Rival’s on track, close friends off it, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth’s friendship can be traced back to the latter half of the 1990s. The 1997 NASCAR Busch Series saw Matt Kenseth drive the #17 Chevy for former Wisconsin short track rival Robbie Reiser, meanwhile, Dale Jr drove for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. While Kenseth bagged his first Busch series win at Rockingham in 1998, Junior went on to lift the season’s championship title.

Now retired from full-time racing, the duo has stayed in touch throughout the years. Recently, Dale Jr invited Matt Kenseth on his podcast, ‘The Dale Jr Download’. Reminiscing on the years past, the 2003 Cup Series champion revealed how Dale Jr’s late father, Dale Earnhardt, almost replaced his son.

Coaxed by Dale Earnhardt Jr, Matt Kenseth Reveals a Long-Kept Secret

On 22nd February 1998, Matt Kenseth established himself as a dominating force on the track. During the Goody’s Headache Powder 200 race at Rockingham, Kenseth nudged past Tony Stewart’s car in the final lap, granting him first ever Busch Series victory. While Kenseth was enjoying his first title win, Dale Jr was struggling with a slow start to the season. Placing 37th at the Daytona 300, Junior finished 16th at Rockingham. Following the win, Matt Kenseth struggled with sponsorship, which led to many racing opportunities being open, but Kenseth chose to stick it out with Reiser Enterprises.

Speaking to Dale Jr on the podcast, Matt Kenseth reflected on his glory day of 1998. “Fast Forward back to Rockingham, I mean that was the biggest win of my career you know by far. And one of the most memorable races and days that I’ve ever had in racing. Like nothing could ever top that or replace it honestly”, said Kenseth.

Revealing his struggle with sponsorships, Kenseth added, “Like you say, we didn’t have a sponsor, we didn’t know if we were gonna keep racing. A couple other people were calling on me to race, I’m like ‘No!’ I told these guys that I was doing it, we were gonna do it.”

Curious to know who offered Kenseth a ride, Junior asked, “Who?”

“I’m not gonna mention them”, Matt Kenseth shot back.

“Ahh, come on…Were they other Busch teams?” Junior quipped.

Coaxed by his friend, Matt Kenseth spilled a long-kept secret, “It was actually your Dad! He wanted to replace you with somebody a little more experienced, and I was like ‘I can’t do that to Dale Jr’. I know everyone didn’t tell you that. Sorry to break it to you.”

With the cat out of the bag, both Dale Jr and Matt Kenseth burst out laughing. Although struggling in his initial years, there is no denying that Dale Earnhardt Jr has lived up to his father’s legacy.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr’s indelible NASCAR achievements

Competing part-time in the Xfinity Series for his team JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr is also the most prominent face of modern-era NASCAR. Winning the Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014, Junior also won NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award fifteen times consecutively. 

Winning the Xfinity Series championship in 1998 and 1999, Junior was inducted into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame for the class of 2022. Also, one of the names on NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list, the only title Dale Earnhardt Jr missed out on was a Cup Series championship. Now working as a broadcaster for NASCAR on NBC, Junior also devotes time to his immensely successful CARS Tour venture. 

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Needless to say, Dale Earnhardt Jr has done justice to the legacy of his late father, Dale Earnhardt.