The Dale Jr. Download

Latest Episodes:

554 - Nashville: Overtime, Overheating, and Overreacting Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

After a hot NASCAR weekend in Nashville, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets back behind the microphone for another episode of Dirty Air. In a race that took five overtime restarts to complete and produced an unexpected winner in Joey Logano, there was a lot to chat about:

A box of Butler's Orchard pickles and update on the Titanic Lego set
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson have a rivalry
Does Carson Hocevar deserve a penalty for spinning Burton under caution?
Christopher Bell is looking strong this season
Should NASCAR have unlimited overtime attempts?
How hot is too hot for drivers inside the race car?
Race winner Joey Logano calls in
Where Josh Berry will likely wind up for the 2025 season

When the guys took to YouTube Live for the Ask Jr. segment, listeners sent in questions regarding:

Why Dale doesn’t like concrete race surfaces
Andy Petree leaving Richard Childress Racing
What recovery after a hot race looks like

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.

A John Force Update & Talking Drag Racing Safety With Matt Hagan Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Our buddy John Force was involved in a terrifying crash in his NHRA Funny Car on Sunday afternoon during the Virginia Nationals. We want to send our well wishes to John for a speedy recovery, and can’t wait to see him back behind the wheel. If there is one person who has ever been on the Dale Jr. Download that is still brought up most, it’s probably John Force. We’re going to look back at some of the greatest moments from that interview and also talk to John’s friend and competitor, Matt Hagan, about John’s fiery competitiveness and his charismatic - and hilarious - personality. Plus, ask any driver, and they’ll tell you what we all know is true: the sting of defeat is more intense than the euphoria of victory. With his second-place finish at New Hampshire, Sheldon Creed has now tied Daniel Hemric and Dale Jarrett for the most runner-up finishes ever before securing a NASCAR Xfinity Series win. We talk to Creed himself and hear from Daniel Hemric on the challenges of claiming that first victory.

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.

553 - Jeff Green: Racing For Legends Like Earnhardt, Childress & Petty Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR competitor Jeff Green to learn more about how he rose from the short tracks of the Midwest to having one of the most dominant seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series history. After growing up in the footsteps of two racing brothers, David and Mark, also of NASCAR fame, Jeff ventured down a path that landed him at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1995. When he took a call from the Intimidator himself, DEI was at an interesting point in its history, where Dale Sr. was looking to retire from part-time NASCAR Busch Series racing and put someone in the car full-time. Jeff and the No. 3 team had moments of brilliance and strong runs, but he felt it was still “Dale Sr.’s team” and he decided to try out a different opportunity.

Jeff found victory lane for the first time in his NASCAR Xfinity career with Diamond Ridge Motorsports at Las Vegas in 1997. The team was excited about Jeff’s success and rushed him into the Cup Series, which Jeff explains was a difficult transition to make, and before long the team shut down. His glory years in the Xfinity Series came from 1999 to 2001 when he had two runner-up points efforts and a dominant 2000 championship run, where he won by over 600 points. The success brought an opportunity with Richard Childress Racing and Jeff, feeling like he was in the prime of his career, jumped at the chance to drive for a premier racing team. But when a run-in with his teammate Kevin Harvick ultimately got him fired, Jeff began a journey of moving from team to team, looking for stability. Along the way, he spent time back at DEI as well as at Richard Petty Motorsports driving the famed 43 before retiring from driving in 2021.

Dale and Jeff reflect on their years spent racing each other in the Xfinity ranks, Dale’s first memories of Jeff at DEI, late model racing trips, and Jeff’s current day-to-day activities.

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.

552 - New Hampshire: Don’t Fret The Wet, Bell’s Thoughts On “Chase,” & Schedule Rumor Reaction Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Dale Earnhardt Jr. may be back at the beach, but his notebook is filled after the NASCAR weekend at New Hampshire and he’s excited to share on this episode of Dirty Air. NASCAR’s decision to wait out the rain and restart on wet weather tires was a polarizing one, and Dale has plenty of insight on the matter. Episode highlights include:

Shoutouts to the underappreciated
Carson Kvapil continues to impress
NASCAR’s wet weather tire progress
Dealing with the danger of a wet pit road
Kyle Larson gets testy with his spotter
Ryan Blaney and Michael McDowell’s dust-up
Alex Bowman and Christopher Bell join the show

During the Ask Jr. segment, listeners had questions about:

Dale’s reaction to the NASCAR 2025 schedule rumors
What it’s like shooting a commercial
Who will win the Denny Hamlin Bracket Challenge?

21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

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.

All About Truex From Those Who Know Him Best Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Now that Martin Truex Jr. has determined this season will be his last as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, there will be no shortage of celebrations of Martin’s stellar 21-year career over the next six months. Today on DJD Reloaded, we talk to several people instrumental in shaping MTJ’s storied career, from old buddies like TJ Majors and Josh Snider, to a couple of crew chiefs he won Championships with: Kevin “Bono” Manion and Cole Pearn. This week's show is full of great stories as we relive our favorite Truex memories (Captain and Coke, anyone?) and look ahead to what could be next for MTJ.

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.

