around your head to get a really in-depth exam of your tooth. Much better than just a traditional x-ray. If you ever had an MRI or anything like that, it's kind of similar to that.

And he's showing me this x-ray as he's getting ready to go in there and work on my tooth. He's like, hey, you know, here's the roots and they've been treated. There's this third root that, that's not. treated. That's not like a traditional root canal what I'm seeing there. And that looks like there might be a tool in there that broke off when this guy first did your root canal 15 years ago. You know, those tools that they use are really tiny. Anybody seen that drill? Anybody. Yeah. And so. This is like a Grey's Anatomy episode right now. He's like, look, I don't know if

that's what it is, but I'm not seeing what I traditionally see in this route. And so I don't know if I can get that out and if I can I'm going to have to come in from the side and we'll just have I mean this is going to be a little tricky I'm nervous I'm getting worried well he gets in there and digs around and I plug in my I don't know how you guys are to Dennis but when the drills come out

I put on headphones and I plug my earbuds in I got these you know earbuds that are molded just like the race car drivers and I'm rocking away as hard and loud as I can so I can't hear that drill and he's digging around in there and doing everything he's supposed to do and after about five or ten minutes, he kind of sits back and he's talking to the other nursing there. And so I turned my music

off and I was like, hey, of course I can't really talk real well, but he's like, I got the tool out. And I was like, so it was a tool. It was really in there. It really did. It's like a little fine, tiny little bit that broke off. He's like, yeah. And I was like, and it came out. You didn't have to come into the side. That's so good. He goes, yeah, it came right out. And so. Did you keep it? No, I don't want to. I don't want to see it. No, you don't want to see it. So it's just tiny little, it's like a sliver of, you know, it's a piece of metal.

It's a little drill bit. A little drill bit. A little drill bit, it's all it is. And so all these years, 15 years have been walking around that thing in my tooth. Jeez. And a root canal that was like 66% finished. This is the redneckiest story I think I've ever heard. What about this is redneck?

Oh, wait. Hold on. It starts off with the matching root canals that you and your wife have now got. That circumstance. Did you get an airbrushed t-shirt when you were? And then it's basically the punchline to a Jeff Foxworthy joke where if your dentist broke off his drill bit in your tooth. I'll promise you during the entire experience, not once did I ever think any of it was rednecky. I was just really disappointed but thankful for this guy because he took care of it.

And you know what? I've talked of, yeah, I met another dentist that I think is as good as the one I already know, Mike. Oh, hold up. I don't even know if everyone here. Now, he is at the exact same type of dentist. He's not, you know, he's not your traditional, hey man, I got a cavity or I'm coming to get my teeth clean. He does this extra. The endo.

The outdoor and the end of the hand. He does the hard work. Yes. Got it. Now, he's at another level. Yeah, yeah. And he's equally as awesome. Yeah.

Yeah. So my point always was... Brad Haynes is my original dentist. Yeah, my point always was people treat you that way because you're Dale Jr. Right. You said, no, this is just the way dentists are. Now, you just bring this up to argue for your point.

I'm thinking it argues my point. Yeah, okay. Well, I... So I'm thankful because he was extremely... This was a really... He saw it and he goes, this is unique. you know, be prepared for whatever we got to do here.

And I'm like, this was a 1992 model. We shouldn't have that in your tooth. This definitely has been upgraded. He's like, man, you know, I don't see this every day. And he was kind of preparing me for the worst. And he got in there, man, did the work. And I walked out of there. And he's like, hey, we're going to be great.

So he put a little medicine in there, temporary feeling, sent me down the road in about four weeks. Somebody on our YouTube chat has had this exact same thing happen. Really? Yeah. Let's hear it. Never know. He said, I've had this happen.

Piece of the file they used to scrape the root canal was broke off in my tooth. Yeah. Well, where I'm at now is I got, they medicate it, they put a temp filling in there, and then I go back in four weeks to get another look at it, make sure that the infection or anything in there, in the gums is gone. I had no swelling, no pain, nothing. And so I'm glad that I went to my dentist to get looked at in the first. place to find this issue.

And hopefully when we go back in four weeks and he looks at it again, he can put the final feeling in there and I can get on down the road. But I was hoping that by time we did this podcast today that I wouldn't still be numb, but I don't know. Maybe I wonder if you go to sleep when your mouth's numb, whether that slows down the sort of getting back to normal thing. Because normally after, I don't know, this was. Usually it takes about an hour.

Yeah, it's four o'clock. And I was out of there at one. and I'm still numb. I bet when you go to sleep, your body, everything kind of slows down and shuts down. See, me, I get so drugged up because I've got a fear of dentists that I'd be, if I got a root canal,

I'd be done for the rest of the day. Well, I'm just saying, I think that in a three-hour period, typically this goes, you know, the numbness is gone an hour and a half or so. It's crazy that it's still here, but they maybe put a little something seriously. Maybe they put a little extra in there. Put a little extra in there for the root canal part.

I didn't feel a thing. Anyways. So that's our Ask Junior segment. I appreciate everybody. I hijacked the Ask Junior segment and actually use some of our open segment content. That's right. But anyways, I want to turn it back over to you, the viewer, and get some of your questions in here. So Leah, send them on in.

Yeah, everybody wants to know what you thought of your weekend and Homestead. Everybody was super, super excited, super proud of you. What were your thoughts? I was truly genuinely nervous about just starting the race without any idea of what the car was going to be like. And the other thing, too, is you're going to go down into turn one with a lot of guys around you that are in those cars every week. So they're going to go in there probably with a ton more confidence than I will. They've already been through this process of racing without practice and laps. And so they know what to expect.

And I didn't. And I felt nervous that I would under drive turn one so much that somebody might run up. over me, really. And that was a little, that was a concern initially just to get through the first couple corners. And I'm telling you, I felt it. As soon as I was coming into gas, accelerating off a turn two, and looking around at the cars around me and noticing that they were accelerating at the same rate and that I had survived that initial entry into one and not screwing anything up or getting run over, I had a real sigh of relief and a big weight off my shoulders off my test. And, you know, But then it was just about how good a car we had.

We started running that first stage, and we were moving forward a little bit, but not, I didn't feel like the car was, uh, was really incredible at that point or, or anything special. And I didn't have a ton of speed, uh, compared to the guys around me. I was as good as they were, maybe even not good, uh, compared to some of the guys out front. Like we were, you know, a lot of guys driving away from us. Anyways, you know, I was, I was thinking, hmm. We're going to run hard here to finish fifth real hard to finish in the top five. And then things kind of came to us.

Obviously, I feel like that I got a little more comfortable and got better with the car and track and found some lanes and grooves and some angles that were making speed for me. In turn, one and two particularly, I thought, you know, typically I love three and four. We run right around the fence. Well, I couldn't make speed up there like I wanted to. So I had to, when I could get the car to work real well, I wanted to run in third. groove and split that seam, put the left's underneath it. But in one and two, I found this really cool thing where you could drive in super low,

really hard, all the way up to the center of the corner. And if you did that at any other racetrack, you would just plow, have to slow way down and kill the exit of the corner and all the way down and be slow all the way down the next straightaway. Well, for whatever reason, I don't know why. And there's a lot of reasons why this could be happening. I could drive down in there really deep and really shallow and get to the center of corner in a car would turn, and I could accelerate off the corner as fast as the guys that had used the high entry and were up against the wall.

But entering low and hard, I could gain almost like five car links on that guy. And so I love that. I also found an entry that was high into one and turned down in the center and runoff kind of low. And I'd seen some drivers like Joey O'Gano and other guys used that in the past. and I was able to make that work. I could not run the fence in turn one and two. If I was against the wall from the center off of turn two, my car just plowed really bad

and killed any gain or momentum that you would be trying to create on the high side. So you run the high side to get the run off the corner to be super fast down the straightaway. And if I was so tight against the wall in turn two that I wouldn't make any speed there. So cutting down and running underneath or running that third groove a little lower. I really enjoyed that. That's why I picked that track

because you can move around, you can change. You can be doing something completely different than the guy that you're racing with to pass him and find speed. A lot of racetracks don't provide that. A lot of racetracks, everybody has to work in the same groove. And that's really frustrating. So

I enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have. Had it been in a traditional race weekend with practice qualifying and all the bells and whistles, the fun sort of process of going through the race weekend and the fans. You know, there are a couple times on the racetrack when you're out there racing and you look up the grandstands and go, man, it's just surreal that we're actually doing this

and no one's here to enjoy it. But that was initially my first experience with it. You know, now these guys I'm racing with have been doing this for weeks and maybe it's something that's kind of become normal to them. But for me, that was a bit interesting to see for the first time. and you know when I got done I was happy and our cars just wouldn't take off on the short run we saw it in the next race the following day with Noah again late race yellow he'd been dominating the race our cars didn't fire off and I guess the only way to explain that to people watching is when we get the green flag and go down in the corner and we turn our turn the front tires the car just slides the fronts and the guys around us are able to go. They're able to turn and they're able to get back in the gas and just and go.

They can go really fast for like three corners. Then after about three corners, a lap and a half or two laps, our cars begin to work and begin to work extremely well. Even better than everyone else around us and we're able to drive back by them.

And then eventually, you know, you saw Noah be able to dominate like he could on the long run. But we were so vulnerable for those first three or four corners. And when it comes down to a short run, we were going to lose the race. And so that's kind of how that all worked out. But still, I really enjoyed it. I would like to do one more. I know for a fact that, you know, we're going to have to sit down and talk about that and where that might be. And this is my personal,

this is my personal objective going forward. I'm not talked to Kelly, who's a big part of this company and an owner in it or anyone else, any of our sponsors. But what I would like to do is I'm going to keep a really good eye on the Martinsville race when Xfinity cars go there this year. And if that race looks fun to me by what I see those guys going through and what they're doing on the racetrack and how that race plays out, that will be the probably the race I'd like to try next year. So when I say fun, like when you watch the truck series race there, they run over each other and beating on each other every corner.

And it's not, it's sort of who can survive, you know, the carnage of the day. and you're just hopeful that you can be one of those two guys toward the front that can get a little distance on everybody so you're just not getting run over every corner those truckers beat on each other pretty hard in the in the Martinsville races that I've seen and I've watched them I've been there and seen them and it just it's fun to watch but it's not something that I know that I think I want to be in the middle of so when I've watched the cup races there they're so long you just you don't have enough race car to beat on everybody that much all day long you have to save a little bit here and there and watch your brakes and take care of your car so that you can have what you need at the end. So I'll watch this Xfinity race. I know it's a short race, just like the truck race. But if those guys sort of race instead of just knocking each other out of the way every corner, I might be interested in doing some of that. Next question coming from Connor Coral.

What's the biggest difference between the up-and-coming drivers and Xfinity series today versus when you were coming up in the Xfinity series? Yeah, it's hard to say because I can't compare them, these guys are younger and that's probably not true. You know, I would I would just initially say these guys are younger, more raw,

there's no, but that could be incorrect entirely. I don't know really what the age or the data is behind that compared to my, you know, when I came up in 9899, but I will say I love racing the guys that are in the Xenity series. I've always enjoyed it

because you're going to watch a lot of those guys graduate and move up through the ranks and become grown men that are going to carry this sport and be such a big player in this sport. Imagine being able to follow multiple people's careers from their Xfinity series or truck series up into a very successful long cup career and be able to really be an observer of that is so fun, but to have shared the racetrack with them when they were young. And you really get to, this is another fun part about it, is I never get to sit down and talk these guys.

I never, I never get to hang out with them. They don't want to hang out with me. They want to hang out of their friends. They want to do the things that they like to do. So we're not going to see each other away from the racetrack. We're not going to see each, you're not going to, we're not going to pal around. and I'm not going to really get to know them as individuals the way I would like to.

But on the racetrack, believe it or not, you can really get to know the core of a person by the judgment and the decisions they make and what they're willing to do to themselves, what they're willing to do to the people around them, the give and take. All those things signal a lot of, all those things sort of signal a lot about a guy's character

and how he thinks. and what he's willing to, whether he's willing to cut you a break or not, or the other guy around him, how he drives that guy. You really get to see their body language while they're driving. And so it's a really cool way to understand who they are, what they're capable of doing, what they're willing to do. And that way when you're in the booth and three or four years from now, I'm talking about a guy, for example, like Chase Briscoe. Say he's in the Cup series three or four years from now battling for a win. I can almost understand what exactly he's getting ready to do in any situation he's in because I've been on the track with him.

And I know what he's capable of and I know what risks he's willing to take. We can learn that by watching, obviously, but we can also watch in the races as a fan or observer, but you really can learn so much actually being in the car with them and following them around the track. So that's what I like it. They're all such great guys and they all just want to succeed. They're all not sure about their futures. So they're hungry and ready to take a hold and seize opportunities. And that's like Harrison Burton.

