The Dale Jr. Download - 96 - MECCA OF TRIFECTA

Episode Date: June 9, 2015

Known for its triangle-shaped configuration, Pocono was unable to deliver a third consecutive victory to Dale Earnhardt Jr; Fans are split on “Reaction Theatre”; L.W. Miller joins “It Takes A Nation” to discuss Junior’s passion for outdoors. 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.

This is Dale Jr., and you're listening to Dirty Moe Radio. You're now listening to the Dale Jr. download presented by Spy. Check out Dale Jr.'s signature dirty-mow sunglasses from Spy at Spyoptic.com. Hey, everybody, this is Jr. driving to the airport from Pocono. We had a real, real good car. We thought we did. We had a couple of fast practices Saturday, and I felt like that we were going to have a real fun day-to-day. And we ended up doing that.

So we had a lot of speed in the car. I don't know that we were as good as the four car. He was fast on several occasions. We might have been around where the 78 car was on speed for the first half of the race, at least. And after that, I thought we had everybody else covered. Passed a lot of cars and had a good time on restarts. Made a lot of good things happen, especially if we could restart on the outside. And the guys did a good job on pit road.

We had a real difficult pit stall because the four. had a penalty and had to pick his pit stall last and the only one available was behind us. If I came in behind him, I had to go around him and not get my car angled out for a good exit. And also the 16 was pitted in front of me and he's coming around me all day and getting in his stall and he can't get his car over out of the way so I can get out. I'm not pointed in. I'm not pointed in the stall good to exit and then I got a guy in front of me doing everything he can. So we lost a lot of spots on pit road, two or three on average.

The four lost some spots as well, so it didn't work out for any of us. It was just a bad deal we had to work through all day. Out on the racetrack, we fought loose in term one for most part of the day. I worked the track bar a lot to get the good balance. Passed a lot of cars, being able to use that track bar and adjust on the car. And without that track bar, I'd have just been in the way and holding guys up. But I was able to work on my car, gain on guys. and pass them. So it's fun to be able to adjust from inside the car.

And anyways, we fought loose in turn one and loved the tunnel. Thought we were real fast through the tunnel. The bumps were tough, but we seemed to be getting doing pretty good compared to a lot of guys. Turn 3 was a good corner for us. It was getting better throughout the race. We started out kind of tight down there and got better and better as we went. On the racetrack, we had contact with a five car. It was after a restart. I went through the middle of one and two on the high side of the five. The two car in front of me was having a little trouble trying to get off the corner

and he got loose and I was kind of getting up under him and when he got loose he sort of yanked the car, corrected the car down the track in front of me and I don't know if I would have set still whether we would have hit or not but I kind of yanked my car to the left and it was a bit of an overreaction into the five car and slammed him pretty hard and it ruined my car anyways. I don't know what it did to the five.

Definitely didn't do anything good to it but hurt our car a lot We struggled with cars passing us and trying to get the car back underneath me. We had a lot of tire rubs down the left side of the car, and that was jacking up the tire tents and making the car real greasy. It was real hard to get going and had guys passing me, and then the three got loose underneath me in turn three and cleared to, cleaned out the left rear quarter panel. I pinched him off pretty good there, and he got loose down there.

Then the costume come out luckily. Brad and the 34 got together up in turn one, which was weird, how that all looked. But anyways, I was glad to caution come out because we could work on our car. I don't know where we restarted from there, maybe 28th or something like that. We had a restart past 10 cars. Caution come out.

We had another restart past six more cars. Caution come out. So we were sitting there in 11th, and now we're restarting on the inside with a few laps to go. Not where I wanted to restart. I wanted to restart on the outside. That was where I was making most of the advantage

on the restarts. So we lost a couple spots, fell to 13th. Passed a couple more guys back, finished 11th, I think. We gave up some racing positions. We should have finished third. We gave up some spots racing too hard, but we can race too hard because we got the win. We're locked into chase, and nothing really matters but wins.

Second, tenth, doesn't matter. We just go out there and have fun. We got good speed. We know we wanted to be able to take that speed into the chase. And that's what matters is just having fast cars. where, you know, the luck of the cautions and how things work out for you on the racetrack and the mistakes you're going to make, that's going to decide kind of where you finish. But if you've got good speed, you've got to be happy about that, and we definitely had that today.

We've got to get a little better to beat that four to have those guys cover, at least be able to race with a little bit. Pretty thrilled. And looking forward to Michigan, it's a great racetrack for us, and obviously we come back to Pocono in August. So that's going to be great. Look forward to coming back. to mission you guys enjoyed the download appreciate you Dale Jr. Was that you, Mike Davis? It was running hot. It was T.J. Oh, okay. T.J.

T.J. was driving. Yeah. I mean, that was through the tunnel turn, too, and I was wheeling it. Yeah, were you? Yeah. Going over the bumps, had no problem. What bump? With T.J. majors, Mike Davis. And with my man, Dustin Long. Dustin's back. I am Taylor Zarzer. This is the Dale Jr. download presented by Spy. Ms. Amanda will be back with us next week, thinking about her family as she is on the road this week.