551 - Paul Andrews: Processing The Loss Of Alan Kulwicki Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR crew chief Paul Andrews to learn more about his journey from being a vacuum repairman to a Cup championship-winning team leader. After being raised by his grandparents in Louisiana, Paul found his way to St. Louis where he reconnected with his mother and took a job working at his stepfather’s motel as a maintenance person. When he was working on a vacuum cleaner one day, he went to the local O.K. Vacuum store where he connected with Rusty Wallace, his father Russ, and Uncle Gary, and soon after took a job with the company. Along with this new role of employment came the opportunity to work in Rusty’s race shop after hours, and Paul began traveling with Rusty as he found his footing in the short-track late model and NASCAR worlds.

Once Wallace went full-time NASCAR Cup racing in 1984, Paul again found himself in Louisiana, this time running Rusty’s sportsman late model program. Paul temporarily retired from the sport in 1986, but it wasn’t long before he took a call from up-and-comer Alan Kulwicki, establishing one of the hardest-working duos in the Cup garage. The team would overcome the odds and bring home the 1992 Cup season championship. After Alan’s untimely passing in a 1993 plane crash, the team was bought out by Geoff Bodine, and Paul would spend a couple of years honoring his late friend before moving on to other endeavors with Kranefuss-Penske, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Petty Enterprises, and Michael Waltrip Racing. Today, Paul can be found taking it easy, managing his various properties and moonlighting from time to time as a crew chief for JR Motorsports’ late model stock program, working with Dale Jr. when he gets behind the wheel for short track competition.

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.

550 - Iowa: Reacting to Truex, Chatting with Blaney & Getting Choked Up on Repaves Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was curious as to how the repave at Iowa Speedway would perform when NASCAR came to town, and he is back for another edition of Dirty Air to report on what he saw unfold. Highlights of the episode include:

Dale needs to start chewing his food more
Let’s prioritize getting new fans to the racetrack
Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement announcement
The NASCAR Silly Season ramps up
Are repaves the key to better NextGen short-track races?
Race winner Ryan Blaney joins the show

During the Ask Jr. segment of the show, fans sent in questions regarding:

How much longer Dale plans on racing
The 2012 Michigan win in the Batman car
Updates on the Titanic Lego set
Father’s Day activities

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.

Which Multi-Disciplined Driver is the G.O.A.T.? Settling the Debate with Mike Joy, Dave Moody, & Ken Martin Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

The great Mario Andretti was on the Dale Jr. Download this week, and he was asked about motorsports’ Crown Jewel races. Not NASCAR’s Crown Jewels, but the biggest races in motorsports collectively. That got us wondering, with Kyle Larson’s recent cross-over into IndyCar, who is the single-most versatile, multi-disciplined race car driver in history that competed in the Crown Jewel races? Who should be considered the best? And who amongst us could take over that mantle someday?

We have an all-star panel to help inform our discussion. Legendary FOX Sports broadcaster Mike Joy, Sirius XM & MRN personality Dave “The Godfather” Moody, and the Director of Historical Content at NASCAR, Ken Martin, all weigh in and help settle the debate once and for all.

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.

549 - Mario Andretti: Addicted To Adrenaline Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down for an incredible conversation with motorsports icon Mario Andretti. With a resume that includes wins in the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, four IndyCar championships, and a Formula One championship, Mario is in rarified air in motorsports history, ranking among the best to ever sit behind the wheel. Mario reflects on his childhood in Italy and how his family migrated from a refugee camp to Nazareth, Pennsylvania when he was 15 years old. It was there that his twin brother Aldo and he discovered the nearby Nazareth Speedway and set out with the ambition to build a racecar to enter the local sportsman division. At the advice of his friends, the Andretti brother team settled on a 1948 Hudson Hornet for their initial foray into racing, thanks to the classic car’s success on the dirt in early NASCAR competition. With a fabricated story of racing in the Formula Junior ranks in Italy and doctored driver's licenses in their pockets, the Andretti's set out with a full head of steam and found immediate success, helping to launch one of the greatest stories in auto racing.

Mario explains that his decision to leave stock cars and venture into open wheel racing came through the ¾ midget ranks of the East Coast, and his time in the division helped land him USAC sprint and championship car rides. After getting his feet wet in the big cars in 1964, Mario had a tremendous rookie season, placing 3rd at the Indianapolis 500 and winning the national championship. Mario and Dale also chat about his journey into the NASCAR world, which resulted in a 1967 Daytona 500 victory with the Holman-Moody team. Mario admits that some on the team were pulling for his teammate Fred Lorenzen, but with the help of the legendary engine builder Waddell Wilson he was able to overcome adversity for his lone NASCAR win. The conversation also covers Mario’s track record at the Indy 500, pursuing his childhood love of Formula One racing and how he came to win the 1978 World Championship and returning to the US to finish his career in the CART ranks, racing alongside his son Michael.

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.

548 - Sonoma Caution Chaos & My Go-To Beer Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

As NASCAR returns from wine country, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the studio to react to the chaos and dominance race fans saw this past weekend in Sonoma. With the bump and runs, tire strategies and aggressive restarts, there is plenty to unpack:

Sonoma repave was not a problem
Ross Chastain dust-ups with Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott
Josh Berry has a big moment
Too many caution laps?
Dale’s change of heart on Sonoma trips
SVG wins two in a row
Race winner Kyle Larson calls into the show
Iowa repave expectations

During the Ask Jr. segment of the episode, listeners wrote in questions regarding:

The status of Dale’s Denny Hamlin bracket
Ryan McGee’s recent article about the NASCAR charter negotiations
Dale’s favorite NASCAR Race Hub memories

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected