The Dale Jr. Download - 510 - Our 2023 Report Cards & Way Too Early Championship Picks

Episode Date: November 9, 2023

It’s the final episode of the Dale Jr. Download for this season and Dale Earnhardt Jr. bids longtime co-host Mike Davis farewell as he will not be joining the show next year. Mike explains that he��ll be stepping back from the show to better serve his position as President of Dirty Mo Media. The guys debriefed from their Wednesday interview with recent NASCAR Cup retiree Kevin Harvick. They also take the opportunity to fill out report cards for the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs roster and make some way too early predictions for next year. During the Ask Jr. segment of the episode, listeners sent in questions regarding: The acceptable time of year to start listening to Christmas music Tipping for breaking up with someone Way too early New Year’s resolutions 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.

The following is a production of Dirty Mo Media. Hey everybody, welcome back to another season of the Dale Jr. Download. Mr. Dillan, aren't you? Billy Bob's juggling act. And that's the voice of my co-host, one of my best friends in the whole wide world. Mike Davis. Come on, Mike, get pumped. Get pumped with me.

You here with me? You with me, man. You ready? Yeah, my phone's about to die. We're doing more than a show. You said we're doing a show. What are we doing now? What have you promised?

What have you told him we're doing, Mike? I don't know who the hell you are anymore. Like, what is going on here? Who's the new guy? She should have just pissed all over me. It would have been fine. Chad Gannouse. Chad Gannouse is going to come on too.

Is it a Gnouse? Or is it a Kunous? I think maybe, you know, you want to say canals, but when you put those two words together, you're going to put a G-in-law. You've never mispronounced anything in your life. No. You've never butchered the English language.

Ever. Not a signal time. Crack it up, I'm cold. It's time, Mike, to plan the trip. Party Sunday at the houseboat. See you there. You're lucky my brain works the way it does. Why?

Because you're assuming the world. You're having enjoyment. You're loving it. What was that mean? We're screwed. Criggadown. I'm hot. Shield my eyes.

I have a win at my fingertips and I can't freezing up. That was weird. I am weird. You are. Yeah. I bet he's the old crying. I've got comfortable. You what?

You missed a dentist appointment. I have decisions in my life that I regret. Let's do some way too early championship picks. Mine's Blaney. Blaney. My chest is starting to hurt. I'm being sore in my chest. Hey, everybody's Dale Jr. back again for another episode of the Dale Jr.

download. It is the season finale, the final show of this year, and it's Thursday, November 9th. And it's also free dirty rice. Promocode Dale only at bowjangles.com or using the app. You can get your free regular size, not the tiny one, regular size dirty rice using this promo code at bojangles.com or in the app through November the 20. 22nd. And thank you to Bojangles for everything they do. We mentioned it at the top of the show yesterday. We mentioned it again. We're in the Bojangles studio. They support the heck out of us, and we're very lucky. I've got Mike Davis here with me. Mike, how you doing? I'm well. How are you? I'm doing great. Great interview yesterday with Kevin Harvick,

introduced his new career and talked at length about pretty much anything and everything we wanted to talk about. Great time. If you haven't listened to it, it's a, it's, it's, it's, you know, it's, It's our final guest segment of the season, and I thought it was a darn good one. I enjoyed it. It was fun, and it's always good to see Kevin. And by the way, quite emotional this past weekend. Kevin and everybody else, including myself. I mean, like seeing him hang it up, you know, it really just got real for us.

But, you know, sometimes you've got to let it go. That's right. Just on it. And so I thought they did that as well. That's right. So another thing that we talked about, I shared on social media that we had a special episode Tuesday and another special episode Wednesday and another special, equally special episode on Thursday. This is a big week for us finishing up the year, but it's also big

because, I mean, how do you want to make this announcement, Mike? Well, I'll just say one is we're not going to spend a lot of time on it. Two is I'll say, say it. I'll just, I'll just say, listen, this is the last episode of the season, or at least formally the last episode of the season. It's also my last episode on the Dell Jr. download. I've, you know, came to you, I don't know, three, four, five months ago and told you that I've got some, you know, reasons that I wanted to step off of this role here. One of the reasons is I want to run this company and I need to a better job of that. And I am looking forward to devote an attention that otherwise I spend on this to grow in our company, making new shows, working with our team

a lot closer and so yeah i i i think that we're also making changes for this show that are going to make it better right um and i'm also very much looking forward to that so i have appreciated i've never taken a day for granted here at this table i can tell you that it has been a treat for as long as we've been doing it but um looking forward to uh to taking this thing to the next level, which I just don't, I don't think I can do as good a job on this show as much as I could as the president of the company, which is what you, you expect out of me and you should. Well, I think you're obviously not wanting a big deal made out of this, but I have, you know, I've enjoyed working with you and co-hosting this show with you for the last.

last decade. The Dale Jr. download has your vision. Us ever getting into the podcast realm was your vision. Dirty Mo Media is your vision

and largely your own hard work. You have built an incredible staff around us for success and you you do find yourself more and more challenged by

hosting this show, making sure this show is as good as it possibly can be, and the growth of the business. We have introduced so many new shows this year. There's so many things that we want to continue to do that I know you're excited about and that you want to be a part of. But, you know, And I understand that nothing lasts forever.

