Dale Earnhardt was known as The Intimidator, and he surely lived up to that name. And recently, his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared a classic instance of that side when two trespassers attempted to illegally enter the seven-time NASCAR champion's property.

Recalling the incident, Dale Jr. explained how it all began. “Some guy had come over to work on something. This man saw some deer. They had a lot of deer on the property. It was 300 acres.”

After this, Dale Jr. pointed out when the escalation began. “And that guy and his buddy went and grabbed some beer at a bar and got talking and thought it'd be a good idea to go back out there and try to shoot one.”

The pair returned to the property and acted on their drunk ideas. Dale Jr. added, “Well, it just so happens that dad and his property foreman, they're out there on the property. And daddy hears a shotgun. Deer come running by him and fall over.”

The confrontation that followed was legendary.

“And as soon as they get to it, daddy takes off running and tackles one of the guys. And starts punching him in the face, breaking his hand,” Dale Jr. pointed out.

Finally, according to Dale Jr., The Intimidator held the men until the police arrived and even went on to file trespassing charges.

A fan in the comment section of this exact Dale Jr. interview recalled a famous detail from the story, writing, “He showed up at the banquet in New York with a cast on his hand from hitting him. Told the media he had a little farming accident.”

Such was The Intimidator's wrath. The incident thoroughly justifies his nickname, but another question arises as to why he was referred to as the same on the track.

The moment Dale Earnhardt became 'The Intimidator'

Dale Earnhardt earned the nickname of “The Intimidator” after a slew of incidents involving aggressive driving and unforgettable performances.

The most defining moment, however, came at the 1987 All-Star Race at Charlotte when Earnhardt was forced onto the infield grass while trying to catch the lead.

Instead of losing control, he powered through the grass, returned to the track, and still won the race in what became known as the famous “Pass in the Grass.”

As the captain of the black No. 3 Chevrolet, Earnhardt was known as someone who wouldn’t back down from a tussle with his rivals and was more than happy to use the “chrome horn” when necessary. Seeing Earnhardt in the rearview mirror often signaled trouble for many.

Evidence of the same can be found in his hard-fought and famed battles with Rusty Wallace and Terry Labonte that strengthened the fable of this legend, turning him into one of NASCAR’s most feared and respected drivers.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Uday Jakhar

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason