The Dale Jr. Download - Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 2 - Clash of the Iron Gladiators

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

With the scene set, it’s off to the races in 1980. The NASCAR Cup Series heads out to Riverside, California, to begin the season, and sophomore Dale Earnhardt is hoping to improve his road course performance. He will, in fact, finish runner-up to Darrell Waltrip, who, after a narrow loss in the 1979 points race, is regarded as a championship favorite for this year. Dale caps his successful West Coast trip off with a new season sponsor and a contract extension with Rod Osterlund, and he’s understandably feeling at the top of his game.He rolls that confidence into Daytona Beach, where he shows his first glimpses of supernatural ability on the superspeedway high banks. He makes a last lap pass on the outside of Darrell Waltrip to pick up his first victory at the track, the Busch Clash. But when all the marbles are on the line in the Daytona 500, he has to go toe to toe with Buddy Baker and the fastest stock car in the country: Waddell Wilson’s Gray Ghost.This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you, or online at BassPro.com. This project is in partnership with MRN, the Motor Racing Network, and the Appalachian State University Stock Car Collection.FanDuel: Must be 21+ and present in select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino) or 18+ and present in D.C. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call [phone] for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York. 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 Dirtymoe Media. This episode of Becoming Earnhardt is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, North America's premier outdoor and conservation company. Plan your next adventure at a Bass Pro Shops near you or online at BassPro.com. Later in the episode, my sister Kelly shares her unique perspective on life with dad away from the racetrack. Now buckle up. Here's a brand new episode of Becoming Earnhardt, presented by Bass, pro shops.

Man, I tell you, it just feels good to run to win here in front of the hometown crowd. I've dreamed and thought about it for a long time, and it's, you know, it's just great. I want to say a word to his mother. I'll put her on the spot. Martha, you've got to be proud of this boy. I can't talk. I'm so happy. Well, I can see that you are.

You know, you've seen him come a long way in a short period of time here in two years. I sure have. It's hard to imagine dad is an up-and-comer. I think most of us remember him as the large. larger-than-life figure that he would become, the kind of guy who could change the feel of a room when he walked into it. What a driver, Earnhard, has turned out to be in less than two years on the Winston Cup tour. If there's ever been a tornado on the racetrack, these drivers describe Earnhard as that. But at this point in our story, he's just a 30-year-old stock car sophomore nipping at the hills of giants.

He and Darrell Walker, two of the sensational youngsters to come out of the seat in the Wednesday Cup racing. challenging the veterans like Petty and Baker. Trying to make a name for himself in the big leagues before he finds himself back in Carolina racing the short tracks. We asked you yesterday if you had the experience to pull it off here today. Well, I remember what? Killing happened to kill and Dunning last year in the 500. When Daryl started to shut me off on the inside, I just went to the outside and it paid off.

On this episode of Becoming Earnhardt, Dad looks to start the 1980 season off with a bang. proving he belongs in the NASCAR Cup garage for years to come. He makes some daring moves. He has all the confidence in the world and his own ability. He's just beside himself. He can't even get his safety equipment unhooked. I can't believe, Ned. This team really worked hard.

Man, I just can't believe it. All right, it's time to start the 1980 season. Remember, back then in 1980, the season didn't start in Daytona like it does now. The teams are going to drive all the way out to California to start the season at the festival. famous Riverside International Raceway in January. We have the Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California for race one of 31.

Now in the first episode, I mentioned there was an interesting tie between the Reagan campaign and Dad. And here is where all that comes into play. Mike Kerb, who today is a very well-known car owner in motorsports and record label executive, was at the time serving as the lieutenant. governor of California. And in 1980, he also served as the co-chairman on Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. He was invited to serve as Grand Marshal at the Riverside event by Les Richter. Les Richter, the president of Riverside International Raceway, unless you have to be enjoying this one today. Either would represent our sport in a super way.

January of 80, Les Richter had been one of the co-chairman of my campaign where I was elected, the lieutenant governor. Here's Mike Kerb explaining how it all went down. Bill France and I want to talk to you. We want you to get involved with the car. I said, what do you want? He said, Dale Earnhardt. Dale wants to run the whole season,

and Osterlin is only committing a partial season at this point. Maybe he'll run the full, and we're wanting you to come in essentially as a sponsor. So starting the season at Riverside, Dad's car would carry Mike Curb Productions as a sponsor, and it'd be on the car for most of the year. Dale Earnhardt. He's in the Mike Curb-Hodgdon-Olesmobile today. The race began on January 13th,

but it was stopped on lap 26 because of rain and wildly postponed a whole week later on January 19th. Got to wonder what did the teams do during that week. Obviously, they probably all went back home. I wonder what they did with all their equipment. I guess maybe it stayed at the track. Well, rain has washed away the concluding lapse of the Winston Western 500 here at Riverside International Raceway. An interesting tidbit of history here is that Osterland Racing is going to field a car for the legendary Dan Gurney.

Dan's been retired for 10 years. There's a really cool picture of Dad and Dan chatting during the weekend, and I'd love to know what they talked about. I think Dad had a lot of respect for Dan and his history and success, and he was actually going to race all the way up to second place in that Australand car, which was numbered 48 for this race, but he would retire with transmission problems on lap 79. Mechanical problems for Dan Gurney, that'll end his day.

Now, Dad and Darrell Waltrip are going to end up being the story here for this race. Strongest car in the field right now appears to be the Gatorade car of Waltrip. He is pulled away from Earnhardt, the second place machine by about 15 car lane. First, Darrell Waltrip had a flat tire. Walter, heading for pit road. And he took a back door shortcut to get back to Pitt Road. Whoa, I don't know if you can do that. And this would result in a 30-second penalty from NASCAR.

Now, he'd eventually make up the lost time during a caution and resume the lead. Meanwhile, Dad's going to charge from 5th and begin challenging Darrell as the laps wind down. Bernhardt has really just suddenly run right up through the packs and run up to try to catch Darrell Waldr. He ends up losing time when he goes off course into the dirt and has to settle for a runner-up finish. But considering this is only the third time on a road course, this is a pretty impressive performance. And we aren't the only ones who noticed this improvement. So did his boss Rod Oswald. Why was Dale successful?

Because he could run at every track there was, right? And he had a natural talent for him. That's the voice of Doug Richard, who in this race is just a tire changer and a mechanic on dad's car. I really think he adapted more than most people. I don't think he saw it as a challenge. He just saw it as, this is what I've got to do. You know, that's the only thing I can really explain it. So, with the team's full-time sponsorship locked up through Mike Kerb and a strong start to the 1980 season,

Rod Osterlin signs dad to a five-year extension on his contract. with a three-year option. This will extend him through the 1986 season. At this time in NASCAR, long-term contracts weren't really all that common. Darrell Waltrip with Diagard was about the only other one in the garage. Driver deals had always been done on the handshakes. Again, Deb Williams. If anybody has seen the movie Stroker Ace,

Bert Reynolds has this huge contract that he's going through from, I think it was Clyde Torkel. That's a spoof on the Darrell Waltrop-Dygard contract. Dad was quoted as saying, we're building a team and I think we'll reach 100% this year. When five years are up, we'll probably sign another five-year contract. Another explosive rumor floated by the Greensboro Daily News in January of that year was that Junior Johnson and Bush Beer

may have interest in dad taking over Kell Yarborough's ride, for the 1980 season. Earnhardt, who has really become an overnight sensation, so to speak the fans have adopted him as the newest hero to come along in Winston Cup Racing. Yeah, that was the most coveted ride at that particular time. You had the 11, you had the 43, the 21. Everybody respected Bud Moore, too.

That Bud Moore was a coveted ride as well. Here's a quote from that article. Perhaps the best compliment Earnhardt received was after the season. When feelers were extended, inquiring if he might be available to replace Kell Yarborough in the junior Johnson car this year, Earnhardt wouldn't confirm the rumors that sprouted in early December that Johnson's sponsor Bush wanted him in the car. So the teams have returned from the season opener at Riverside and dad has a brand new five-year contract, a full season sponsorship, and a runner-up finish to his name.

Now it's time to head to Daytona for Speed Weeks, starting off with the second running of the Bush class. From Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is MRN, the Motor Racing Network, with coverage of Daytona 500, full position qualifying, and the Bush clash of 1980. Remember at this time, the clash was limited to poll winners of the previous year. Dad had picked up four polls in 1979. And he's going to start fifth in the race trailing some heavy hitters like Bobby Allison and the Hodgdon Moore Mercury.