I've always, that was hard for me to learn early on in my young life. But as I've gotten older, it's something we all are faced with. And I knew that, you know, someday this might happen. And it's a bit bittersweet, ma'am. I always get excited about the show sort of evolving and changing. but it's hard for me to imagine doing it without you. And, you know, you, I don't, we have really, I think, gotten even better about our, as my life has changed and actually morphed more similarly toward yours. I think that we've really, I've enjoyed the fun conversations even, even this year about life and family and parenting and kids and all of those things.

you'll uh you know no one will be able to fill your shoes but it's been an awesome run but i am excited for you to be able to put more and more focus on i think i think this gives you an opportunity to have a better vision clearer vision of where we're headed 100% and i'm glad you say that i'm glad you recognize that because honestly um i i love talking about dirty moe media i love going and telling people about it i love when people come to us and talk about how It's a part of their lives. And I'm going to be doing a lot more of that. I'm just going to be doing a lot more with potential partners.

And I need to be traveling more. I need to be doing some stuff that otherwise you can't do when you have a commitment that keeps you here. So I'm going to go do that. It's not as, you know, there are some new shows that I'm working on right now that have me so fired up and excited. And, you know, our team, I think it's the best team out there. Yeah. I think we've got some amazing. amazing, talented, creative employees.

And they are just, I think that we have a responsibility to go see how far we can take this. And that's what this is about. And so I appreciate you saying that. And then let's not talk any more about me. Let's talk about the other guy who had way bigger exit. And that would be Kevin Harvick. Well, I do. One last thing I want to say is, one last thing I want to say is we don't want to leave people hanging.

but the only thing I will share is that we have been talking about this for a while on whether this was what we wanted and what would we do moving forward. We have a plan. We both have an idea of what we want the show to do and achieve. And we have a clear direction on not only next year but beyond. And so, which I'm also, I'm apprehensive. and nervous because you're you know your

support at this table has made this so comfortable and easy but I'm excited and I know that you're still in the room right you know not necessarily physically but I know that you'll still be a massive part of

the success of the show going forward and it will be as my bosses at NBC like to tell me we'll be put in a place to succeed. Thank you for saying that. Listen, the Dale Junior download property is as important to me moving forward, if not more, than it was since day one. You know, day one, what is this? That was 2013 that we started doing the Dale Jr. download.

And it's as important to me as it ever has been. And so, yes, we are going to set you up in this whole property that's so important to us. We're going to set it up for success. We're going to continue to grow. we have an influence in this sport that is hard to ignore. And so, yeah, that's the idea. So I appreciate you saying that. It has been a blast sitting here at this table with you.

And we do look forward to just having those conversations on my couch in the office instead of in front of a mic. Yeah, the changes to 2024 and the format, all that's going to be announced later. Let's move on with the show, man. We got a lot to cover. We told you Tuesday. We talked about wrapping up this 2020. three season. We've got some report cards, so to speak. Mike, you've got information there.

Let's talk about playoff drivers, who thrived, who declined in this season. All right? First off, we're going to start with, we're going to go from 16th to first Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Daytona 500 champion. You know, I don't know what we expected out of Ricky. I think winning the Daytona 500 obviously makes the season a success. I think that, you know, Ricky made some changes. in crew chief and personnel. I believe that from my point of view, it looks like that it was a good change. There were some great moments for this team early on in the season

where they had speed, where maybe I wasn't regularly seeing that. Certainly they have these moments too where they run where you think they should. I don't know that this team, unless a major change happens in this team and ownership and so forth or alliances, I don't know that they can really affect that baseline performance expectation, but winning the Daytona 500 is a massive, massive thing for any team

and they were able to achieve that. It had been a while since Ricky had been to Victory Lane. Mike? Everything you just said, I can't say it better than that. I think they feel it feels like an overachieving year where they exceeded their expectations, and I think that they should be committed for it. Michael McDowell, that's an easy one.

They thrived. Won a race, led a lot of laps, made the playoffs. And they didn't make it on a fluke. They really were performing well enough to do it. So I give them at-a-boy and overachiever for the year. One of the best storylines of the year for me. Kyle Busch, three wins, first year at RCR. I would say it was a tale of two halves, man.