There's no doubt that that car had a lot of speed. And that was the top three car. Without any question, I think that was the top three car. And, you know, that's what its potential was. Maybe you could have had a shot to win if I stay out of trouble. But that was one of those racing deals. Kislauski gets loose. It's impossible to know what's going to happen.

front of you. Junior says maybe he overreacted and went a little too far to the left, runs into Casey, damages his own car, maybe even more than he damaged the five and ends up finish in 11th. But like he said, after restarting in the back like that, you guys still passed a whole lot of cars. Yeah, we pass a lot of cars every week at scenes, but that's all, we've won them other races there, and we had a top three car those weekends too. We weren't the fastest car all the day. You know, we just had, if you get out front, man, it's hard to get around people. I really feel like if we could have had the track position to 78 had at times and got them leads like that, we would have been in the same boat he was.

So, you know, it's just not how it worked out this time. But car showed speed. The guys did great. You know, we struggled in qualifying. Kind of like, seems like that's kind of a normal here. Yeah, but they weren't struggling as much as he said he just butchered that first turn. Yeah. We would have actually qualified a lot better.

He admitted that he made a mistake on that first time. And Pocono was so big. and that session, there was a second session, you only got 10 minutes. If you were all out after three minutes, a lap, your warm-up lap's going to take one minute, your time-lap's going to take almost a minute itself, and then your cool-down lap's going to take over a minute. So that's three minutes off that.

So you only have one minute to cool your motor. You can't chance hurting your motor. But Mike, ultimately, it was a day to be proud of in terms of the way the car competed, and then also somebody that junior is so close to, he gets a victory. He went and celebrated with Martin Truex after his third win at the highest level. And, man, what he's been through personally and professionally in the last couple of years. And that guy's running as good as anyone this year.

You like to see people that are deserving of it, get it. Sure. And he's been running, well, this was no fluke, and everybody knew that Martin needed a win because he deserves it. Forget all the personal stuff that he's been doing. He's just been running extremely well. What is it? 13 top tens and 14 races.

Yeah, he's super hot right now. I mean, my goodness. It's on fire, man. That's ridiculous. With a small team, too. With a small team. So, yeah, Dale Jr. couldn't wait to get done with his media and get over there to Victory Lane.

And he was knocking people out of the way trying to get up there. And then saved his Diet Mountain Dew for Martin's head, which was a really good moment. It was just really nice to see. It was a good moment. You know, I've seen people, I don't know if overstating it is the right word. I just see people talking about it. It's just a nice win. It was a nice moment.

It was good for NASCAR. It's good for Martin, and it is what it is. I mean, I think that you're right from a professional standpoint. It was deserved. It was overdue, maybe. I mean, it was deserved, no question about it. You combine that with how bad I think that the NASCAR community at large felt for him after what he had been through professionally two years ago

losing a sponsor. It was everybody's fault but his. Right. And he loses his ride and his sponsor and has to go find some other shop. So, I mean, you felt bad for him there. You know, obviously what his girlfriend has been through too and everybody has been pulling so hard for her and her fight

and she's been phenomenal. What an inspiration she is to so many. But just for them to be able to celebrate that moment, given through all they've been through, I thought was I think all of us felt good for it. And here's what's interesting about Sherry is that she does not like to be up in the spotlight. Like when Martin Trux wins, she thinks that that moment is for Martin and for the team. And so you won't see her like you see a lot of other girlfriends and wives up there on the front row with their fingers up, you know, talking about, you know, acting about, you know, acting like they're front and center.

You won't find her. And the reason I know that is she said it here on Kelly's podcast last year. And then I had to jump off a golf cart because Amy Ron. Simon was trying to look for Sherry to congratulate her. Well, we couldn't find Sherry and I lost Amy. I couldn't find either one of them, but I couldn't find Sherry, and that's because she was off into the crowd. It wasn't until Martin brought her up and made her get up there.

That's just a good, that's good people right there. Those are people that deserve what they get. He deserves that win. Sherry deserves that moment of feeling good because Lord knows she's been fighting for her life. It's just good all the way around. I can't say it. I mean, it's great.

I don't think anybody's disappointed with Martin and that team winning. They've been there every week, and it was only a matter of time until they got, you know, a victory. And it's just a good story. Good for them. You got one question, TJ. You were buddies with Kevin Hamlin. We went paintballing with Kevin Hamlin. This is Casey Kane Spotter.

Did you have words with Kevin Hamlin? Do you come have words with you? When? After we had contact. No, because it wasn't. I don't think it hurt Casey's car. It kept going. So did you go have words with him?

Yeah. I went, what, Joey Meyer, Bradspot, or? No, not Kevin. I didn't. I never saw Kevin. Did we hit Casey, didn't we? Yes. Yeah, but it seemed to start with Brad.

It did start, yeah. Yeah, it seemed to start with it there. But Casey's car, I don't think, had any damage to, for somehow his car. Okay. They just kept going. They had bigger issues, though. They had that. They're missing their gear.

