Without a doubt, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is regarded as one of the most popular NASCAR drivers. He has been voted the most popular driver, for 15 straight years. To earn such a status, he would have to be a real people’s person and be well-loved in the community and among fans. One part of it is easy, because he is the son of the late great Dale Earnhardt. However, the hard part is sustaining it and really connecting with the people.

So it is surprising to learn that at one point in his career, he was not too fond of PR stunts for sponsors. He said in a 2021 interview, “A lot of guys, myself included. When I came into the sport, I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that, I don’t car about that. I just want to race’. I hate doing the sponsor appearances, I hate gripping and grinning and making people happy. Just want to race, but that’s such an important part, and even more so now.”

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has grown used to his additional duties as his career progressed

Of course, he was still young and hungry for wins, so he did not understand the need for such things. As he grew older and more experienced, he surely began to appreciate aspects like media duties, sponsorship events, and more. In other words, he finally understood that being a complete driver is not just about getting in the car and going fast. He needed to be the complete package, so he had to tolerate off-track activities.

Now, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is on the other side of the camera, so instead of being the one interviewed, he is the interviewer. This is because of his Dale Jr Download podcast, where he talks about the sport that he loves.

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