As the son of a seven-time champion and arguably the greatest NASCAR driver, the standard was always going to be high for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to match. Despite not winning a Cup title, Junior carved out an incredible legacy of his own at the top level of motorsports, a legacy that earned him an induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021. It was indeed something that was emotional for the two-time Daytona 500 winner, something he opened up on during a conversation with two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning.
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On an appearance on the Eli Manning Show this week, Earnhardt Jr. spoke on his illustrious NASCAR career, his return to racing, training young racers, and his Hall of Fame induction.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on why the HoF induction filled a hole in his career
Earnhardt has been an ambassador of the sport for more than two decades, with an incredible impact on NASCAR’s popularity and image, something he still continues to do. As for being inducted into the HoF despite not winning a Cup title, Junior feels that it is something that validates his off-the-track contributions.
“I’ve never experienced winning a Championship you know. I’ve won a lot of races, had a great career but I was never a champion at the top level, and so that induction into the Hall of Fame is kind of like the big affirmation from the industry and everybody that you’re an asset to the sport. So, that was a good feeling for me.”
Junior, who was inducted by his wife Amy during the 2022 ceremony, was voted as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver 15 times and still continues his efforts to improve the sport’s outreach and make it more accessible to fans.
“As I realized in my racing career that that Championship was going to be elusive I started working in other areas, as broadcaster and doing a lot of different things as a car owner, trying too grow young talent and trying to do other things to impact the sport in a positive way,” added Earnhardt.
Dale Jr. thanked “Junior Nation” after his HoF induction
The JR Motorsports owner did not forget the biggest reason for his HoF induction, something he made clear while addressing his fans.
“When I stumbled, you guys were right there ready to lift me back up. There were times when I absolutely needed you – and you never let me down. We won together, and we lost together. … You should know that I don’t go into this Hall of Fame alone. I go in with you, and I go in because of you.”
Earnhardt, who has provided a launching pad for countless drivers with JRM, also owns the media company Dirty Mo Media, giving a platform to many insiders like Denny Hamlin, Steve Letarte, and Brett Griffin to bring the sport closer to NASCAR fans through successful podcasts and interviews.