You know, he was presented a chance to really stand out and he did and he succeeded. And Chase has done that. Austin's done that, Cendrick. And so it's fun to watch that. that series is just a fun series. You know, there's a... Sorry, Siri, I didn't mean to call you. Do you know the...

I guess you might say there's a difference between college football and the NFL. I see the same sort of difference between the Xfinity series and the Cup series. You know? The college players are trying to make their mark. They're trying to... They're laying it all on the line

and taking these really big risks as players and they know they have to, this is their time, right? To really get that next opportunity. And that's what I see in the guys in the Xfinity series. And nobody's promised anything and they have to go out there and make it happen. Sorry for hijacking the first half of the Ash Jr.

With my story about the dentist. No, it's all good. I mean, you know. It's real. Who cares? How else would we know about his and her root canals? Oh, my gosh. But I hope everybody's doing well.

Thanks to Xfinity for sponsoring this segment of the show and being a partner for our podcast. They're a partner of NASCAR, premier partner of NASCAR, and your friend and partner for Fast Internet. I am a customer. He is. A paying customer of Xfinity Internet service. So I can promise you that, you know, that's one of the great things about my life is I get to be a paying customer. of all these brands that we support and support us. And I can tell you, I enjoy it.

It's a good service. I would, before we go out, I would assume that saying Xfinity with your face numb would be very hard. Well, Mike, this is, like I said, it was three and a half hours ago. Yeah. Gain some function back. He's gotten his exes back. Yeah. Xfinity.

The P's are tough. Uh-oh. Let's talk about Pocono, everybody. You got to be fast in our sport, and Exfinity knows a thing or two about that. With Exfinity, get blazing fast Wi-Fi without any pit stops. Exfinity X-Fi delivers the speed, coverage, security, and control. You need to stay connected to NASCAR and Dirty Mo Media all season long. This is beyond Wi-Fi.

This is X-Fi. Keep your questions rolling into at Xfinity Racing and at DirtyMoMedia on Twitter using the hashtag Ask Junior. for a chance to have your questions answered by Dale Jr. himself. We're proud to partner with Xfinity, keeping us connected to the sport all season long. Shout out to Xfinity, premier partner of NASCAR. All right, Mike, a lot of news in the sport. Just so much news, and we want to get to all of it as much as we can. All-Star race has been moved to Bristol.

I think that's such a great thing because we've really been talking about this for a long time. This is a product of what's going on in the world. world with the COVID virus, but it's been years since they've talked about whether we should move that All-Star race, and here we are. It's being moved. This is a real opportunity for all of us to really find out if this is the right move to begin with. And I believe it'll be an exciting race. Bristol already was an exciting race this year. We saw drivers just to win that race willing to do, you know, Chase Elliott goes down in the corner and cleans himself and Joe Ligonow out trying to win the race. if that's what they're willing to do for a trophy for some playoff points,

what will they be willing to do to win the All-Star race, which pays handsomely? Handsomely. And there's no points. If you finish last, it's not a detriment to your season. So it's win or nothing at all, right? I like it. I'm excited about that. I don't think that there really needs to be a ton of discussion on that.

I think we're all in agreement that we can't wait to see the All-Star race at Bristol, right? wanting for years. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. That's the biggest part. Yeah, and it's, you know, as serious as the pandemic is, we've got to just say what everybody's thinking. It has sort of handed us a lot of things we've been kind of wanting for a long time,

including weekday races, all-star race at Bristol, you know? I mean, as awful as it is, it has actually delivered some things for some race fans. And, hey, we'll take it. Yeah, we will. We'll take it with a smile. All right. At the All-Star race, there's going to be an experiment that NASCAR is going to try. At least that's what we're hearing. They're going to move the numbers on the race car. Now, I've heard different stories on where exactly the number's going to go. All right. Initially out of the gate, who's Adam Stern. Adam Stern tweets that they're going to put the number on the quarter panel behind the tire. I believe he said so in his initial tweet. That, to me, would, you know, that is a very unpopular position for the number to be,

judging by what I'm seeing in reaction. Where? On social media. Or just, let's just say in general, you can go anywhere and find an unpopular reaction to that. Rear quarter panel. Yes. Now, immediately after he says that, Jeff Gluck and a few other people circulated a mock-up that I had seen and tweeted about myself in the past,

where NASCAR is actually thinking of not moving the number all the way to the quarter panel, but just sliding it back right in front of the rear tire and allowing the sponsor to be on the door, but also the number as well. So there'll be a sponsor in front of the number. That, to me, is a great compromise if NASCAR wants to create an opportunity

to have better signage, better sponsor visibility on that location on the side of the car, having the number slid back instead of going all the way of the quarter panel, which we've seen done before.

I mean, look, it's kind of like on this die cast right here at our table. Exactly. So that to me is an incredible compromise to the crowd of people like myself that say, oh, need to stay on the door.

That's how I recognize all these cars on my table right here. That's how I don't look at the sponsor and go, Mike Curb, that's a cool deal on our car. Oh, fiddle faddle. Oh, yay. No, it's number two, 34.

You know, so if you look at dirt cars, I don't, you know, dirt cars, my late model stock car that I ran, cars all through the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, even today and present day, world outlaw, dirt cars, and so forth. That, the number slid back to accommodate a great area for a primary, sponsor to be on the door has is not a new idea right and i like it i feel like it's kind of an old school uh cool uh uh way to do it so i'll be honest i can get down with this i will say though if they if they make the numbers any if they make the numbers smaller i am not a fan of that they'll be hell to pay i will i will say this i had a conversation after a tweet thing last

night with a sponsor that didn't want to show this, but they sent me and I'll share it with you. Yeah, I see it. Now, I got this same picture earlier today. Okay. So here's what I'm going to say. Some of the teams are going to have to shrink the number because from the A post to the beginning of the A post there. This is speculation, man. Hold on.

Hold on. Just. I know the RTA owns that space. That's speculation. That is not coming from until I see. I've also heard that from. Well, finish your thought. So I can understand what you're saying But you're saying that there in some cases

But you're saying in some cases the number will have to shrink The number is going to have to shrink Because the sponsor is going to be Pretty much right under the window net And it's not going to leave as much room for the number So this is what I don't understand All right And I don't want to, I hate to get into this

Because this is speculation Basically it's a picture of a car A race car Where the sponsor of the car Is where the number Is currently Not slowly. lid forward because the RTA owns that space where the contingencies used to be.

And so, therefore, there's not room on the door for the number as the number currently is, and it's made smaller to fit into that space. So I don't like that. I don't want you to make the number smaller. That's how I recognize Martin Turex Jr. or any of the other drivers on the track is buy their number. and that's their brand. You know, the sponsors on these cars change every single week.

So I don't follow a driver by the sponsor or the color of his car because that's literally impossible to do. Especially if it's changing every week. Right, that's my point. So we all agree. This is what I don't understand. And I hate this is still speculative because until this is what I see on the racetrack, then we can really have this conversation. why would the RTA and NASCAR not it's almost like they're battling over the space on these cars where okay if Bass Pro Shops is going to go on the door because it's a better location and it gives it a lot more visibility that would be a great thing for I would say I would assume that the RTA would be for that as NASCAR is as well I mean I don't know if NASCAR really I think the owners would have even prefer it more than the

NASCAR would. It'd be even better for the owners to say, hey, we're trying to give them all the exposure we can. This is a great thing to be able to say to our sponsors, look what we're doing. We're putting your name on the side of the car. Why would they still hoard that contingency space? Contigency space on the fender. Where all the little stickers would go one time. It doesn't make sense. It don't make sense. So his point is that you can't take that to the bank. I'm not taking that to the bank. So I'm going to say that, you know, this is a mock-up. Obviously, it seems, it looks official, but yeah, we'll see if that's what they end up doing. And if they do, I'm going to say, that's a shame

that RTA and NASCAR didn't come together and say, hey, let's work together and get this decal where it belongs so that the number can stay as its current size that it is today. And, you know, and everybody's happy, you know, and look at that space on this car. I mean, I mean, you know, I mean, the RTA is trying to buy you that space, that continuously space. And I understand that they would love to sell it. But now what? If you do sell it, you're going to have all kinds of... It's going to look awful.

It's not even... It's going to look horrible to do that. That's why I didn't really want to get down into that. I got that picture earlier today, Matthew, and I was like, man, I'm not even going to go there because I don't even know if that's really what's happening. Well, I mean, the graphic that you guys reacted to on social media goes right into that that space. I mean, that's Sonoco, Mockup.

Yeah, that space is accounted for. Yeah, and that gave me hope that that's exactly how this is going to play out. The Jeff Gluck tweet is how I hope it works out. And it is only for the All-Star race, just to be clear for everybody that's listening, for now. No, but that's an experiment. Yeah, hey, that's true, but we need to get ahead of this if we don't like it. We can't let them, we can't, I'm not going to, you know, if I'm not a big fan of what's going on here, it's an experiment

next thing you know they're going to go hey man we liked it we're doing it yeah you know so if you don't like it you need to speak up because I'll say this NASCAR listens to their fans and if fans say no they don't do they typically listen to that

you know that's a great point to make because I don't know if you guys notice Steve O'Donnell's responses to some of the reactions to it I had a couple thoughts on it oh really yeah oh yeah in fact Leah why don't you pull it up because it's pretty good and it's pretty good and And it's a point that I would like to even make, and I'll let Steve make it for us because, you know, people just by default in this space of social media and is particularly Twitter, it's just natural for people to lose their minds over something that is trivial, right?

It's something that shouldn't matter. And like my position on this thing is, I don't care, right? I'm like, I just don't care. You care. I get it. You care. I care how my race cars. And I would also, listen, I would also say if anybody is listening to this and really wants to know,

Dale Jr.'s point on that, go back to probably five, ten episodes of this podcast, and we go a long time about why Dale Jr. is so adamant about wanting that number big. And it all boils down to the identity of the car, identity of the driver and the identity of sport, but we also have a long discussion about that. You can go check that out. You brought up the brand. The brand. What is it that you want people to know and identify with? And that number has been, has been, you know, Chase in the number nine. You know, the Elliott's in the number nine. Why is Chase number nine?

Well, it's because it was his dad's number. That was an identity. So, Leah, do you have it? Yeah, I'm pulling. I have one up. Somebody responded and said, it looks like, Steve. But anyways, have a great night. And he quote to me, he said, thank you.

One for the poop emoji. Well, somebody was complaining and he said, listen, guys, it was like, if we don't like it, we'll go back. It's an experiment. Everybody, you know, keep their cool about it. this yeah i just don't i get that and i appreciate that and i go back and forth with steve on a lot of things that you know uh and he's a guy that listens and and appreciates your opinion um but he's got his own opinions as well yeah and uh and i just think that's you know

this is uh this is something that obviously you know this is a this is a aesthetic or uh even a competition thing that you know just not a lot of people are going to really like and i already to kind of know that. Like, why do we got to, why do we got to touch the stove and burn ourselves to learn that something we already know? It's hot. Right. But I also think that, like, are you talking about just any change in general?

No, this change. This particular change. But you like, you're on board with the one that you said Gluck tweeted. It's a great compromise. What I would tell you is that when I first saw it, it looks funky. But I also know that anything that looks different on the first glance. looks funky. The way a bad haircut looks funky, but a day later, it's not even in your mind. You're not even thinking about it. And I think that this would probably be no different.

Well, that would be true, Mike, but we've seen other series do this. The ASA series did it. A decade of when was that? Long time. It looked awful. And the series, not because of this, but the series closed the next year. What did they do just so we know? They moved the number to the quarter panel. And did they shrink it? I know. No, it was on the quarter panel. The K&N series has done this. The K&N series has done this for the last few years. Not in love with it.

Don't like it. Even after a couple years, still can't look at it and go, yeah, that's a cool-looking paint scheme. Look at those cars right there. The 15, the 11, the 3. They all look freaking cool. Yeah. Sliding it back to the tire is great,

but if you're going to squeeze it into this tiny little space, and it just, like you say, it's an identity. that I and a lot of people, I think, used to understand who's in what car, what car is what they change. Now, I mean, years ago, if I was going to drive a red bud car every week, you could put the number anywhere. Fine. You're going to know when you look out on the racetrack, you're going to see that red bud car, know exactly who that is. But today's world where everybody's in a different colored car every single week, if you don't have that number, front and center, right in plain view, I am not going to be able to tell who is what.