The first half of the year, very good, very promising, expecting improvements and expecting that to continue to evolve. But the second half of the year, man, they just sort of lost something. And in those last handful of races, for whatever reason, man, they really, really struggled to make speed. And it seemed that, you know, at times Kyle was bewildered on what they needed to do. I think this is a very interesting off-season for Kyle Busch and that team, right? What changes can be made?

What can they do to get back to where they were at the beginning? of this year and trend forward, right? Be able to get, you know, get that car up front and stay there consistently. Yeah, I think he's probably one of the, for me, disappointments. I mean, and I don't mean that harshly. I just mean that I had high expectations the way you do with Kyle Busch, right? But this year will always, I'll look at this as it pertains to this eight team, is the one where Kyle Busch became a good guy, right?

And people started cheering him. And we just weren't used to that from the beginning. Yeah, I guess you got to give that. Yeah, that was a, that was a, that was a, big change in a positively. Kevin Harvick, who's our guest this week, you know, I don't know what he expected or they expected. We certainly know that Kevin's had better years, but when I look at this team, I judge the

company as an organization and he outperformed the rest of the Stuart Hoskars by a good margin weekly, right? And so, you know, I feel like that the organization has slipped a bit. Yes. But he has really kind of been able to carry the torch, so to speak, for them. Not winning, I'm sure, was disappointing for Kevin, but damn, man. I mean, the last race, led laps, run up front, had a solid ending. I bet he can't, you know, I think that his fans were probably somewhat disappointed,

but all of that you can shove aside because this is his final year. Yeah, you brought up a great question to him yesterday, and that was asking about about Stuart Haas and how they move on. That is such an important question. And one that, you know, we won't know the answer for a while. I didn't know that he had kind of withdrawn himself to help train them on how to look for new direction. That's an interesting thing.

And listen, I think we're going to fill the void of Kevin Harvick next year in a big way. Joe Lugano, a big disappointment. I'd have to say, 2002 champion last year. One win bounced in the first round of playoffs. Man, there's no way around, you know, trying to explain that away. just, you know, frustration and disappointment. It looked like he may be able to have a similar year that Blaney had. They really were performing somewhat the same.

And even in 2022, he was kind of, Blaney had a year similar to Joey. They really were kind of lost in the shuffle mid-season. Well, Joey wins the championship. Blaney sort of did the same thing, right? And Lugano had that potential this year, but it just didn't happen. Didn't know if this was more of an indictment on Ford as a manufacturer because all the four teams were struggling, but one win for Joe Lugano, not enough, not even close. Martin Tricks, Jr., I think he'd be happy about the season, regular season champion.

Big improvement over the last year, massive failure in the playoffs, just no, just poor execution strategies, whatever you want to call it, whatever could happen happened. They had good speed in their cars, but everything else just could not get right. I'll never understand the night and day difference between the regular season in the playoffs. My gosh. I mean, like, bad mojo, bad luck, whatever they did in the playoffs, they got to go reverse that in a big way for next year. Bubba Wallace, career high and points finished this year.

And I will say this was an improvement. I know statistically you could argue whether it was an improvement or not. But when I saw Tyler Reddick come to this team, 2311, I thought, man, Tyler Reddick is going to really drive Bubba Wallace to have to achieve more. That's going to put pressure on Bubba. It's been different than that. It's not really worked out like I expected. They've actually run somewhat similar, and at times, many times,

Bubba Wallace has performed better. Bubba had some amazing qualifying efforts this year and ran well at other races that traditionally he hadn't ran at. He improved at the road courses throughout the season. and also at other racetracks he struggled at. So Bubba Wallace, to me, took a big step forward and just becoming an overall better driver. He had, you know, they were strong at Kansas, strong here, strong there.

This year he was a better driver across the board. So I think even though maybe he probably feels like they fell short on some marks, the driver and the team themselves performed better across the board. I know that wins are the ultimate stat. He didn't have any, but laps lead. I don't have that stat in front of me,

but I guarantee you his lapse lead tells a better picture of his season. Average running position. All that stuff, had huge improvement. Ross Chastain, that's a tough one. When's the final race of the year? I think before Phoenix, before you,

you know, before we, just take that win, right, that last race of year and move it off the table. This is a bit of a disappointment. They had big speed last year. They finished second in the championship,

you know, behind Joey. They, you know, made it all the way to the final. on four, I would have to say that this year has been a bit of a disappointment. I agree with that. I agree with that. I don't even know what my expectations for them would have been.