And if Buddy Baker, Charlotte, North Carolina has the outside front row in that NAPU are Darrell Waltrip and Neil Bonnet, the DiGuard Gatorade Oldsmobile and the Pure Lator Mercury, that makes up the field for the Bush Clash of 1980. Well, we're getting down to it, the Bush Clash with 12 of the best Winston Cup stock car drivers in the world over a million dollars worth of equipment moving down the back. In just a moment, that safety car will dive on the pit road and we will be underwerew. with probably the fastest race that has ever been run here at the Daytona International Speedway. On the front row, Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker. Darrell Walter and Neil Bonnet back in row two, and here they come. And they drop the green flag.

Bobby Allison gets the jump as there was a little mix-up on the start. Some of the drivers get caught back in the pack, and Allison set sail down in turn number one. Darrow Waldrop, going fourth. Fifth is Dale Earnhardt, 6th, K.L. Yarborough, Harrogant, is 7th. Going eighth is Joe Milligan, Gunning Parsons. Single file, they come out of that fourth corner and they are screaming as they come down to the start.

Let's keep her eye on Dale Earnhardt. They have a real tight draft with Walter Earnhardt and bought it. Three cars have established a little bit of breathing room. They are Walter, Earnhardt, and Bobby Allison. They have three car legs on fourth place, Cale Yarborough. The white flag is waving.

They're in turn. One on the final lap. Earnhardt trying to draw in for the lead as they head to three. They have turned to wick up, But here comes Earnhardt. He is flying. He has gone past Walter Bundy. While they shuffle those positions around back there for second spot,

here comes the rookie driver. During the last lap off a turn two and down the backstretch, Dad would lead a freight train in the outside line around Darrell Waltrick to pick up the wind. Dale could do anything with a car. But he would do things sometimes that would absolutely make you kick you off. He said, what the hell are you thinking? It kicked you off. That little grin, you know, that he always had.

He said, well, you know, the guy was in my way. Earnhardt will win the Bush Clash. Earnhardt has won the Bush Clash of 1980, collecting some $50,000. Let's go back down to Victory Lane and Ned Jurant. They're still unhooking the safety paraphernalia on this beautiful yellow, blue Osmobile, that Dale Earnhardt. He is so happy, Mike Joy. that he's just beside himself.

He can't even get his safety equipment unhooked. Dad said in Victory Lane, they say I'm inexperienced, but I got some experience racing these guys last year. They would not only talk to me, but I'd learn from them while we were on the track. Well, Dale Earnhardt, congratulations on a super run there, and what a run it was.

Can't believe it, Dan. This team really worked hard. Come down here, and, man, I just can't believe it. Well, we asked you yesterday, had the experience to pull it off here today and you seem to have a lot of confidence i remember what killing happened to kill and done it last year in the 500 when darrell started to shut me off on the inside i just went to the outside and it paid off this would be dad's first of six bush clash wins in his career now next up would be the two twin qualifying races that are going to set the starting

lineup for that year's daytona 500 boy these iron platy eaters battle these 37-100-pound iron horses as they come off the number four-quarters. Earnhardt goes downstairs, Bonnet tucks in on him. Baker goes high and tucking into the draft behind Baker's jaw-brothert. Dad is going to be in the first twin race, and he started third and was running pretty well before blowing an engine on lap seven. Dale Earnhardt down the back straightaway just exploding an engine as he works his way off the corner number two. Your leaders are now in turn four. The smoke trailing from Erdhart's machine. What a Tough break for him as he heads down the backstretch here.

The rookie driver from last year of the 1979. Rookie of the year, Earnhardt, takes his car back to the garage area, the Australon-Osmobile. He's going to finish 31st, and that engine failure in the twin 125s will have him starting deep in the Daytona 500 and 32nd spot. Don't go anywhere. There's more becoming Earnhardt presented by Bass Pro Shops coming up. But first, check out what my sister Kelly has to show. share about our dad's love for the great outdoors. My dad picked up his love at the outdoors, I think, from my pepawrout.

I think just because my dad hunted so often that it, you know, it was something that I wanted to try and do. I mean, literally, any opportunity that my dad got away from the racetrack in seasons of hunting, he was hunting. So he would be gone weeks at a time, you know, he would go hunting during the week, hit the racetrack. Wasn't anything for him to hunt the next week, you know, and hit the racetrack. But that's the thing about hunting is like the seasons are short, so you've got to get it in there.

