Today, the world knows the late Dale Earnhardt as a 7-time Cup Series champion and The Intimidator. The NASCAR legend was known for his serious demeanor and fiery aggression. However, a lesser-known aspect of his character was his softer side, which he only revealed to a chosen few. One such person was Ryan McGee, who was responsible for covering NASCAR back during The Intimidator’s racing days and beyond. To this day, Earnhardt’s words in a moment of vulnerability have stuck with McGee, who could not help but burst into tears afterward.

McGee, who had interviewed The Intimidator in a rather awkward encounter before, had been away from the race track not performing his media duties for a month. His mother had passed away, and this happened the week before the 1999 Cup Series spring race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. One of the first people who came to him after he returned and extended some kind words was Dale Earnhardt, despite the two not being close friends.

The side of Dale Earnhardt Sr that rarely ever came out

It’s always difficult when one loses their parent and Dale Earnhardt was familiar with this pain. His father, Ralph Earnhardt had passed away unexpectedly a long time ago from a heart attack at the age of 45. It was a feeling that Earnhardt could never really shake off, no matter how many years passed. So when he heard that one of the people on the track went through something similar, he was there to extend some words of consolation.

These words of consolation eventually became one of the most impactful ones Ryan McGee has ever had. He shared this story on a recent episode of Earnhardt’s son’s podcast, The Dale Jr Download.

“Dale walked past me and I walked past him, and he just kind of nodded at me, and all of a sudden he goes, “Ryan.” It’s the only time I heard him say my name. And I turned around and he walked up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and he goes, “I heard about your mom, I’m so sorry.” And now I’m trying not to cry in front of The Intimidator. He goes, “I need to tell you something. Everybody’s gonna tell you that you’re gonna get over this one day. You are never going to get over this. My dad died 25 years ago…you never get over it, you just learn how to live with it. You just do what you can to make her proud.” And I’m like thank you, and he turned to the bathroom and I just fell apart,” McGee said.

Ryan McGee and Dale Earnhardt Sr were not the best of friends by any stretch, but the former NASCAR media personnel had a good idea of who The Intimidator believed to be his close friends. So when several people came out saying that they were close to Dale after his tragic passing in 2001, he just wasn’t having it.

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It’s not a secret that Earnhardt was a private man. But those considered a part of his close circle have always been held in high regard by people in NASCAR. So it’s no wonder that some individuals, who just want to have their 15 minutes of fame, came out stating that they were close to the Cup Series champion. And that couldn’t be any further away from the truth. As per McGee, a lot of them considered Earnhardt to be their fishing buddy.

Speaking about a conversation with his co-worker, the late Marcy Scott, McGee said, “We’re standing in the back of the media center at Daytona the morning of the race, and you know, like John Cena or Chris Evans or… Charlize Theron, somebody’s doing their press conference like they do in the morning on race day, and she leaned over to me and she goes, ‘How many people in this room were ever just in the room with Dale Earnhardt Sr?’ “

“The number gets smaller and smaller every year. I’m not talking about being friends with him, but just knowing him a little bit. It drives me crazy how, after Dale Sr’s passing in 2001, so many people came out and said, ‘Oh yeah, we went fishing one time.’ No, you didn’t,” he added.

It’s no surprise that a lot of people have come out and claimed to have known Senior on a personal level but Ryan McGee shared a moment with the great man that most people that knew him didn’t. The Intimidator might not be with us any longer but his stories will remain forever.

Read More – “A Lot of People Claim” – NASCAR Insider on Dale Earnhardt and the Fake ‘Fishing Buddies’