I mean, track house is still sort of a story being written right now, and we're trying to figure out where they're going to be. But, you know, I know this, that they're not sneaking up on anybody anymore for that, you know. And also, there was something when Justin Marks was on here, it gives this, been a year two ago, right? And he was talking about how this new car reset the field. I wonder if the parody that came with the new car in the first year and they may be take year, if that also starts to, you know, as everyone learns the car, if that starts to

separate some of the teams, I don't know that that's what's happened with Trackhouse. I expect them to be good. I think they got the funding to be as good as anybody now. But, you know, it'll be interesting to see what they do next year. Let's put Brackzlowski and Chris Busher in the same deal here because to me they're both similar. I don't want to repeat myself. Brad Kisalowsky and Chris Busher. Chris Busher had three wins.

Brad didn't have any wins, but this is the highest finishing position for Roush or RFK, as it's known now, since Greg Biffle in 2012, for Chris Busher, who was seventh. I think, you know, Brad was eighth in points. I believe that they may be the overachievers of the year for me, or the biggest you know the ones that should get the biggest award for trying to improve they've turned this company around

they were this company was at the very back of the pack okay and and it didn't look like there was any way up any way forward but whatever Brad Kislauski and Chris Busher have brought to this team over the last 12 months or even 18, 22 months it's they are contenders I would credit Ryan Blaney's championship success to RFK's ability to get this Ford to move.

Nobody could get the Ford to run. They did, and it really woke up the other Ford teams. Instead of sitting there saying, well, we got a car we can't compete with. We got to wait until next year. This car just you can't make it work. Well, RFK did. They figured it out. It actually motivated Penske and the others to go to work.

And so I think you could make that argument. That's a huge point. I agree with that completely. I would say that in the last five months, the way we feel about a brand, an iconic brand, the Rouse brand, the way we feel about the brand has changed a 180, all because of Brackzlowski and what he's done with that operation. Like you look at RFK now and you don't think, you know,

the party had to go in there and try to fix an operation that's still trying to find its way. No, no, they're legit now. And it happened quick, right? And so that's just a testament to them. Tyler Redick, two wins, 460 laps lead. I'll be honest, man, I was expecting just a little more. I'm not super disappointed with Tyler's season, 6-10 points, and sort of jelling with a new team, a newer organization.

But Denny Hamlin sold me on his talent, his ability. He's like, man, to become, for 2311 to become this dynasty, we've got to make this higher. going to make this kind of higher. And so I was, you know, I, I will be okay with this year if Tyler can go into next season and win me three or four races and push toward that final four. Right. Right. Or that championship four. Then maybe I would look at this year as a, it's sort of a man, good solid start to a long, long tenure with 2311. I agree with that. I agree with that. Two wins is what I would have expected for him this year. But yet, next year's going to be a big one for him.

Yeah, I think across the board, you know, Denny Hamlin, three wins, eight stage wins, four DNFs. Dude, his season was nothing to be disappointed with. I think that there was a point in the playoffs where he sold the idea that this was his year. We all started to, man, maybe this is the year that Denny actually wins this championship. It really was feeling like it was truly possible. and unfortunately it doesn't work out but I believe that based on

the last year's statistics and his performance they were really hot and cold last year I think across the board this year they were much more competitive week to week he's going to be disappointed with the final result I would say he mattered more this year he was certainly more of a contender

for the championship than he was the year before disappointment yeah the way that ended because he was the performance was there Toyota's getting a new car isn't that right yeah yeah so I like I'm always intrigued on how that affects their performance you know from year to year but we'll see how he does three wins though I mean I would say that's probably average and and maybe yeah I think that's what Denny Hamlin typically does I would put all the rest of the drivers the final the championship four Christopher Bell William Byron Kyle Larson and Blaney in the same boat of they achieved what they wanted to,

what I thought they were capable of on any given season. I know that Byron had this sort of career, high, six-win season, but that's who I think he is. I don't think he overachieved. I think he got what, he did what I expected or was hoping for him one day, right? He got to where I've been wanting him to get to

or expecting him to get to. Christopher Bell was in the championship for last year. Had a similar sort of season and did exactly pretty much what I, thought he would do. Kyle Larson almost won the championship. And, you know, I don't, I'm not going to sit here and say, man, I sit down and think Kyle Arson should win a championship every year.

That's unrealistic. So, you know, he did about what I expected. Blaney, he did what I expected. I picked him to win the championship. I thought he could. And he did. You know, I'm not, I'm not surprised. It's not an overachievement in my eyes.

but back I think back to our original you know who thrived and who declined Bell was flat William improved Larson was flat which is flat is good okay if you're in the top four if you're one of the greatest ever right Blaney bumped it up a little bit over his last previous year's performances what do you think about his road though to the championship because he had what eight top fives there was parts of the season when even Blaney himself made think like the world was coming to an end.