And my dad did a lot of trips, you know, to New Mexico and Texas and a fair amount of far-off places. It just was always something that we knew was available and he had such a love for it that I think it made me want to want to do it too, you know, and make me find out more about it and find out why he loved it so much. A lot of the times that dad and I spent outdoors would be kind of on the farm when I was a little bit older. kind of in my teens and 20s. We really looked for any opportunity that we could spend time with our dad and because he enjoyed being out on the farm so much,

we would do anything to kind of get on the farm with them. So a lot of that was like bailing hay in the spring and in the fall or, you know, doing something at the barn when they were moving animals or cows or something like that or riding the property checking property lines, checking fence lines, things like that. So, you know, that was special time in the truck, just the two of us on many occasions where, you know, you're just checking on the farm and

doing different things out in the farm like that. You could be camping, you could be hiking, but if those places don't exist, then we have nowhere to do that. So, you know, I think if you're an outdoorsman, you're a conservationist. I know my dad bought up lots of land here in Ardell County and, you know, wasn't a fan of developing being land and things like that. I mean, we wanted to keep and create places, you know, so that you could have wildlife and all of those kinds of things that you do outdoors.

So he was very, very big into that and did a lot of different things with people in that arena like Johnny from Bass Pro and Richard Childress and people like that. The Earnhardt family has always relied on Bass Pro shops for our outdoor adventures. And that tradition continues with me today. I grew up shopping there and now it's a place I love sharing with my own family. gearing up together for everything from weekend getaways to fishing in the pond. I'm also incredibly grateful for the support Johnny Morris and the entire Bass Pro team have shown across our business ventures from the race team to Dirtymo Media.

They believe in what we're building and they've stood behind us every step of the way. They're not just great partners, they're great people. I also admire Bass Pro's unwavering commitment to those who serve our country. Their legendary salute program is one of the many ways they show support, offering a 10% everyday discount to active duty military, veterans, and first responders. It's their way of saying thank you to the heroes who protect our freedom and way of life. To learn more and see full details,

visit basspro.com backslash legendary salute. Well, good afternoon, everyone. The most prestigious race in the world of motorsports. The Daytona 500 has 42 of the most talented drivers around ready to roll here in just a few minutes. There's no driver in the world of motor racing who doesn't dream of winning this one, but only a handful have chased that dream.

David Pearson almost 20 years to win the 500 in his long career. And Bobby Allison chased his first 500 win for almost 20 years before he did it. 30-second starter, a driver who blew his engine while running the Thursday qualifying race. That's why he's so far back in the field, Dale Earnhardt. Some guys out there that's rookies, but it won't be too bad coming from back there if I can just get up there for a couple of them get away from the pack or so what. And the Daytona 500, Dad wasted no time charging to the front, and he appeared to be the only car that had anything for Buddy Baker,

who's driving that famous gray ghost. That was just one thing you knew that you were going to have to outrun him. And Carter drops that green flag in the field is away at the 22nd Annual Daytona 500. 195 miles per hour. Baker stands on the hammer as they come off turn four and head to the tower. Folks, we have smoke on Dale Waldrop's car. Wolf has definitely got severe problems.

Hitches apart. 190 miles an hour and keep an eye on Dale Earnhardt. Buddy Baker now as command of the Daytona 500. He is definitely doing everything he can to keep Dale Earnhardt at bay. Buddy Baker has run away from everyone, but Dale Earnhardt. Jake, are you giving you many instructions now in the closing stages? No, not right now. We won't make those moved into about the last pit stop.

Bad luck's going to strike on the last pit stop of the race. The Ossalon team leaves a lug nut off a wheel. NASCAR forces them to bring Dad back to Pit Road to correct it. This is going to be a dramatic stop. Baker is already away after six seconds. Dale Earnhardt ran about 25 seconds on pit road. The crew, Austerlund crew, swarms over Earnhardt's car. This time they're jacking up the left side.

They continue to fill the car up. This costly missed lug nut will be the first of many reminders of the Austerland team's youth and inexperience. You know, in 1980, there were only two crew members on the Australand team who were over the age of 32. You know, they had a lot of people on that team that you'd never heard of before, other than suitcase Jake. You know, with that young team, it was like a hit or miss thing.

While they had the experience of Jake Elder at Crew Chief to work with, many of these crew members were still learning to perform under the pressure of the Cup series. They might make it this time, they might not make it the next time. They might mess up on a pit stop. They might not. And there just wasn't the consistency there because of their youth. Had that last pit stop not gone wrong, it might have been interesting to see if Dad had anything for the Grey Ghost and Buddy Baker that day. I think the answer to that scenario might come later in the season in Tallade.