So they were, yeah, you didn't know that? No. Yeah, they were missing. third gear the last handful of restarts. So that's what was more on their plate than anything else. So you could have said you're lucky you don't have third gear. Yeah, it was on my mind. I want to ask you to do something.

First, I'm going to start with you, Mr. Majors. Watching that race on television, restarts are jaw-dropping. Watching that race. What is it like to spot a restart at Pocono? Because, honestly, I think they were nine wide at one point. I think they were nine wide at one point. You know, we actually had the outside row and the majority of our restarts, and that's kind of where you wanted.

I was okay with the inside lane, too, because we only had one restart where they didn't go, and that was on the inside behind the 11, but the rest of them, I mean, our restart system we've got, it gets us, we still have the run. And when you have the run, you can still kind of pick, and you still have the momentum, and that carries, you know, that momentum carries all the way to one or through one sometimes. And I knew where he was going to go, but I didn't want to broadcast it and stuff like that, because I knew what he was thinking he's going to do what he wants to do anyway when he gets down there. But sometimes, you know, a guy's always get a big run and they always go to the bottom.

Well, that's like the last thing you want to do. Yeah, it didn't seem like you could stick. No, you needed to be in the middle at worst or the high side. You know, you needed to be near the outside because the runoff of turn one is what you want. And you can't be on the bottom like that. I don't understand how these guys keep laying back and getting big runs in the bottom. they go all five wide to the bottom, like four outside, you're screwed when you come off the corner, just so you know. I mean, it's not good.

Yeah, you could see it every single time. I can't see that corner that well. And once they cross start, finish line, I kind of just try to tell him who has the runs at the time and where to watch. And after that, he's kind of on his own. I usually wait until I see a door number until they turn into the corner. That's where TJ says, I'll see you when you come back around. Yeah, see you in 50-something seconds. I do want to hear any good stories from the road.

You don't get to go on the road very much anymore, man. No, that was actually my first race for the year. And so I'll see y'all next year at Pocono. No, we had a good time. Yeah, it was fun. TJ and myself and Dale and Amy stayed in a place and had the dogs, the puppies and those were eventful. And we, you know, junior took the team out, the 48 and the 88.

That was fun. We did go paintballing. and Jimmy came, Jimmy Johnson. And Jimmy... Did you confirm what I've been saying for a while that he's a good human being? He's gold, he is. And what's funny about him is that he, like myself, see, I never had gone really paintballing with these guys.

T.J. and Dale, they do it all the time. But, you know, we don't really know what to expect. Junior shows up like the American sniper. I mean, literally, he looked like Chris Kyle. He even had his, like, you know, Jimmy shows up in skinny jeans and a T-shirt. Yeah, like us. Of course. And Jimmy's like, I have a feeling I don't know what I'm getting into, and I might regret this.

But you know what? As soon as we started, they were having a blast. And Jimmy was right in there mixing it up. And Junior shot the heck out of Jimmy. Yeah. Junior, I don't know how he might have been 10 yards from him. Yeah, it was bad. And, of course, Junior's bringing his, you know, $1,000 paintball gun.

We got Reynolds. And we got Reynolds. Yeah, that kind of just lob. We made by you slingshots. And Jimmy pops out. and Junior, TJ and I were actually on Jimmy's team. This wasn't a 48 versus 88. We just split up evenly.

We just kind of split it up. I made sure I wasn't on a couple guys' teams because I wanted to shoot at. We wanted to shoot at some people, and Junior was one of them. It's true. But Jimmy pops out, and Junior's like, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And then he realized it was Jimmy, so even some more. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And, man, he got him right up the side, and Jimmy lifted up his shirt, and he had weld.

They were so big of bruises. And Junior started actually feeling bad about that. But we had a good time. We all took a couple good shots. I don't think Mike stressed enough what he looked like when we got out of the back of our car. We popped up in the back trunk area, and this dude just started loading up with vests, the canisters. Oh, yeah. This is Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Yeah, and I mean, he literally looked like we were going into combat, and me and Mike are sitting there in our jeans and shirt, and we're like, what? I mean, this guy is like serious, man. He's got the tips cut off his glove so he can pull the trigger, but I mean, we're like, what? I mean, no, he did. He might want to have some children, is I guess, one of the thoughts I have. But, no, I mean, he's, I mean. He's all in, isn't he? Yeah.

But he was all in. He was all in. I mean, he brought his backpacks and his shoes and he's all camoed up. And, yeah, we had a good time. It was fun. He's going to take a fly off a camel's bag at like 50 yards, too. Yeah. Well, I'm glad you guys had fun.

Another track that everybody loves is coming up next week. If you are a true Dale Jr. fan, then you know Junior goes nowhere without his spy sunglasses. I don't either. That's right. And you shouldn't either. That's right. Go to spyoptic.com and check out Dale Jr's signature Spy 88 collection. I'm trying to use emphasis for Mike's all caps here.

It consists of five awesome models, including Junior's favorite, Dirty Mo. Don't forget, you can receive 20% off your purchase by entering discount code nationwide 8,000. That's an exclusive discount code just for Dirty Mode Radio listeners, and it's available now at spyoptic.com. You know why you think that that's something? I think Amanda usually writes the whole thing in all caps. Yeah. Junior goes nowhere without his spy sunglasses.

Actually, Junior goes nowhere without his spy sunglasses. It's time now for reaction theater. I just want to congratulate Martin Truex, Junior on getting his win today. Not very often you see all these drivers coming around one guy just because he goes to Victory Lane. The amount of crap that guy

been through the last couple of years not running good last year, girlfriend getting cancer and going everything he's gone through. It's great to see him having a good year. I'm glad Junior didn't forget his buddy there in Victory Lane. I'm walking around

right now having a beer for Martin where my Bass Pro Shop, Martin Truex, championship winning hat. That's really cool. TJ, I think those guys are championship contenders. Yeah, absolutely. I'm more worried about them.

I mean, I think everybody is, Mike. I mean, I think that's kind of the feeling I had yesterday. Hey, man, let's celebrate for Martin. Congratulations, given all he's been through. All right, now I don't want to see that guy anymore. I mean, my goodness. All right, Martin, you can take a while off, man. Give us a break.

You know? You know what? Also, listen, 13 top tens and 14 races, there is an element of luck involved in that. I mean, we're racing. Now, if you finish 13 top tens and 14, he's been great. I'm not saying he's not been great. But great, Kevin Harvick's also been great.

And he doesn't have, you know, I'm just saying, you also got to be lucky. Minus fuel mileage race is Truex is that's his third or fourth win. That guy's led the most laps like four or five straight weeks. See, Jimmy's got four wins and he hasn't had near the points at Truex. You can say all you want about luck in the top tens. This guy's leading the most laps every week in the last month. That's not lucky.

In the old school point system, I wonder how, I wonder where he'd be destroying it. He sure would. Yeah, if there wasn't a chase. But a fender bender, Taylor, a fender bender. I mean, nothing? No, not yet. Junior hit a bird yesterday. Did you see that?

Saturday. Was it Saturday? Yeah, we didn't hit it yesterday in the race. We hit it. True X hadn't even hit a bird yet. Yeah. Well, maybe he will. Who's next?

Wow, what a great recovery for Dill Jr. in the 88. battle up for 20-9th to 11th in my final run. That's pretty cool, Martin Chewix won. Pass out on the couch, and it's going to be a good weekend, hell yeah. All right. All right. Not very fired up, evidently. He's probably still sleeping right now.

Yeah, sounds like it. Who's next? That's, Casey Kane, better not say nothing else ever again about junior running into him because he just flat-ass ran into him. I don't know what it hurt. what it tore up, but Junior started dropping like a damn rock, and if he don't win it, I hope True X outruns

that B. Harvick, because I don't like that whining it either. All right. Well, you know what? There were a lot of people that were angry on Twitter when that happened. Somebody even tweeted me and said, why do y'all even let him run at Junior Motorsports and he's going to race Junior like that? And I was like, did I see

something different? I'm not going to lie. There was just an incident. He didn't go reckon. I was frustrated with him in the beginning of the race because we ran him down and actually, we had a fender on him going into one a couple times. And this is like, this is early in the race. Like the first run,

we ran him down, and he raced us pretty hard. And junior is, I feel like junior is more of a giver than what a lot of his teammates are. When they catch him, he absolutely gives them, especially early in the race, he gives them no fight at all.

Yeah. Well, and consider this too. They hadn't won a race this year. And either is Jeff Gordon. That whole shop has a, that old division of the team, the organization is not,

want to race this year. So keep that in mind in these next few races. You're not going to win in the first run of the race, though. No, that's true. Guys, I've been in a sense 2004, but I don't think this is our year yet. I think the growing pains. And I don't like what I'm seeing. We have one win

at this time. This was the second win of the year last year. We have the new crew. Some of Carl Edwards, which is fine, but I don't like it, man. He's hoping for better stuff in Michigan. You know, to compete with four. Listen, I think there are a lot of people that are tough on themselves

that are associated with this whole deal, and they're not at the point that that caller was at. I think that the closer you get to the team, I don't think that he would feel that way. There's not any reason to be upset or disappointed or feel like they don't measure up. Certainly, everybody wants more speed to compete with the four, but I think the team is in good shape, DJ.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the team. I think it's slowly molding into what we need it to be. And, you know, I'd rather, I'd rather be hot later this year than hot right now. I think we're having the same conversation over and over. People, we're comparing ourselves to it. We're comparing ourselves. And rightly so, because we're racing against a team that is clearly better than everyone else right now. And so, yes, we do need to be faster.