Yes. What do you think about his road? Dude, his dad said at the start of the playoffs, he told us this story, I see the road for you. I'm looking at this playoffs and I see the way for you to get through to Phoenix. And I thought, you know, that to me was Talladega. You can win there. You're great there.

Right. Martinsville, you race good. at Marinsville. Look at your statistics. And Phoenix. And Phoenix. He's a, you know, I think his last four finishes at Phoenix are now 4-2-2-1. Four, yeah. Yeah.

They're insane. Yes. Yeah. I mean, so. It lays out really well for him. Those, so, yes, the playoffs laid out well for old, old Blaney. And I, but I mean, it was going to have to be perfect. Yeah.

And he was. Right. you know, just because he's good somewhere, it doesn't mean he's going to go there and win. He had to win. And he did. Pretty incredible. Let's talk about which one of these playoff drivers

does not make the playoffs in 2024. Which one of these drivers in this list do you think misses next year's playoffs? Ryan Blaney. Bull's shit. Come on, man. It's my last show. I'm going to go out. I want to pick a fight.

No, for real. Does not make it. I think it'll be Stenhouse. I have to say Stenhouse. I mean, it's hard to pick a guy, but you've got to pick one. I think it's like Ricky misses. Well, if that's the case, then I'll just go McDowell. Okay.

Which non-playoff driver makes the playoffs in 2024? Pick one. Chase Elliott. It's pretty easy, right? Chase Elliott. If Chase Elliott is a given, then give us another one. Give us a second driver that missed it. Alex Bowman.

Okay, you're putting Alex in. Hmm. I believe, man, this is tough. It's a real, real tight toss-up between Ty Gibbs and Alex Bowman. I believe that we'll see some changes in the offseason, and Alex Bowman, who was, like, leading the points in the first third of this year, has a healthy year, doesn't break his back and miss any races, and I think Alex Bowman is in the playoffs as well.

All right, let's move on to 2024. Way too early predictions. Who's your champion? My champion for 2024 is James Dennis Hamlin. All right. Oh, man. I'm going to go with Blaney back to back. It has served you well all the way up and down.

Don't jump off the train now. Why is it funny that I picked the current champion? I don't mean, you know. He's going to pick one answer. He just proved he could do it. Predicting the champion in February, not enough. He's doing it in November of the previous year. Who's next year's breakout star?

Ty Gibbs. I'm going to say that next year's breakout star, Ty Gibbs. I don't, I want to go with like a Zane Smith or, you know, Josh Barry, John Hunter and Nemechek, but I just don't know that the cars and the, I don't know. I think Ty Gibbs is in a Gibbs car. Their stuff runs in the top five a lot. And I think he's just trying to get there. So I think you're right, Mike.

Overachiever. Who overachieves? Who will be the surprise? This year? Next year? Next year, buddy. We're 24 now. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Looking forward. We're going to continue to look forward for the next 10 minutes. Okay. I don't know if this counts, but you tell me if it does. I think that RFK will do a better job next year. I think Busher and I think, Kislauski will win. I like it. All right.

Well, what's yours? I know. I'm thinking. Oh, okay. Overachiever. Overachiever. Overachiever. Man. I think that I think John Hunter Nemichick may overachieve. I kind of like the move the teams making manufacturer-wise. They'll be getting a little support through the other successful teams.

It'll be a little motivation for them to do that for John. Hunter, the crew chief that he's got coming up with him, I just feel like that that's setting him up to do that one kind of, not, I don't want to use the word fluke, but freak win, you know, where kind of, you know, that one surprise win, kind of like I'm a McDowell at Indy. I could see John Hunter sort of sneaking in one, you know, and throwing the whole playoff field into a tizzy there. I've got an honorable mention. Okay.

Justin Haley sold me on what Rick Ware Racing is doing when he was here, and I'm now keenly watching what they do. I'm not saying they're going to go off and make playoffs or anything, but we're talking about overachieving. Rick Ware Racing, what we expect of them is not a lot, right? I'm interested to see what Justin Haley can do for them. If they can start stringing together some top 20s, something like that, a couple here and there.

I mean, that would be overachieving. Yep. Underachiever, who is going to drop off? This is a tough one, man. Got to hurt somebody's feelings here. All right. You want me to do it? I'll do it.

I don't like doing it. It doesn't feel good. True X. Really? Okay. I'll say Austin Sindrick. I mean, you know, the two cars, iconic. It's, you know, it's a Miller High Life car for years.

