Father-son duos are not very common in motorsports. But when it happens, it must be an advantage to the younger generation. One can even assume that their introduction to the sport might be smooth, and being the son of an established driver might entitle them to a warm welcome. However, it seems like Dale Earnhardt Jr didn’t need anyone else to welcome him as Dale Earnhardt Sr was running in the same race and gave him quite a welcome.

He gave his son a memorable reception at an exhibition race held in Japan in 1996, during which, Junior did something that made the Intimidator mad. Speaking with Mike Davis during a recent episode of The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Junior revealed how his dad welcomed him during the race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is welcomed by Dale Sr at the Japan exhibition race

During the questions round in the podcast, Davis read a fan’s question regarding the welcome that the drivers get as they enter the sport. The common belief is that they are treated roughly by their coaches and mates. However, in Dale Jr’s case, it was his own dad who welcomed him.

Even though Junior had raced before, it was his first alongside his dad. He said, “I’ve ran a handful of races before that but you know the welcome to the moment is usually right at the very front end. I went to Japan and raced in that exhibition race, and dad putted me on the last few laps. That was kind of my welcome to the big boys moment.”

Dale emphasized his dad gave him quite a hard time at the track, not letting him pass through. He said, “We’re like a 10-lap run to the finish. I caught Dad. We were coming up of turn 4. I couldn’t go full throttle of the corner because he’s on my outside and I’m sitting there running like 3/4 throttle sliding up. And if I could get on the gas right, go down on it straight away; he’s holding us up.”

“If I don’t clear him, he’s gonna side-draft me, we’re gonna lose car lengths to the guys in front of us.” He added.

Read More: Dale Earnhardt Jr Emotionally Reveals About His Father Dale Sr: “I Think About It All the Time. I Would Just Do Anything to Really, Really Truly Know What His Words Would Be”

It is clear that Dale Sr didn’t let go of his son easily. Could be because he wanted Junior to learn the hard way. But, as they neared the finish, Dale Jr became restless, thereby making a move that resulted in the Intimidator getting upset.

What made the senior Earnhardt go mad?

With each passing lap and Senior continuing to hold up his son, Junior’s restlessness resulted in a bad decision. In order to pass his dad, he made a rather dangerous move that could’ve pushed Senior straight into the wall. He revealed, “I just cut across his nose and he had to lift to not get fenced. He was gonna go run into the wall if he didn’t lift. But he kind of clipped me and didn’t jack me up down straightaway and turn me sideways.

“He let go of me. “

Finally, Dale was able to gain a couple of spots after an intense on-track tussle with his dad. But his dangerous overtake made Dale Sr extremely mad. Junior disclosed, “He threw a shoe at me afterward because he was mad at me. That was kind of my welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment.”

Dale Earnhardt was just trying to level up things for his son, but Junior couldn’t grasp the essence of it, eventually making an undesirable move. In essence, he was welcomed by his father in the most unwelcoming manner. But that is the Intimidator that all of us know.

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