Rivalries are what make NASCAR the sport we all love. From Kyle Busch and Joey Logano in the 2010s to Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain more recently, the competitive spirit has never died down. However, the magnitude of rivalries certainly has, and no battle encapsulated the tension between two drivers, much like Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine in the 1980s.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. once described it as being a worthy candidate to feature on a ‘Mount Rushmore rivalries in NASCAR.’ It is easy to see why, because ‘The Intimidator’ was notorious for his on-track aggression. Dale Sr. would often try to out-muscle and barge past other drivers to get ahead. Bodine was one driver who would not roll over without a fight, and Earnhardt took that as a challenge.

Recently, Dale Jr. and Todd Bodine, Geoff’s brother, sat down for a conversation on the Dale Jr. Download and revealed their feelings towards the gripping rivalry that shook NASCAR.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets real with Todd Bodine

The 1987 and 1988 seasons were when this rivalry reared its ugly head, and NASCAR was heavily involved in this, too. The 1987 Winston (All-Star race) saw Earnhardt and Bodine go head-to-head as the top drivers in the sport. Controversy struck when Earnhardt wrecked Bodine and Bill Elliott on his way to win the race and the $200,000 cash prize. Bodine was irate, but NASCAR’s decision to fine Bodine $1,000 and put him on probation is what set off a firestorm of emotions.

A week after that incident, the two locked horns in the Busch (now Xfinity) Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bodine got his revenge. He wrecked Dale Earnhardt, but his team owner, Rick Hendrick, maintained that it was unintentional, but context was enough for NASCAR to fine Bodine $15,000 and put him on probation until the end of the season, a penalty Bodine would later revoke. A year later, Earnhardt spun Bodine at the same Busch race, and the latter went to Earnhardt’s Cup car after having to retire from the race and drew an ‘X’ in the air, symbolizing his disapproval of the Intimidator’s methods. Before we get to where this rivalry escalated to its peak, it’s worth hearing from Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. told Todd Bodine on the Dale Jr Download, “Around the mid-’80s or the late ’80s, dad and Geoff had a really rough couple of years. Earnhardts didn’t like the Bodines, and the Bodines probably didn’t love the Earnhardts. There were times when, if Dad could spin him out and get away with it, I was okay with it. Then there were times when he would get himself 5-lap penalties, and I’m thinking, ‘What are you doing? Now we’re five laps down and we got f—— 500 miles to go.’ They were just so hard-headed.”

This exact incident that Earnhardt described took place at the 1988 Coca-Cola 600. While being passed by Bodine, Dale Earnhardt wrecked him. This was an incident NASCAR could not ignore, especially considering what had led to this. The Intimidator was slapped with a five-lap penalty and ended the race six laps down in 13th place. The Hendrick faction felt Earnhardt got away lightly, while Richard Childress felt the penalty was extreme. NASCAR had had enough. Two days later, the sanctioning body reportedly held a meeting at Daytona, where both sides settled their differences.

Considering all the context at hand, how do you think Todd Bodine would perceive Dale Earnhardt? An aggressive driver who crossed the line when he needed a win? Well, Bodine’s position might shock you, but it also reflects his brother’s words later in life. Todd Bodine told Dale Jr.,” I’m different and I look at things way differently than most people. It was almost a sense of respect, maybe. The way they raced each other so hard. I never disliked Sr because he was wrecking Geoff. It was more like, these two guys are hard-a– racers. I think that’s why me and your dad always had a different relationship, because I never felt that way about him. Never held it against him.”

For Todd Bodine, it was all within the confines of the racetrack. And it truly was. No ugly remarks were made on television. No personal jibes. Just pure, hard, and sometimes reckless, racing. It made for pretty solid entertainment while showcasing just how fired up professional rivalries can make people. When Dale Earnhardt eventually passed away at the 2001 Daytona 500, it was a somber day for the sport. Geoff Bodine ran just two races that year, and one of them was the race where Earnhardt lost his life. Years later, Bodine reflected on their career and his rivalry with the legend, and his comments revealed the dichotomy of Earnhardt.

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Geoff Bodine unfiltered

In 2o15, Geoff Bodine penned a heartfelt journal entry reflecting on his rivalry with the Intimidator. He referenced their infamous dust up at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which was also depicted in the classic ‘Days of Thunder’ movie, writing, “Like in the Days of Thunder movie, the meeting in Daytona with the boss, Bill France Jr. was real; that was Dale and I after a race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.” However, Bodine revealed that while Earnhardt pestered him on the track, there was no animosity once the helmets were taken off.

However, what made Geoff Bodine different was his approach toward battling Earnhardt. Most drivers would yield when they saw the #3 Goodwrench in their rear view mirror, but Bodine saw it as a challenge. He wrote, “When I saw his car in the rear view mirror, I just kept racing, but a lot of drivers would move over and let him go by. Well, with me being a hard-headed Yankee, I raced hard all my life, and I was never intimidated by anyone.” This is what happens when a rough New Yorker crosses paths with a hard-nosed North Carolina native: sparks fly and rivalries ignite. However, Earnhardt did not treat Bodine any differently off the track, and that’s what kept this rivalry outside the ‘beef’ territory.

Bodine revealed how Earnhardt was friendly with all drivers, including him, but on the racetrack, it was war. “He was friends with all the drivers, he made friends with everyone. He would joke with you, come over and talk with you, squeeze you, but he didn’t care behind the wheel of the racecar. He’d knock you out of the way.” If there is anything that sums up Dale Earnhardt’s persona, it’s this right here. The fiercest competitor on the track while being a likeable human being outside of it, and that’s one of the reasons why Bodine holds no animosity toward him.

Geoff Bodine ended his journal entry by writing, “Dale Earnhardt changed NASCAR racing, and I’m glad I was in the same era with him. Without him, I’m sure NASCAR would’ve survived, but with him, it sure grew bigger and faster, no question. Even though he spun me out a few times, I still miss him.” We all do, Geoff. Dale Earnhardt was NASCAR exemplified, from his rugged racing to the legacy he built with his team and ushering his son into the sport, Dale Earnhardt will never be forgotten. And even his greatest rival can appreciate what he gave to the sport.