It's just been this car, right? Now, he's just not been able to really get it going. I'm hoping they make the changes necessary in the all season to figure out what it is that Austin Cendrick needs. I think Austin Cendrick can. do it if he gets the situation around him to make him successful. But so far it's been nothing great. Outside of that Daytona 500 win, is there a memorable finish? No.

Right? So I think eventually you've got to say, look, man, this guy's on the hot seat, right? This is like when the pressure is probably already, he probably already feeling the pressure, right? But when does the rest of us, when do the rest of us start to say, hmm, you know, Is the pressure on this guy or what? I think it's next year. I wonder if you have other drivers that you feel like next year is their make or break year. Like, for instance, Harrison Burton.

I watch Harrison because Burton's standing in the booth rack next to me. Harrison runs as good as the other Penske cars. Now, obviously he didn't win a championship. Blaney won a championship in a Penske car. But he often outruns the two, or at least out finishes him. And sometimes measures up or is right sort of below or underneath Ligano throughout the year. There's just time, if you're watching him, qualifying practice in the race, you can see how he is kind of carrying his weight.

Like he deserves a long, you know, a little more of a leash here, a little longer runway. Let me give you one more name. What does Corey LaJoy need to show in 2024? They just need to keep, you know, Corey and this whole team keeps making these advancements from like, okay, top 25s, top 20s, okay? Now they're kind of flirting with that top 15. I think that's who they need to be next year. Corey and this team need to be a 10th to 15th place car weekly. That would probably be their expectation, their hope.

How do you think the new faces of 2020 are going to fare? you mentioned a few. Daniel Hemrick and is coming back into the Cup Series with colleague. Ty Dillon's going over there to run the second car. And so those cars struggled

so badly at Phoenix. It was not good. I think this is going to be a very difficult year on the Cup side for colleague. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know that that's a big surprise to anybody. Josh Barry in the four car for Stuart House racing. Hey, I'm a Josh Barry fan.

Y'all know that. I'm wanting it to go well. There will be, Kevin said it yesterday in the interview. There will be some moments of struggle. There will be times when Josh Barry's going, dude, do I have what it takes? Am I, do I belong here? Do I have the fortitude to go forward, right? And there'll be some dark, dark moments in that first year.

There are for every driver. But I hope to see enough. And so I'll give them that long runway. This year, this first year really isn't about becoming ultra-competitive. It's more about showing glimpses of what they can be down the road, right? You at least need to do that. You at least need to have those few bright pops where you're like, oh, shoot, man, they had a great run today. Man, if they could do that regularly, that's what you.

you need to hear at least once or twice throughout the season for this four car. Yeah, especially for like just team chemistry, like in that shop. Those are the people that really start to get ejected a lot. I agree with everything you said, and I hope to see it as well. Carson Hosevar in a 77 Spire car, you know, Carson, aside from, you know, turning the 40 or the 54 at Martinsville, Carson does not wreck people on purpose in the cup car. I think that that is intentional. I believe that he knows in the Cup series that they will bite back.

And, you know, I think that he will be less likely to make those type of foolish decisions behind the wheel of the Cup car. But I do see it potentially happening again. And I do believe that the Cup series, directors, drivers, everybody involved, will help straighten out that problem for him. and how will he run in this second spire car? The only thing that we can base that off of is how he drove in the 42, which I think he runs very well in that car.

I watch him. I watched him at Phoenix. He drove that car up into the top 20 and hung around all day, didn't cause any problems, and did really well with a team that's trying just to get to the end of the year. But this 77 spire car with Ty Dillon driving it all year is sort of struggled. Tye has done his absolute best

with what he's been given, but I really don't know how to handicap the car. Is it as good as the one that Cori Lo Joy drives? I do not know. Is it secondhand equipment? Is there less money invested? I can only guess.

And so it's hard to handicap the 77 car that Carson is going to be driving. But I have to assume that Carson's future demands that the car is competitive. And so I will not be surprised to see Carson Hosevar push Corey Lejoy, drive Corey Lejoy forward. That's what I believe will happen. Carson's going to have these moments where he outruns Corey

and Corey finds more in himself, which is good. That's what you need from your teammate. Yeah, I'm so conflicted on Carson Hosefar, especially after, you know, you made me think on Tuesday that there's nothing short of an exorcism that's going to have to be required. to get him right.

So, I mean, but there's one thing that we can all agree on. He's like insanely talented, man. He can drive a race car. So, yeah, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, right? Zane Smith's driving for a sort of spire track house effort. You know, it's a spire car, but with support from track house, whatever. I think that he's going to have a career similar to Gillilin, or not a career but a season, similar to Gillen, who is the teammate of McDowell.

Look, I have to look hard to see the improvements in a team like that. Yeah. Right. Their improvements are minimal. They're there, but you really have to be paying attention to them throughout the season to see it. I don't know that Zane is going to have these bright spots. I think you'll have to stare intently at his cup ear that's coming up to be able to really understand if he's having good moments. Where is the potential?

All those things. This is a third car for whatever this is, By our track house, it's still the third effort from either organization. Right. They're both coming together to sort of support this. and, you know, the third car of any three-car team is, you know, they got an A, a B, and a C. And I don't care if it's Hendrick or Penske. You know, not every car gets all of the best stuff, right? There's just, it's impossible to really, like, have A-plus stuff all across the board.

And engineers, every piece, not physical. I'm not talking about tangible pieces. So, you know, it'll be a difficult year for Zane. His patients will be tested. And I don't know that there'll be a lot to look back on in terms of stats and so forth to go, you know, to be ultimately thrilled about. It's just going to be a tough, long year of learning. Sure, but on the flip side of that, if they do have flashes where they're noticeable,

everything you just said makes it even more like. Gilliland stood out to me this year. He did. And otherwise he never would have. This is this, what, third year? Yeah, that's true. That's true. That's not his first year. That's true. That's true. You had to damn look, you look through the weeds to find his ass. Yeah. That's fair. That's fair. So John Hunter Nemichick going into the 42 Legacy Motorsports Motor Club car, I just said it.

I think he's one of those that I could see him popping off some shock wind, you know, using something, not just going out there and running up front and leading every lap, I'm just saying like running good enough to do something strategy-wise that, you know, it backs him into a win. I think that, you know, he'll have days where he struggles, where he runs 30th, then they'll have a day where he'll run 12th. It'll be a little bit of this hot and cold, and, and that's just how it's going to go for him. Yeah, I have nothing else said to that. All right, man, we've, you know, we've got a lot on our place. for the all season.

I don't really have any major trips planned. I'm going to spend some time with my girls. We've got, you know, the holidays and the Earnhardt family reunions to look forward to. We're going to Texas to see Amy's family as well. I know everybody's got a lot on their plate. Don't forget, I'll be going to Florence in a couple weeks to race in the South Carolina 400s, the 250 lap race on Saturday. 18th, okay?

Saturday the 18th. And then, you know, we're just going to take some time off, you know, enjoy the holidays, man. If you started Christmas shopping, Mike? A little bit, but I would say that I, you know, my off-season still got some more hunting to do. You going to do any more hunting? Probably not. Probably won't get a chance. Yeah, I hear you.

I look forward to that and look forward to the work that we get to do in the off-season on, you know, for Dirtymo Media. That excites me. I know that's boring, but that's what I'm looking forward to. Hit the fun and we're live, Dale. Hey, everybody. How y'all doing? This is our Ash Jr. As we do every week.

And it is a final one for the season. And we've had a great conversation with Kevin Harvick, which will be out this week. And, you know, just a lot going on. But we want to get right to it. Andrews here. You have sent all your questions in to Xfinity Racing on Twitter. They have been amazing this year. Thank you.

And we're going to get to a couple more today, and then that's going to be it. We're going to ride off into the holiday season. Speaking of the holiday season, this first one is coming from, Michael, when is it acceptable to start listening to Christmas music? Right now. Right now, right away. Like after Halloween? I don't really, yeah, I think right after Halloween. So I have this old radio.

Well, it's actually, I just bought it, but it's like a, it represents an old radio. It's very cheap. All right. I bought it off Amazon's like 15 bucks, nothing, right? Just plays FM and AM stations. And I got it sitting over in the corner of my garage. I have one here, and I have one at my beach house in South Carolina. And right now, even down at my beach house, it's playing.

in the garage. Nice. Right. And at my house in, in, in, in, in,

in, in, in, it's in my garage, playing, and it's on the same station. And so, right after, I believe,

I don't know, I think it's right after Thanksgiving, they start playing Christmas music, and they play Christmas music the entire month of December, like nothing else.

Traditionally on this station, it plays late 70s and early 80s rock or pop, right? It's sort of a mix-all. Fleetwood Mac and Michael Jackson or whatever, right? It's all this stuff, right?

And so, which I love the station, but immediately it's right after Thanksgiving, I think, it begins to play Christmas music and it won't play nothing but Christmas music. You'll hear like the same 15 songs over and over. Yeah. song last Christmas plays maybe 600 times a day. So, but I like that. You know, I'm all about it. I guess at my age, you're like, yeah, put me in the mood. I'm ready. Dang. All right. Good. Tis

season. Last week you guys gave first date advice. We have a question coming from Evan asking for breakup advice. Like what's the best way to, you know, break the news? Every, every, um, I'll The one thing that I know is mostly true is usually the right thing to do is the hardest. If you have two paths to take on something, traditionally you take the easier route, the lazier route. And that's typically like going to yield the least successful. Well, it's actually, I mean, in anything, right? The hardest, you know, the bright thing to do, the right way to handle something or the right thing to do is to have a conversation with them,

right? Same way you would if you were going to, you know, end any kind of relationship, professional or whatever. You know, you don't do it through text or a phone call or whatever, right? And so if it's something that matters or did matter at one point, I think you got to talk, you got to go have lunch or whatever, right? You got to sit down and have a face-to-face and say, this isn't working out for me. And if they are frustrated or mad or they get up and storm off or whatever, hey, you had. Part of it.

It's part of it. Yeah. And so that's like the deterrent, right? I don't want to deal with that. Oh, I'll just call them, right? I could just, you know, avoid all of that. Well, it makes you look like an ass-ass guess when you do it that way. Yeah.

That's good advice. What's your advice, Mike? Get your stuff and get the hell out of here. That's the only way I've known how to do. That's a little bit more. I'm kidding. I've never been to broke up her. I've always been the broke up E.

Well, how did you prefer it? That's a better right. I don't know. Just send me a note, I guess. Really? A text. Uh-uh. Notarized letter.

Man, tell us the truth. It's alive, man. Give them the truth. I know. Listen, fortunately, I have been married long enough to where I don't even remember what. not true that's not telling the truth okay fine mike notes aren't good Alex would be the one to ask on this he breaks up with a girl every week Alex how does it need to get out you always got to do it in person that's all my advice all right Andrew how about the many many girls that you've sat down the road

and in frustration and anger yeah it's always been in person for me okay you guys all everyone in here is so full of crap large with a large group at a concert live on Ash Jr. No. You take it to a sporting event right as they scored a touchdown. Right, right.

They're happiest moment. You need to get a drink and never come back. That's it. Send a text later. That's so bad. Oh, man. I think we got time for one more. Any way to, this one's coming from Ange,

any way to early New Year's resolution. you guys have. I mean, I don't do those. You don't do them? Yeah. I used to, you know, I used to smoke back in the day, smoke cigarettes. You know, we all, maybe not everybody knows that, but I had that, you know, had that habit for many, throughout my 20s and early 30s.

Boy, I mean, I tried that one. But, I mean, they're dumb. New Year's resolutions are stupid. Don't worry. Don't waste your time. You'll quit something when you're in. ready to quit it yeah you know I don't like them man I mean there's these you know there's these there's these things where I had a buddy of mine he's like I'm not going to drink this whole month

and it's like seven days he made it before he had a beer and I'm like yeah what's a what's a waste of time something about the change of the calendar what I mean what about you guys you guys got changed my mind I mean is there any kind of resolution where you're like boy I'm glad that New years I came so I could finally really buckle down and get that out of my life. I do always look at New Year's as like a way to like set the goals I want to accomplish for the next year. So it's like not something where it's like I'm starting January 1st, but like by the calendar year I accomplish XYZ type of thing. Gotcha. That's good good check checkpoint. Okay. You say so. Nothing for me. I mean. Tim's like I'm not

I'm like, I ain't saying a word. Tim's saying, I got no goals. This is going nowhere. My goal. Ambition, I got to that. I'm not teeing myself up to get it. Keep being awesome. That's my goal.

Oh, my God. Humility might be a good New Year's resolution. Humility. Alex. We'll make the bingo card. I don't do New Year's resolutions either, clearly. So I'm like, I don't know. I probably should, though.

I think my New Year's resolution will be to come up with a New Year's resolution. I think by January 1st, I want to strive to be more like Alex Thames. That's my news resolution right there. That's a big tall order there. It's kind of impossible. We appreciate all the questions, man. Great job all year long. Appreciate you, Andrew, for helping us through these.

It's been fun. The questions, I mean, these today, these are great questions. Keep them coming. We're having a blast with this particular segment. It gets better every year. And again, this is it. For the year, we're wrapping it up after this week. Well, why don't you close us out, man?

It's your last show. Why don't you tell everybody at home how much you appreciate them and send us off into the offseason on a good note. I'll be quick, man. It's been an amazing year. We've had record numbers on the Dirty Moe platform. I think we've connected with fans in a new way, whether it be through the ultimate experience, we had live shows.

So an awesome year all around, nothing but good things. But listen, thank you to everybody that listens to the Dale Jr. Download to all of our podcast. It's you're what makes it happen, right? And we are going to continue pushing out content all offseason through the Dirty Mo Media platform. So don't leave us. We've got some good stuff lined up for the next several months. And then we'll get back after it with our main shows back in February.

So have a good one, everybody. Check out Dirty Mo Media on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.