But no chance. Cannot dispute that. There's no doubt about it. I can dispute it. Just like when we lost brand identity on the cars themselves, like, boy, that's a Chevy. I can tell because just by a glance, I know that's a Chevy and I know that's a Ford. When we lost that with the COT, I'm afraid of the same thing happening. Yeah.

So we've got to be careful. It's for, like you say, though, just for the All-Star Race. So we'll see how that goes. And I know which way I'm hoping. And now everybody else does too. But no, I think your points are valid. Thank you, Mike. All right, a lot of the news in the sport over the last week or so.

NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from NASCAR events. They did? Yes. Did y'all hear this? I didn't hear this. All right. So, you know, this has been, I mean, this seems to have been, I know that this has been in our sport and a conversation in our sport for as long as I've been around.

I remember talking about it in 2006, 2015. You would get asked about it about every other year. Anytime there was any kind of current events going on around the flag itself in our country, you know, it was in our media, and we were, you know, we were always going to get asked about it and asked to discuss it. But Bubba Wallace came out and asked for the flag to be banned. And NASCAR responded immediately and said, okay, we'll ban the flag. So I think that's great. And I am so thankful that a lot of the drivers are in support.

And everybody's on board. I'm glad NASCAR is stepping up and making a decision. In the past, it had been, you know, Brian France had said, we hope that people would not fly that flag. and we will have an exchange. We'll come to your trailer and give you an American flag or your favorite driver's flag or whatever. And it wasn't, you know, apparently it didn't fix the problem.

So I'm glad that NASCAR has stepped up and spoke. Now the interesting thing going forward will be how do they enforce the band? How can this really, because they only own, so when we go to racetrack, you know, there's the racetrack property. and then there's the extended property that can be camping and so forth beyond that, that they cannot control or maybe can't control. So, and this isn't going to be an overnight switch, like flags are gone. I'm, you know, we're still going to see some of that stuff at the racetrack,

and NASCAR is going to have to work hard and be diligent to change the environment to where people will come to the racetrack and think, well, you know, I don't want to fly that flag. because it's an uncomfortable situation for me to do that. So, you know, it's been, I'm glad that this step has been taken. And, yeah, it's just going to, I'm just afraid that it's going to take some time. I don't know that a lot of people will understand that and give NASCAR the benefit of the doubt for really making a great decision to try to change the environment at the racetrack.

And it's on us, it's on everybody to try to help that environment and that culture shift to become more comfortable and a place where everybody wants to come see a race, right? So I'm excited to, you know, I'm excited about these steps, but it's a long road. It's going to be a little bit of a process. Oh, and you know the media will be, you know, going, seeking out those people, giving them a platform to, you know, yeah, they're flying the flag in the face of NASCAR's announcement and that's going to happen. and we can't take the bait.

I know it's virtually impossible, but we can't take the bait. Yeah, you're right. There's going to be a process. And you know what? It might get ugly a little bit. Yeah. It might.

You know, by the way, by ugly, I don't, I'm not saying it's going to be a mosh pit fight. Yeah, it may get awkward. Yeah. You know, and I think that when you make the decision like this, you're accepting that as, okay, we're prepared to face the awkwardness, right? I mean, that's why I think I was so, you know,

for a bubble to stand up there and do that was amazing. And for NASCAR to make the decision to do it was even more incredible. I was really surprised because they had not went that far in the past. Right. And it just shows where we are as a sport that they're saying, hey, all right, we're willing to do this and we're going to really try to make this happen. And I had some conversations with O'Donnell and a few of the folks before the announcement. And that's what I said to O'Donnell. I said, hey, I said, I like this idea.

And I hope that we can accomplish this. But you guys got to be ready and strong and willing to do the work because it's going to be a tough process. You know, people are going to come to the racetrack and say, I don't like it. I'm flying my flag. What are you going to do about it? You're going to have people push you up to that ledge, right, and draw a line in the sand and say, it. And so NASCAR, I hope, has the toughness to stand firm on their decision and really be effective and make this change. It's not a change. It's not a light switch. It's not a change.

NASCAR can't go in there and make flags disappear. We love that. But we're all going to have to work to change that thought and that environment, that, that, that, that, that, that culture at the racetrack. And, um, I think it's a great step. Were you disheartened or emboldened by the response to the Confederate flag ban? Uh, both. Um, you know, I've been in that conversation in the past and it's, you know, the thing about it is, is in the past, uh, a lot of times when this would come up and, and we'd be in the conversation about it, there wasn't a lot of stuff. social media.

Social media has gotten to be bigger and bigger and bigger part of our world. And so, you know, you get, you see more reaction. You see more negative reaction and, I mean, hardcore negative. Hardcore. Yeah. But you also see more positive reaction, you know. And that is encouraging to me. It's tough.

It's not an easy, it's not an easy thing at all. And it's very uncomfortable. and it's very awkward and you've got to be willing to get in there. I mean, if you really want this to work, it's not going to be this very easy process. And you're going to be, you're going to have to, you know, have a lot of people that are going to be very upset about it. And you know what? And I have, I've been somewhat disheartened, not just in the response to it, but somewhat disheartened in the people that were pro-ban and how they're responding to the people that might have a problem with it. And the reason I have a problem or I say that is because, you know, we're trying to progress here, guys.

I mean, we're not trying to regress. This isn't a football game. This isn't a who scored, you know, the latest touchdown. It's we got to, we got to be able to. Bubba's whole message is to listen to each other, right? And not sit there and spike the football on people's face. And I saw a lot of people getting, getting, taking the moment and saying, you know, we finally won. And it's like, what have we won?

We haven't won. We need. And by the way, there's some people that could be upset at NASCAR for doing this. And I don't think, to be honest with you, I don't even think NASCAR's decision is to cure racism. I don't think that's the case. I think NASCAR is trying to create a welcoming environment for everyone. And I really had to spend some time thinking about this because I'm like, what is the goal here? The goal, I think it's up to the human race to cure racism.

And good luck, because if you go back to the beginning of time, humans are naturally tribal. I mean, like, you know, I think that we could all agree on. I mean, like, there's this instinct of sticking with your pack and your own. It looks like, you know, that's the most comfortable, right? That's all the way back to the beginning of time or beginning of human civilization. And anybody wants to argue that, explain to me. the Hittites and Amarites and Egyptians and Chinese and everything else. I mean, like, go explain that one and then come back and have a conversation.