Until you need to be faster. But, you know. Even when you're that guy, you want to be faster. This is kind of a recurring thing. Like, if you're Harvick, you still want to. be faster, so that never ends. Hey, and you know what? There's a guy that has two more wins than Kevin Harvick that doesn't feel like he's as fast as Kevin Harvick. Jimmy Johnson in the 48th, even with four wins, I think, want as much speed as Kevin Harvick. So it doesn't matter who you are right now.

Good point. Who's next? Hello, friends. Submariners do with deep productions present a dramatic reading. Three score. This continent, a new sport. Conceived in moonshine and dedicated to the proposition that not all drivers are created equal. Junior is engaged in a great battle for the Sprint Cup, testing whether his nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. He has met on many a great track, facing many a great warrior such as Kizlowski, while strong and talent also has failings of judgment that caused this nation great costernation and sorrow.

Though Bradley's teeth be large enough to create incidents on their own, this issue unto a itself shall not deter this nation under junior from obtaining a spread cup. And that victory of the nation, by the nation, for the nation, Sal shall be celebrated. Adelia and a hell yeah. And let his significant other be part of the reaction theater call too. He was creative. You got to give him that.

And multiple people involved. I don't know how long he took him to perform that. I was lost by the third sentence. It was over my pay grade, but I do appreciate that he was created. Who's next? Hey, I really enjoyed your guys' tweets saying that Dale Jr. didn't go, didn't win three in a row, but still ended up in Victory Lane. Well, if his fucking pit crew was worth a d'clock, we would have been there ourselves.

We didn't gain or even maintain any positions all day long, whatever. Dale Jr. went over that earlier, and I, I think that if you really watched the race, you could see he was boxed in all day. And there's nothing Biffle could do about it either. Yeah, although I think it might. I love to blame Greg Biffel for things, and I can't blame him for this. Right, and he flew with us, by the way. Two there and back.

But anyways, no, I think that in fairness to him, in fairness to fans, Junior's explanation and Jr. talking about how he was boxed in really was necessary for us to understand that situation without it, which is also saying now without dirty mobile. radio, then people really don't understand what the situation was. And so, therefore, you just automatically blame the pit crew. But it wasn't the pit crew's fault.

What you're saying is dirty mode radio has changed lives. Well, it's certainly making people smarter. Yeah. It's amazing. Who's next? Hey, Dale Jr., it's your biggest fan. William, Sean Wilson, here from Newport, North Carolina. Hey, look, I know you didn't do your best today, but you've got a fast call.

Sometimes, you know, we win some and lose something. Dale Jr., I'm your biggest fan. Man, you didn't drive worth a bleep today. I love you, buddy. I know you didn't do your best. Of course he did his best. I like when they used their whole names, man. That was good.

I don't know why you didn't try today. Yeah. That's funny. Who's next? It was a nationwide 88 crew, and Dale Jr. You're a heck of a jack. You know, position's lost. To do them next week at Michigan, I tell you?

Pretty fired up about Michigan, by the way. Yeah, I'm ready. What he's alluding to is I put up. Instagram video of us. TJ was driving. That's why it was so good. I was in the front seat. Dale and Amy were in the back seat,

and I put a video up of going across the bumps and turn two. It didn't screw us up at all. TJ is saying, these aren't nearly as bad as what you guys made out to be in G. It's because we're in a big truck. You would have thought the race wasn't going to happen on Friday.

Well, he's right. They made a big deal about it. I mean, you think the dude from the truck series that won't do all, don't do interviews, man. It was about that bad. What? Truck series. What are you talking about? Eric Jones.

Oh. Terry got a little fired up about that. We had a line full of ambulances. No, he's right. I'm on T.J. side on that. That's funny. How old is that guy?

20. Maybe. Do your interview. 19. Take after Deljee. Yeah. Basically. Take the good with the good, the bad with the bad.

I agree. Thank you guys and your sponsors and go on to the next one. Let's play one more. No, Harvick or Johnson could a get her done. Not Gordon or Hamlin, they just weren't fast enough. Not Kane or Kansas. They were just too slow. Not even Kittlowski.

Could get a win at Pocan. No, that's where juniors go to Victory Lane. Now it wasn't there. But I'm guessing he's had a paleo On his flight back from the place Where his buddy Martin Drewx Just won at Pocono Hey, congratulations to Martin Truex

It was a pretty awesome victory to see him in Victor Lane And Dale go and congratulate him Hopefully a junior can go get it next weekend in Michigan Dale yeah That was good I like that's where juniors go It's where juniors go to go Way down to Pocono

Juniors have won three consecutive races at Pocono. It's true. Who went up before, Junior? Sam Hornish, Jr.? No. No, I don't think that. Bobby Hamilton, Jr., yeah.

Junior Johnson. Loy Allen, Jr. I have a feeling we're going to come up with a lot of those all of a sudden, but we're happy for Martin Truex, Jr. But it's time for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., to get a win at Michigan, where he's got a couple of them. I think you had a child that was born when Junior won at Michigan. I did.

