The year 2008 marked the end of an era for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he left DEI for Hendrick Motorsports. But the move was not surprising, given that the team had seen its share of cracks. Today, the old DEI complex and Mooresville stand as a shrine to Dale Sr., packed with iconic cars, trophies, and memorabilia from both his and his son’s careers. Interestingly, it is still under Teresa Earnhardt’s care and closed to the public since COVID-19. And if you followed the Earnhardts, then you know that Jr. and Teresa haven’t been on speaking terms. But what has she done now that has found a way to leave a lasting impression?

Last month, a lucky pair of credit users got a rare behind-the-scenes look at the DEI complex on a private tour, offering that rare glimpse of racing history that is not witnessed by many. However, this sneak peek didn’t go unnoticed by Dale Jr. himself, and he was more than thrilled and happy to see his No. 8 DEI car front and center.

Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, the NASCAR Hall of Famer seemed content: “I was just glad to know that stuff’s still well taken care of. Um, it actually made me feel good that some of my cars are still there, like in the front, like when you go and you look and you’re looking back there, that they still celebrate all of the history. I didn’t know, you know, you don’t. I haven’t talked to anybody on that side in so long. I haven’t talked to Teresa in so long that I don’t know really where they are emotionally about the relationship or the lack of a relationship.” 

Fresh off his Tri-County Late Model Race the past weekend, Dale Jr. got a jolt of nostalgia when he heard gunfire from nearby, just 10 to 20 feet away, which instantly reminded him of the time he had fired up his backup Gossamer Xfinity car while racing for DEI. The moment sparked memories of racing days and the realization that some of his iconic cars are still proudly on display in the DEI museum.

With all this behind him, Jr. moved on from it long ago. Looking for a possible fresh start, he added, “And so I was happy to see that some of my cars were still in there. Gives me some hope that there’s a chance of reconciliation somewhere down the road. Even though maybe even though it’s unlikely, I just, yeah. “

Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) grew into a full-fledged racing team under the guidance of ‘The Intimidator,’ even though the legend never actually raced for it. The team ran cars for drivers, including his son Dale Jr., as well as Michael Waltrip and Steve Park, but it ceased operations following the 2009 season.

However, things changed following Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death in 2001. Teresa Earnhardt inherited full ownership of DEI, leaving Dale Junior and Kelley without a stake in the company. This legal and personal rift reportedly led to restricting their access to DEI’s property, including their father’s gravesite, with Kelley highlighting that visiting could result in legal trouble.

However, fast forward to today, and Junior still honors his father’s legacy in his DJD podcast, sharing heartfelt stories, as his JR Motorsports is flourishing in the Xfinity Series. Dale Jr.’s role as a team owner is paying dividends with Connor Zilisch breaking records as a rookie and being the championship leader currently. But this weekend, the veteran temporarily hung up his owner’s hat for a little Late Model Racing.

Dale Jr. had a blast amid a trying night at Tri-County Speedway

It wasn’t exactly a picture-perfect night for Dale Junior at Tri-County Speedway on Saturday, but the grin on his face afterwards told a different story.

Making his fourth and final zMAX CARS Tour start of the 2025 season, Junior began deepening the field, rolling off from 24th. He steadily climbed through the back before getting caught in a crash while running 15th with 70 laps to go. Despite the setback and damage to his car, his crew worked through multiple pit stops to make repairs, helping him claw back after a solid 12th-place finish.

Reflecting on his race, Junior, with a smile, said, “I’ll run three more next year, maybe four, but probably three, and we’ll see where we go. I’m gonna start moving around a little bit and run a couple of tracks that I want to run before I hang it up. I don’t know if we’ll come back to Tri-County, but we’ll see what the schedule looks like.”

Though he won’t take part in the season finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway, JR Motorsports will still play a role in shaping the championship outcome. And with Junior not ready to hang up his driver’s helmet just yet, all eyes will be on the NASCAR veteran to drop his schedule.