Dale Earnhardt Jr might have retired just 6 years ago, but the veteran had been laying the groundwork for his life post-retirement much earlier. In 2013, with the establishment of Dirty Mo Media, Dale Jr ventured into the world of online media. Earnhardt’s successful foray into podcasting also inspired prominent figures like Denny Hamlin to venture into this arena. But there was a time when Dale Junior thought his employee, Denny Hamlin, might leave podcasting midway.

During a conversation with Kenny Wallace on ‘The Kenny Wallace Show’, Junior candidly spoke about how an on-track incident involving Denny Hamlin left him questioning his podcasting future with the #11 driver. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr on Denny Hamlin’s podcasting journey

Since venturing into podcasting, Dale Jr has dealt with many moments of doubt. One notable incident was when Hamlin purposely wrecked Ross Chastain. The controversial incident that subsequently saw #11 getting penalized left Junior speculating if this could mark the end of Actions Detrimental. However, #11’s unwavering commitment and resilience ensured the podcast’s continued success. Talking on the same, Dale stated, “Got a little bit of trouble early on when he admitted wrecking Chastain. I didn’t know if we were done podcasting at that point with any hammer, but he kept digging.”

Launched in early 2023, Hamlin’s podcast, ‘Actions Detrimental’, quickly soared in popularity. Hamlin successfully capitalized on his straightforward, and sometimes unpopular, opinions to give fans and critics something to talk about each week. From calling out bigwigs to criticising NASCAR’s decisions, Denny Hamlin has done it all. So, it is only natural that the podcast garnered more than enough listeners ready to tune in on every Monday. And that is perhaps one of the reasons why, in a recent revelation, Dale Earnhardt Jr expressed his intention to delve into the podcasting journey of the three-time Daytona 500 winner.  

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Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts, saying, “I was surprised in a good way that he stuck to it. He stuck to podcasting and continuing to do his show. And I’m curious if he wants to sit down with me down in my studio and go over what that experience has been like for him. You know, podcasting is—you’re very vulnerable. You admit to your own flaws and mistakes and you can’t be bullsh*tting people on a podcast. You know, people gonna see right through that. […] So I’m eager to sit down with him and sometime in the offseason and sort of interview him about that first year experience of hosting his own show.”

The prospect of such an in-depth discussion between two racing icons about their experiences in podcasting promises to be enlightening. After all, with the numerous benefits that hosting a podcast brings, as Denny Hamlin himself has noted, it’s no wonder why would anyone not be inclined to continue on the path.

Denny Hamlin describes the benefits of having a podcast

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Denny Hamlin amplified his influence in the NASCAR world through his podcast launched in 2023. Just a few months ago, in a feature with Jeff Gluck of The Athletic for the weekly 12 Questions article, Hamlin delved into the advantages of hosting his own podcast and the transformative impact it has had on him.

Hamlin conveyed the positive aspects, saying, “Well, it’s been a positive for me. I make pretty good money at it, and it’s what I was doing in the middle of the media center every weekend anyway. It’s allowed me to expand upon ideas or comments I had. Instead of taking a sentence here and a sentence there from a media session, I’m able to explain a little bit more about a given topic.” He also highlighted the joy he derives from the podcast, noting it combines his passions: running a business, driving, and discussing the sport.

Moreover, Hamlin articulated the underlying purpose of his podcast, emphasizing his desire to provide fans with a unique, inside look at the sport. He expressed his aim of offering “an insider’s perspective of what’s going on that maybe fans don’t hear about, a perspective from a driver who just got out of the race car three hours ago”.

Hamlin’s presence in the podcasting world can be aptly summarized by the phrase: Love him, hate him, you can’t ignore him. His candid reflections on the track events have captivated listeners, providing a fresh and personal viewpoint. 

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