My youngest. Yep, during Father's Day weekend. Reaction theaters open 24-7. All you have to do is call toll-free 1-855-740 1902, and leave us your voicemail message. We'll play the best each week right here on Dirty Mo Radio. Time now for It Takes the Nation, presented by Nationwide. So I was in Pocono over the weekend,

and I ran into Martin Trucks Jr. in the driver-owner lot. And I'm checking out with my first race of the year. So I haven't seen people in a while. And I asked Martin how he's doing. And all he could talk about was this hunting property that he and Dale Jr. have gone in on. And the gentleman that actually is in studio with us right now. L.W. Miller, you're starting to wear many hats around here. You started off as Kelly Sousman.

Okay. You're cool with that, right? I mean, Kelly Sousman. Dale's brother-in-law. But then director of motorsports. And now I'm going to give you a title that's probably something like director of outdoorsy hunts and property management. Is that okay? Yeah, and other than Kelly's husband, that's the one I like the most.

Okay. Second to Kelly husband, Kelly's husband, that's the one I like. So what's going on here with this hunting property? You guys have gotten in on this. You've got Dale Jr. fired up about it. Martin Trucks fired up about it. And that's really just ready for you to deliver. Yeah, Dale last fall approached me about wanting to get into doing some more hunting in the future

and wanted a place of his own so he could just go and come as he pleases and really wanted to get involved and asked if I had interest. And of course, I did. And so Dale and myself and Martin Truex sat down and kind of drew a demographic of what we wanted to have in this hunting property. And, of course, it was on my shoulders to go out and do the legwork to find it. And we found a real nice piece of hunting property and purchased it back in the first of the year. And, of course, now it's time to get, you know, elbow deep and getting all the work done. So they're busy racing on weekends.

So I guess I get to carry that torch myself. Was Big Deer number one on the list of things that you needed on the hunting property? Dale's, Dale didn't, you know, of course, that's a, you know, I love hunting and have spent my whole life hunting and any outdoors. So for me, I envision something when I think of a project like this. And I asked Dale his envision, and he had none. And Martin was not much more helpful. But what they both made clear was they would like this to be a place that they will never want to go anywhere else. So I used that as my parameter as I was looking.

And, of course, Big Deer was number one on that. That's interesting. Dale's always enjoyed hunting, but I wouldn't actually call him Richard Childress either. You know, he's not going to Africa and hunting exotic animals, but he's starting to see or show some of this passion that his dad had. And his dad was obviously avid about this stuff, and he would do it any week that he could. You're starting to see that a little bit out of Dale Jr.

Like he and Kerry and Kelly went in on this Earnhardt outdoors. They've started Earnhardt Outdoors, which is, you know, promoting this outdoorsy lifestyle. And now this hunting property. Where is this coming from? You know, I think, Dale, I think anybody that has a love for the outdoors obviously goes hunting the first time and loves it. Obviously, with his career path and racing, there was not a lot of opportunity for him to do that. He's trying to make himself as a race car driver.

And now as he's settled in, he's obviously succeeded as his career is a success. And I think he looks at the future and thinking, you know, he wants to have a place to spend time in the outdoors and do the things that he's wanted to do, but just hasn't had maybe the time to do. and the fact is that the chances that he does get presented now to go hunting and do stuff like that always require an additional cameraman in the tree or whatever it may be versus this scenario Dale can come and go as he pleases and he can you know if he wants to sleep in one morning and not hunt he can sleep in and not hunt so I think it's just where he's going as you know he's matured and where he's at in his life and this is something that he looks at that he will be a fun project for him and he does I mean he you know I felt like I would overwhelm them at times with dumb questions, I guess, in lack of other words for it. So he wants to be involved and pick out the gates that we're putting up. And, you know, if we're going to plant trees, here's where we should plant trees. And we want a food plot over here.

I mean, we actually went up there two weeks ago and just spent the day riding around a property. And I was, you know, very pleasantly surprised of all the input that he had because at the end of the day, I want him to feel like this is his not just a project that I'm out there doing, but I want him to feel like, you know, hey, this is where we wanted to put this tree stand. and we wanted to turn that field into corn and this field into soybeans and all that stuff. So, I mean, I was really pleasantly surprised that we had just a great time up there. And, you know, he and Martin came up on their way to the track. And it was just, it was an awesome day out in the woods.

And I think that's those days are the days that make this, him want to do things like this. Let's talk some racing. I feel like our shop is quite full. Have you noticed that? Do you feel like that there's a lot of race cars and a lot of people in our shop? As director of motorsports, I get reminded very often that our shop is very full. So give me the state of the union if you had to give it for junior motorsports. What is your assessment on where we are right now with the teams and with the series that we're racing in?

You know, I think we're honestly right where we want to be. And, you know, we had a super successful year last year that set the stage for expectation this year, which we all knew was going to be hard to carry. But that being said, I feel we're doing it. You know, we're not leading to points. We haven't won as many races, but yet we're every week right there. And, I mean, you know, talk about Proud. I mean, we're starting at the bottom of the tree.

I mean, we have the Junior Motorsports late model team that's just been, they went to South Boston this past weekend. Twin features, Josh Berry, the driver of our 88 speed co-car, wins the first feature. The second feature, William Byron and the Liberty University wins the second feature. So, I mean, a junior motorsports sweep at a track that we don't even run at regularly. We've been there maybe three times ever. And one of the more competitive tracks. So, I mean, that right there says,

where they're at. I mean, they're right now a force to be reckoned with wherever they go. So, I mean, I think that they're just doing great. The truck team with Cole Custer and Haas Automation, again, can't say enough or were that. I didn't really know how it was going to go, had a lot of belief in Cole and had seen in the past how good he was, but didn't know how it would be, you know, getting into the truck deal and went to Martinsville for the first time and he's up there contending for a win. One Charlotte with Casey Kane driving the truck and then, you know, went to Dover and, and again had a truck that Cole was in competition to win until we had a fuel mileage issue. So, I mean, I think that that says, you know, that team right there has carried their cross well

and very proud of where they're at and what they're doing. The Xfindi cars, obviously, you know, Kevin winning in the 88's been huge. And, you know, Chase and Regan, Regan, Chase has done great. He's been there, you know, could have won. Iowa had not been for one caution flag. Regan competitive every week, you know, ran top three at Sharis. I mean, he's right there better than ever. So I feel real strong with that team.

Ben Rhodes stepped in there, and we haven't really had a chance to showcase his talent yet, but he's got the Chicago race coming up. So he ran Iowa's first race. Nobody had really expectations because he, you know, just getting his feet wet, hadn't raced all year. Now I feel that they're going to go on to Chicago and really expect him to shine.

So I'm really looking forward to that as well. So I think we're doing great. Let's go back to the trucks. Everybody keeps asking me, being that I'm a PR, guy. What is our intentions with the trucks and could we possibly run a full season schedule? Can you help me with that answer? Yeah, I mean, that's obviously something that's in our radar and something that we would like to see happen. I mean, we have all the belief in Cole Custer that a team could have. We know he can go out there and compete for a championship and, you know, we just

got to put all the pieces together to get it, you know, set up for next year and hopefully we can go out there with him and compete for a championship and you just never know what else will will show up there in a truck series. I ask you this once a year, but I haven't asked you in 2015, so I want to see if your answer is any different. You're a decorated, modified driver. You've won a lot of races, but you hung it up a couple years ago, and I'm just curious, do you ever have that itch?

Do you want to get back in a car? Well, I think that, you know, the time of the year makes the difference. Last fall towards the end of racing season, I was real close, and Kelly was 100% behind me to get another modified and go do some racing and fortunately for all of us about that time hunting season set in. And it washed my brain of those evil thoughts. So as of today, I'm enjoying the time I spend with Wyatt and Carson and Kennedy and Kelly and just doing the things we want to do on the weekends rather than having to go to the racetrack.

But I certainly miss getting in a race car buckling up and racing, but everything else around it, I'm okay missing. But you know they race at other times the year, not just deer hunting season. I know. It seems that's when I get the bugged way. Is that right? At the end of the year? What is that about?

I think, you know, in the middle of the summer, like right now, it's on a 90-degree day, you think, man, I'm glad I'm not out there sweating my butt off at the racetrack. Come September, it starts cooling off, and it's, you know, you're watching on social media all the different races going on, and that's when all the big races are at the end of the year, and I'm thinking, man, I should be there. And fortunately, about the first of October hunting season starts, and I can get those thoughts out of my mind. Well, I'm going to ask you again next year, so just it's going to keep. coming.

All right. Because I could always see you back in there just for one-oh, you know, comeback tour. Well, fortunately, Wyatt, you know, I'm sure we'll probably have some need for racing before he's all said and done. So I can juggle the fact that I can put it off until he's ready to race or I could always just go ahead and jump off the cliff and let him experience his dad being a race car driver too. So it could go both ways. I think it's probably a valid question for you to ask.

All right. be early. Well, W. Miller, I really appreciate you joining us here on Takes Nation segment presented by Nationwide. It's a lot of fun talking to you, and we'll do it again sometime. Hey, folks, Nationwide already provides awesome behind-the-scenes coverage of all things, Dale Jr. on Twitter and Facebook at Nationwide 88. We've been talking about it all year long. Well, guess what? They've joined Instagram. So check them out on Instagram at NW88. That's NW.88. tomorrow, June 10th, around 11 a.m., be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram account, as it will be the first place that they revealed Dale Jr.'s patriotic paint scheme

that he will run at the Daytona July rate. Don't forget, NW88, go follow them on Instagram, and remember, Nationwide is on your side. Here's what's coming up this week on Dirty Mo Radio. MRN reporter and former Miss Sprink Cup, Kim Kuhn, will be joining me, Tiff Daniels, when I sub for Kelly this Wednesday on Fastlane Family, presented by Wella Professionals. On Thursday, tune in to Junior Motorsports Up Front presented by Dale's Paleo with Regan Smith and Heath White.

