Nothing hurts more than missed opportunities. The nagging feelings poke up in the strangest of times and keep haunting each and every human being. There would hardly be a person in the world who hasn’t suffered from the rue of missing an opportunity—not even the brightest of NASCAR stars.

It seems that the Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr too bemoans missing out on a missed opportunity, as he once gave up one of the most coveted racing seats. This veteran driver could have easily tried his hands in the IndyCar series, but the time has long passed away, and what is left is just a reminiscence of missed opportunities.

Dale Jr divulged these facts in a candid interview with USA Today. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr is yet to let go of his IndyCar dreams despite retiring

There have been only a handful of Cup Series drivers who made it big in the field of Indy Car racing, one such legend being Tony Stewart. But Stewart’s friend and the co-owner of JR Motorsports is yet to get over the fact he did not have the fortitude of competing in a real Indy Car Racing. 

However, the Hall of Famer did debut in the iRacing IndyCar Racing at Michigan Motor Speedway, back in 2020. This was to channel his inner fanboy, but it didn’t cover up the fact, as he revealed in the interview.

As a part of the Indianapolis 500 broadcasting team, the 2x Xfinity Series champion shared his thoughts on whether he had the chance to drive in IndyCar. He said, “I did get some chances to come out here and drive one by myself.

“To be quite honest with you, I was really intimidated by the idea of driving one and how different that might be from what I was used to in stock cars.”

Junior also asserted, “I never was asked when I was crazy enough to do it, back when I was younger and I might have when I was in my 20s. But when I got old enough and smart enough to know better, that’s when the opportunities came.”

But everything has gone to pass since he retired from professional racing back in 2017. All he can do is admire the beauty of racing from the analysts’ box at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.

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Kyle Larson, as opposed to Dale Jr, is on the path to realizing his opportunity

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While Dale Jr may have missed out on the opportunity of racing in IndyCar, a Hendrick Motorsports speedster is on the verge of living his dream.

The #5 Chevrolet driver, Kyle Larson, would be making his debut in the Indy 500 next year in collaboration with McLaren Arrow and Hendrick Motorsports. He would be the first driver after Kurt Busch to attempt the double. He would compete in the Indy500 and then fly to Charlotte to race the Coca-Cola 600 in the evening.

While there is still a year for this champion to take his seat in Indy Car, the driver in an interview with FOX Sports had stated, “It’s still so far away that it truly doesn’t seem real. Until I get in the car on the ground and fire an engine up—then I think I’m going to be scared.”

Now it is to be seen whether this speedster keeps up with the expectations of the team and also himself. Although Larson believes in the fact it would be less “nerve-wracking,” but it can’t be denied that professionally competing in a new sport for the first time can be intimidating for sure. But his fans have the utmost faith in him that the versatile driver will surely leave his mark in IndyCar as well.

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