All right. But then if you go back to the beginning of the United States of America, we forget two real key things here. One is that we are an anomaly. We are doing something that has largely been unsuccessful in the world, and that is establish a independent, multi-ethnic, multicultural democracy, right? and that's people hate that right they're like what do you doing right and that is what we are

and oh by the way this little document called the Declaration of Independence says all men are created equal that's our that's our founding forefathers and if anybody goes well what about slavery that would lead to my second point we are still very young

right we are still sitting at the kid table when it comes to the large timetable of of our planet, right? And so what do kids do? They make dumb mistakes. We are not without sins. This is the problem I have a cancel culture, is that I don't, I think you should own your errors and own mistakes and become a better version of yourself for them, which leads me to this Confederate band, the Confederate flag band. I see this as NASCAR just doing what our country has been trying to do, and that is be this inclusive place in the face of everything else around us

that is exclusive, right? And if anybody goes, well, we've always been inclusive because we haven't excluded anybody from coming to a race, I would say that's true. Then let's not use the word inclusive. Let's use the word welcoming. NASCAR is trying to be a welcoming environment for everyone. And this is where if you fly that flag, for whatever reason, your intentions may be good. They're not in the process. They're not in the business of determining what's racist and what's not. Or what's good or bad and right and wrong. If you fly that flag, that is not a welcome mat.

It's not a welcome mat to our sport. And that's where I net out. It's that every private business, no private business has, has, the right to tell you how to live. You have to live how you want to. They do have the right on how to welcome its customers, right? I can't come in here and not abide by a dress code. You know, I got a right to wear my, you know, a cut off Marilyn Manson shirt. But if I'm giving a tour of our shop, Dale Jr. and Kelly may just say, I'd rather you wear something a little nicer, you know, because this isn't the welcoming committee. This isn't the look we're going for.

They would be right. It's their company. NASCAR absolutely can tell you this isn't the look we're trying to do when you come to the racetrack. It's not the environment we're trying to foster. And I don't even see what's so controversial about that. That is how our country works with the businesses and, you know, they're right. You don't have the right to do stuff. All that being said, there's still. Yeah.

Yeah. I agree with all those points, Mike. I try to put my, imagine being a black fan comes to system. down in the grandstands, looks across the racetrack at a camper with that flag on it and have to sit there and try to enjoy a race while that's right there in your face the whole time. Exactly. Yeah.

You can't look at the black communions and straighten the face and say, we're trying to, you know, we're trying to be a sport that's welcoming when you can allow that on your property. Exactly. Yeah. And let's hope that cancel culture somehow accidentally cancels itself. Amen. That may be the greatest thing you've ever said. Hey, real quick, I had people come at me, you know, because I spoke up in favor of this ban.

And I had said that, hey, I'm a northerner. I was never really offended by this flag, but I'm not black. Yeah. And people came at me, and my response to them, because I didn't want to get into the argument, I'm like, and I can ask this to you, when's the last time you went to a race to see a flag? Oh, exactly. I got a racist to see racing. It's not a fashion show.

So these people that came at me and said, I'll never go to NASCAR races again. Yeah. Okay, so you go to a race to see a flag, or do you go to the race to see a race? Well, yeah. So they're never going to come to a race again. And to be honest with you, I don't believe it. No. I think that you go through your phase, and that's fine.

And the important message is NASCAR doesn't want you to stay away. They want you to come back, and they're just trying to make sure that everybody else that wants to come to the race can come to. That's it. There's nothing wrong with that. Good job, guys. Here in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Sports Hall of Fame grows by three. You will hear the announcement live. At the same time, the three inductees and their families hear the news too.

Who will join the likes of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon in NASCAR's most elite fraternity. We will find out in just a matter of moments. So we've got the TV going on. NASCAR America has come on. We've got the family here. Amy and Ila have joined us. Dale Jr. is ready. Kelly's in. We've got everybody. Hoverd. W is hiding in the back. LW. wants to be up here. Come on LW. Let's talk about your tweeting activity. And so now it's just, we've been told that 510 or so we're going to find out. That's just a few minutes. This is exciting. Did anybody bring popcorn? No? Nothing. I like Larry Phillips. Yeah. Mike Staphatic. I like him. Solid.

Kirk Schoammer. I kind of like Kurt. There's so many good guys. And we should say, listen, if this doesn't go our way, listen, we're looking at names right now that are absolutely belong in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. And so we're going to be happy. We're going to be happy for whoever makes it in there, right? Ralph Seagraves is somebody.

A lot of people don't know. But goodness gracious, I mean, he was a pioneer. Oh, here we go. Oh, this is it, guys. Of a landmark award. I wasn't even, oh. Ralph Seagraves has been announced the winner of the landmark award. Interesting.

I'd seen his name on a lot of lists for going into Hall of Fame. Yeah, yeah. He was part of the Winston brand that came in. Help formed a partnership between NASCAR and Winston, which was incredible for our sport. He helped many tracks refurbish facilities during the NASCAR-Wiston partnership. I'm nervous. Are you all of June? Red Farmer.

Red Farmer. Yay. The Pioneer Ballet. That's awesome. Alabama gang. Three-time NASCAR late model sportsman champion. 1956 NASCAR modified champion. Estimated to have more than 700 race wins.

Are you kidding me? And he's still racing. He just raced. And he's still racing. That'd be your great thing about it is, you know, there's so many deserving people that belong in there that aren't with us anymore. But Red will be able to come speak and enjoy. this while he's still here.

I'm nervous. Are you nervous? I wasn't until this. Ila is ordering up some die-cast cars to play with. She is just called for. She wants that Rod Osterlin car. Oh, yeah. She needs this one.

She needs hers. Oh, yeah, there's your car. Come on, bring it out there. Pink Eila car. Whoa. Oh, man, I'm so nervous. Mike's the Phanick. Stefantic.

Oh, yay. He's deserving. Dilloner, you got your modified guy. I'm a little happy right now, knowing Mike most of my life. Seven-time wheel and modified tour champion. One of two drivers with nine NASCAR championships other than Richie Evans. So, so cool. 74 career modified tour wins.

And a pure class act. Did you know him, Matthew? Yes, very well. So great person, great family. It's a proud moment for modified people. It don't open, honey. Spoiled you with them high-end doc ass. Here comes.

Third and final member of the 2021 class. And yeah, a New Englander, I probably should have gone to you first, Steve, to talk about Mike Stefannic. Maybe I shouldn't have because I have a feeling you have plenty to say about this one. The 2021 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be inducted. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. He's in!

He's in! Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the Hall of Fame or will be in 2021. Wow. Oh my gosh. Wow. I can't imagine what this must feel like because we're all sort of now just breathing again.

And Leah's back there shaking. Dude, you're going into the hall. The hall. I don't know, man. It's a big deal. Amy's crying. Ila's just wanting more race cars. And that is the proper reaction.

Are you relieved? You know, it wasn't, it's not really relieved. I'm just emotional because I, you know, I was so honored to be on the list of guys that were on that list just to be besides some of those names. And being 45 years old, I knew I had a long time to be able to wait if my name was ever to be called, that I was going to be fine with being patient and having to wait. But I live on affirmation. You know that.

Amy, you know that. And cheerleading and, hey, you're doing a great job. And nothing says you're doing a great job better than that right there. for we race for so many years and worked really hard and tried to do it the right way and so it's great to have somebody pat you on the back and that's just I mean that comes from the whole industry there's so many people on the voting panel that you have respect for I don't know everyone that's on it but I do know some of those folks and I think that they have that opinion of me means the world to me it's a pretty special deal.

It also, it's a win for a lot of other people. You might? Yeah, dude, a lot of people have been with you through the years. A lot of people. Let's talk about Kelly for a second. I mean, Kelly, my goodness, think about where we'd be without her. That ought to tell you, right? Yep, and Amy, you know, she was, it's hard to believe she was with me for half of my career.

Right. and through some of the tougher parts, you know, to get, I didn't even know that we would get better and be able to come back and win a handful of races like we did and to be able to support me and help me into the chapter of broadcasting because I feel like that when you're, the Hall of Fame sort of a body of work and when you look at guys like Harry Gant, you know, there's a couple wins, but then you think of everything that Harry Gant did below that, you know, it's like the iceberg and what's underneath the surface that you really can't see or we sometimes forget.

And I was hoping that my body of work, the work we've done in the Xfinity Series, not only just the championships, but the people we've groomed into the sport or helped create a path of their own into the sport. And there's a lot there to it, you know what I'm saying, in the broadcasting and all that too. I know I'm just starting there, but I feel like I've had a good impact on that side of the sport as well to keep, you know, keep sport growing and fans. It's an emotional deal, man, but now, you know, we get to go through the experience of being nominated, being the process of crafting our speech. Oh, man, yeah. Just going to the, get in the jacket and standing up there with all those legends and all those heroes.

and I can't wait. I'll just say that this is just such a great pat on the back, and I'm so thankful. And I will never, I don't know if it will ever sink in, and so I won't ever take it for granted the opportunity to be inducted in the Hall of Fame and the chance to actually have your name called. It's pretty special. I mentioned this back when you were just listed on the nominees, and we were geeked out by that, River. I was great. We're so like, I made it. I don't think we've made it.

But we're like, when my name was put on that list, I was good. It was good, right? I was fine. But the thing about it, and I mentioned this to you, and we did it on the show, it was a Zoom show, so, you know, does it count? I don't know. But the thing about it is, think about Ila. The Ila did not get to experience your career. We got to the, we were there for Daytona 500 wins.

But it's hard for anybody to actually, you know, understand how, how significant a career would have been. Like, you know, even my dad or your dad or whatever. We know what we know, but we weren't there. Ila will have a place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame well after you're long gone and anybody she will always be able to go visit and remember her dad that is the thing about NASCAR

or about Hall of Fame to begin with is that that's what they do they keep in the memory of significant careers do you got something? Yeah Jeff Gluck just tweeted Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the most votes in this year's class and he was named on 76% of the modern era ballots.

Wow. That's cool. Hey, I'm telling you. There's a... I got chills. Honestly, I swear when I was looking at that list, I was thinking there's no way that I can go in before these guys. You know, just because of their impact on the sport.

And a lot of those guys are my heroes and people I looked up to, some people we've had a couple we've had on their show that's incredible man it's a great it's a great feeling I don't even know how to express you don't have to actually because I get a little time to do that we get time to work on how to do that

hell look this guy all right guys we have a special treat the executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Winston Kelly is on the line what's going on hey Winston Winston congratulations man very well deserved

All right, buddy. I can't wait. I can't wait to see what happens to you when you get inducted. I'm looking forward to the trip. Well, you heard the guys on TV say it's life change and why you've done so much. To me, it's more what you've done for the sport than in the sport. The in the sport part is huge with your 26 wins, two Xfinity championships, 24 wins there. But what you've given back to the sport, what you've done for the sport,

is just huge. And on behalf of somebody that makes a living in it, I want to thank you for that. Well, I will tell you, it's people like you that have sort of molded to people like me. You know, I'm telling you, I know that you want to shake that off is not a big deal, but there's so many great, great individuals in our sport

and you're one of them. And when I was around you at a young age, you and other people like you have shown me and a great example of how to care yourself, how to treat people, how to do things the right way. And there's a lot of people in the sport that I always wanted to make proud, and you were one of them, buddy. Well, you're kind, and you can see in the background,

Glory Road that you picked out, your car that your dad drove, your dad's seventh championship. But if I can tell a quick story that kind of, to me, summarizes what Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done for the sport, and you wouldn't tell this, but I'm going to tell it. when we had the snow in 2016 and had to cancel the fan appreciation day because the induction was moved, Dale Earnhardt Jr. texted me that Friday and asked what the fans were saying. We went back and forth, and he asked, hey, did you think about rescheduling? We didn't have much time before we went to Daytona.

Dale Jr. said, I can come next Saturday. And because Dale Jr. agreed to come the following week, we brought Chase Elliott, brought Justin Algaier and Elliott Sadler and others. We got to do our own fan appreciation day. And he came with the flu and said, I wasn't going to let you guys down. But what you told me in that text is, I don't want to let the fans down and I want the Hall of Fame to be successful. That to me is indicative of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., totally unprompted. And I think people need to know that story.

And there's so many more like that, like helping us with this Glory Road, but it's things like that that you've helped elevate the sport. I just think folks need to know those types of things. Yeah, I appreciate it. And I was more than happy to do it, buddy. I know that you were in a tight spot. And like I told you, you know how I feel about you, and I knew you needed a helping hand.

So it was an easy thing to do. Well, you're the man. We appreciate it. I see a guy there probably wants to say hello to you. I see him myself. All right. Mike Hilton joins us. How you doing?

