Dale Earnhardt Jr, a fan-favorite, made his entire fanbase excited a while ago, revealing that his wife Amy wanted him to run the 2027 Daytona 500. This would have been a decade after his retirement. But just hours later, Jr. came out to clarify the situation, backing his wife up for a misconception formed years ago.

Dale Jr. backs Amy Earnhardt up

“I only wanted folks to know Amy wasn’t to blame for my retirement back in the day. I felt she got some unnecessary blame back then.” When Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally decided to hang up his helmet at the end of the 2017 season, it was because of health concerns regarding his concussions.

While he still returns to a NOAP Series race every year, he hasn’t run the Cup Series since, and he doesn’t plan to do it, either.

“I won’t be racing Cup, but she’s not the reason.”

But that clarification for Amy seems needed. A misconception formed when he announced his retirement. Many speculated that it was Amy Earnhardt who planted the idea for him to retire from full-time racing. However, this stemmed from the timing of various things happening in his life back then.

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Dale Jr. had to miss the second-half of the 2016 season owing to health concerns because of all the head injuries he had throughout the years of racing. He fought hard to return in 2017, but his results didn’t speak, and he chose to retire at the end of the season. While this was because of health concerns, many speculated that it was because of Amy.

The couple got married on New Year’s Eve in 2016, just months before Dale Jr. would announce his retirement from the sport. So throughout the years, many continued to believe that. However, her latest idea for him to return to the Daytona 500 in 2027 goes against that. It is an exciting ordeal, but as he cleared it up, he won’t be returning to race in the Cup Series again.

Many seem to support him and Amy, requesting him to keep in mind his health first.

Fans come out in support of Dale and Amy

“We’d love to see it, Dale, but your health and family come first! I think your fans would accept a Cup charter for 2027 as a consolation prize, though.”

Through the years, Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t collect many Cup Series Championships, but what he did earn were true fans. Despite announcing that he will not be returning to the Cup Series, he got immense support on social media. Understandably, the fans want him to look after himself first.

“You made the right decision,” read another comment.

At the same time, the misconception against Amy Earnhardt seems to be clearing up. In fact, many came out to support and praise her, like this fan wrote: “Amy rocks, and anyone who doesn’t see that is blind. Surprises me anyone would think she was the reason.”

The couple is extremely loved. While the timing of Dale Jr’s retirement announcement made it a little confusing, his true fans understood the situation. Moreover, some stand for Amy to defend her: “going to start fist fighting people on amy’s behalf as a fellow texan.”

Yet, some want to see him get back to the car. “Cmon, run the 500 just once more.” A two-time Daytona 500 winner, Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t raced a Cup car in almost a decade. He keeps himself close to racing, but just far enough not to get back into it.

And it is quite understandable. He did not retire owing to poor performance. He was still competitive. But compromising his health, especially brain-related, did not seem to be a good idea.