Here comes Earnhardt down to the bottom of the race. Now back to the race. May well be problems in Buddy Baker's pit. Now they're worrying about whether they gave him enough gas on our truck. Where it comes down, we needed one can of gas. I knew Buddy to have zero patience. Here is the great Wadell Wilson, who was Buddy Baker's crew chief and the man behind what I believe was the greatest race car ever built,

The Grey Ghost. And he had been told me, he said, I've been trying to win this race for 19 years, and I have won it yet. Well, after last year's wall-banging finish, today we've got a real cliff-hanging finish. Buddy Baker is in the lead, but does he have enough fuel to go the distance? I put my arm in the windshield and get a hold of his uniform like I'm going to hold him, and hopefully he'll listen and not go. We've got a real battle going on also for that number four and five position between Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labotti.

The pit road Miss Q is going to trap Dad a lap down, and he's going to have to settle for a fourth place finish. Buddy Baker would cruise home to victory in one of the most dominating performance, in Daytona 500 history. Ideas going through his mind. Every little sound in the car. Sounds like a giant, giant problem because he sees the... We hear the train are coming. He's coming around the bend.

Here comes Wydell Wilson. He's passing us again. Caution is on the speedway with two laps to go. Ladies and gentlemen, Buddy Baker has to be choked with emotion. After 20 years of trying to capture the Daytona 500, checkered flag for Buddy Baker as he comes across... This win is going to be the crown jewel of Buddy Baker's career. It was its 18th attempt at the Great American race,

and he had lost a few due to misfortune over the years. Take, for example, the previous year in 1979, when the Grey Ghost made its debut. They dominated Speed Weeks, outclassing every car in the field. We just noticed something on Buddy Baker's car. His windshield is completely covered in muds. The car is sounding very sour, and apparently it is a lost cylinder in that car.

Buddy's going to pull the Grey Ghost onto Pit Road on lap 38 with engine failure. There are two crews just jumping up and down up at road. One is, of course, the Waddell Wilson crew for Buddy Baker, and they are holding a loft the other gas can, the one they did not get a chance to put in the car. Barney, I don't know how he could see out the windshield. There's about 30 people all climbed up on top of Harry Renier's Oldsmobile. The chance to win the 500,

early in Dad's career, had him feeling pretty discouraged after the race. And while this ended Buddy's streak of misfortunes, it's going to begin Daddard's many years of hardship in the Daytona 500. The length of time that it took each one of them to win, the frustrations, the expectations, It was one where they'd almost get it in their grasp and then suddenly it would fall out. It seems like the more they tried, the further the quest became. How can you go down and be so successful in the clash, in the 125s?

And if you ran the Bush Series race on Saturday, and then things fall apart on Sunday in the Daytona 500. Dad said after the race Everybody said buddy was too fast but I wanted a chance to try him He was fast but so was I So dad is starting the year off with a lot of speed But inexperience is keeping him from victory lane

Erdard almost lost it Ernard coming into the pits Dale was an awful big hurry to go He took off before the jack fell This is a storyline We are going to revisit several times throughout the season the Australand teams inexperience the pressure of a new contract extension and mounting media attention.

They went around with the right front, but they never did put it on. The Doug Reicher crew down there you screw up, drop the jack wrong, do something wrong on a wheel, whatever, and it's all over. And you can bet if he has the horses, he'll go after the lead in a moment.

The road back to Victory Lane is going to be anything but easy. You either have it or you don't. Here comes earth. Earnhardt down to the bottom of the racetrack as they come across the line. He's there. Becoming Earnhardt is a Dirtymo Media original podcast series. It is written and produced by me, Dellenhart Jr. With Bobby Marcos and Colby Bass.

Sound design by Alex Tim's. Production assistants, Tiff Powers, Mike Davis, Michael Codwell, and Evan Vecchio. This project is in partnership with MRN, the Motor Racing Network, and the Appalachian State University Stock Car Collection. Special thanks to Sirius XM, Silver Tribe Media, NASCAR Man, and Bob Ellis. For additional Dirtymo Media content, visit our YouTube page and follow us on all major social media platforms.

Thank you to Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops for bringing us another episode of Becoming Earnhardt. They are such a great friend and supporter of everything we do, so remember to gear up for all your adventures at Bass Pro Shops, North America's premier outdoor and conservation company.