Pretty good, dear Hall of Famer. How about you? I'm feeling great now, man. lot of things during your years, but a Hall of Famer sounds pretty good. Congratulations. Thank you, Mike, and it means a lot coming from you, buddy. You've been a big part of my career and steering me in the right directions and helping me through some tough times and helping me become a better driver and a better person. So I appreciate you. Well, we're all proud of you. I know Amy and Kelly and the Junior Nation are celebrating and are

proud, but there's a lot of folks that are very proud of you, and I know your mother brand, and your dad certainly would be the most proud two individuals that were here today if they were still here. Yes, sir. Congratulations. And thanks for, as Winston was saying, thanks for being an advocate for our sport, but an ambassador that you've continued to be such a great part of our sport after your driving part. And you're one of the greatest characters that I've got to meet in my career. So thank you.

And congratulations again. Yes, sir. Thank you so much. I can't wait to celebrate with all you guys during the ceremony. It'll be an incredible night for me, and to be able to look out and see you guys sitting there will be hard to hold it together. So that's good to talk to you. I appreciate it. Hey, Winston, this is Mike. You know, Dale Jr. doesn't know this, but he's about to learn about the media responsibilities that come at the Hall of Fame. So he's got a hit to do for NASCAR America right now.

So we're going to sign off, but thank you guys. Both of you, Mr. Helton. You, congratulations, Hall of Fame. See you soon. All right, guys. I miss y'all. Congratulations. Good class.

Yes, sir. Great class. All right, Dale. Take a look at that monitor. We got one more special guest. Joining us now, Rick Hendrick. Hey. There he is.

Rick. Hey. What are you doing? Watching you on TV just a minute ago listening to you. Yes, sir. How about that? I'm proud of you, man. Hey, thank you.

Thank you. you for helping me accomplish my goals. Well, you said you're going to make me popular. You did a pretty good job. Did I make you more popular, you think? You did. I was a lot more, buddy. I love helping it.

Well, it's well deserved. I tell you, what you've done for the sport on and off the track and being such an ambassador to carry. the flag. Nobody deserves it more than you do. I'm just glad I was a little smidged in part of helping you get there. Yeah, you were better. I didn't do very much. You were a big, big part of my career, but we ran together almost half of my career. It's hard to believe that because it felt like it was such a short, quick little blur, but we got to win some races together, some really important races.

And one of the greatest things about being able to work with you, and I know this is I know this is my Hall of Fame induction, but I want to share this. It's exactly, I think, one of the reasons why I got to where I am today. When I went to work with you, I knew that I was going to be racing with the best, in the best stuff, around the greatest people in our sport and the most talented. smartest minds, you know. But one of the greatest things about being an employee at HMS is being able to learn from the man himself, Rick Hendrick, and how you know how to treat people.

And you have such a big heart. And there's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that nobody even knows about that you don't care to get credit for. And you just have a great way of, you were very supportive. to me, and nothing was unimportant. Nothing was too, there was no stupid questions, nothing was too small. You're a guy who has a lot of things on his plate. You really, really helped me, shape me, and help me mature as a person.

So I think that none of the things that we're talking about today are possible without that influence that you had on me. And so I want to tell you that, you know, this accomplishment, is because of people like you. So I'm very thankful. Well, I'll tell you know, there's there's there's there's there's trophies and there's race wins but then there's people that touch your life that a part of your family that you get to watch, you know, kind of grow up and and and become a husband and a father and mature and go through all the elements that you do.

Yeah. And growing up, I think I was seeing most of them. But just so proud of you, the kind of person you are. And to me, your character, you're always wanting to do the right thing. I mean, I can't, I don't know how many times you told me, hey, that's the right thing to do. And you don't never hesitate to do that. And that's why I love you. That's where everybody loves you.

and you're part of my family, and you and Kelly have all felt a big void in my life. So I'm just so happy. I just can't believe you're old enough to be in an hour. I'm not. Rick, that's the thing. I'm not. I know it, right? It just seems like yesterday, man.

I'm so proud of you, buddy. Yes, sir. Thank you so much, Rick. Mr. H, this is Mike sitting off here to the side here. Would you agree that the Hall of Fame career became, I mean, it became a Hall of Fame trajectory when you had us in for a meeting and said, you need to start working out? And when you got him on the Matt Skeen plan,

isn't that really where we kind of hit Hall of Fame status? Yeah, I remember walking by the bus with the window, the smoke broke. Yeah. Now we're selling Nicorette. And we're riding up 40 miles up the road on a bicycle. Yeah, I still haven't seen a picture in those stretchy pants. Hopefully none exists. Yeah, and I remember the first time we had dinner together, Kelly had to go get silverware because you didn't have any silverware.

I invited them over to the house for dinner and didn't have any silverware. Man, plastic's good. Yeah, I guess so. Well, man, thank you so much, Mr. H. For being here. And Dale, this moment has been special, and you're making it special yet again. Well, it's, you know, you guys, it's just been a big part of my life. I never, Ricky told me it was going to happen, but I never thought it would.

And just the everything from you being sleeping the hammock on the island way back when to you walking down to dock with the stroller, you know, you and Bubba. Yep. But Mike, you've been there directing him all the way, and we've been through some big victories, and we've been through the crash with the head injury, and, you know, now just to see the family. And really, man, what you're doing in the sport right now in the booth.

and you're just nobody deserves more than you to do. I appreciate you. I appreciate you taking some time today to visit with us and I miss you. And I can't wait to be able to get next to you and shake your hand and give you a hug, buddy. Okay, man, me too. You just enjoy this. It's going to take a little bit to sink in, but...

That's fine. I have no rush. I'm still so young, Rick. You are. Yeah. You're just a puppy. I don't know why you're in the... You just not... There ought to be some age limit.

What are you now? 45. Forty-six? Yeah. Forty-five. I thought it was 35. No, I wish. Every day.

Well, you enjoy it, brother. Yes, sir. Thank you. All right, everybody. We're going to wrap up the show. And, man, what a roller coaster ride that was. And we covered so much. I really hope that a lot of people listen to this show,

not just because of the Hall of Fame announcement. I love all the other things that we covered as well. And I think you'll just enjoy it. You know, the no guests, I love having guests. But I'm also really enjoying us just having a conversation because I love all you guys. And I love just chatting with you. We don't get to see each other,

especially during these particular times, as much as we'd like. So it's really fun to come in here and just go at it. That's it. The Dale Jr. download. Hope you guys enjoy it. Episode 302 is out.

Hall of Fame edition. Woo! Check out Dirty Mo Media on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Dirty Mo!