And don't forget, you can always stay up to date on all of Junior's at track press conferences by tuning in to said Junior presented by nationwide. Dirtymo Radio podcasts are available free of charge 24-7 on Dale Jr.com, iTunes, and all major podcasting outlets. Let's throw the white flag. White flag right there, white flag. Junior has been nominated. for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards for Don't Try This at Home.

I guess it's called the Don't Try This at Home Award. Voting is underway and it runs through July 9th at www.nick.com. On Thursday, Jr. and Amp Energy will be heading out to the 7-Eleven store at 7-4-0-Smith Boulevard, North Carolina, 28027. If you are in the area, that's the 7-Eleven, about a mile from Hendrick Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Junior will be there from 12 to 2 p.m. to sample the newest AMP Energy flavors with fans, so many people actually call into reaction theater or tweet us saying that they'd love to have a drink with Junior. Well, here's our opportunity.

There you go. I guess so. Speaking of Amp Energy, Dale Jr. will be driving the Amp Energy Passion Fruit paint scheme this weekend in Michigan. Fans voted on this design several weeks ago on the AMP Energy Facebook page. It's the black and pink paint scheme, so you won't be able to miss that one out on the track. Wow. How about that? Junior in a black and pink car.

He drove the Batman Mobile to Victory Lane there a few years ago. But it wasn't pink. That's true. saying it was different. When Junior gets to Michigan on Friday, he and Regan Smith will take part in a media event to promote Swab Men Heritage Edition products. Swave Men is sponsoring Regan's number seven car this weekend, so the guys will be talking haircuts and stuff.

Regan needs some hair to cut, doesn't he, T.J.? Anyways, should be fun time. Check out Swab Men and Heritage Edition Edition Products. Ladies, Swab has plenty of products for you, too. Joining Regan in the Xfinity race this weekend, Junior Motors has Chase Elliott at the number nine Napa Chevy, and Kevin Harvick will be in the number 88 Morton Building. Morton Building Chevy. That race gets underway Saturday at 1.30 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1.

Saturday night, Cole Custer, and the number is double zero. Hoss Automation Truck Team. They'll be in action at Gateway Motorsports Park. Great track. Have you been there, T.J.? You spotted there? St. Louis? Yes, I have spotted there.

I may be going there. I'm not sure yet trying to work out some logistic stuff. He might be there. Saturday night. I might be there. And so you go see, would you be spotting Cole? No, I would be spotting another day. Well, TJ, if you go, that race starts at 8.30 p.m. Eastern time.

He's working on Eric Jones. I'm kidding. Right, right, right. Clear. Whoops. Is his media coach? How about the truck team? Obviously, Sunday is race day for Dale Jr. The Sprint Cup guys at Michigan, they'll get started at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Fox Sports 1. You missed it because you were reading. But when I said Eric Jones, you said clear, whoops.

That's spot for Eric. All right, Eric. You don't really that man. You know who he's most mad at, though? Can I just say this? I'm going to say it. I don't care. He is most mad at Colwit.

Yeah, the dude has zero racing sense. Zero. He caught him a zero bar. Zero bar. Listen, man, he can't see over the steering wheel. Neither can I, but I have more. I'm telling you, man. It's bad.

T.J. left Pocono all kinds of mad at Colwood. Do you want to say why? It's just every week, man. He doesn't. What does he do? He's a great guy, like, away from me. But in the car, man, he's just always where he shouldn't be or always at your quarter panel on exit.

Always just kills two laps where, like, if you pass him, if you're catching him in three and four, and not only does he kill that lap, he races you off a four, so he kills your next lap too. You understand? You know what I mean? I do, yeah. He makes the race so much harder on himself than what he needs. What's he in the 36 car? 35 car.

He makes it so much harder on himself. We pitted. We come out with tires. We're like three car lengths behind him going to turn three with four tires, outlap. outlap, like going to fly. I just think if you gave him some telephone books to sit on, he'd be fine. I'm just saying.

He needs data's wooden blocks from the Goonies, man, or Indiana Jones or something. We're going to get in trouble. Good stuff. Mike, that was the greatest white flag read. Yeah, I'll tell you what, I felt it. I felt all the way through it there. And, by the white flag this week was sponsored by Under Armour

since TJ and I both are wearing Under Armour shirts. Yeah, Under Armour. Yeah. Under Armour, Team Apparel for Hendrick Motorsports and Future Motorsports. There you go. We'll be back next. week, Dustin, thank you so much. Have fun putting all this together. Yeah, good luck, Dustin. For Dale Earnhardt Jr., for Amanda Wolfmeyer, for Travis James Majors, for Mike Davis. I don't

know his middle name. I'm Robert Taylor-Zarzer. This has been the Dale Jr. Download Presented by Spy. Thanks for listening to Dirty Mo Radio. Thanks for checking out another episode of the Dale Jr. download presented by Spy. I hope you guys enjoyed the show. Now go online to spyoptic.com and check out all of Dale Jr.'s signature 88 collection. If you find a pair you like, enter discount code nationwide 88 at checkout and you're going to get 20% off your purchase. Happy shopping.