Nearly a decade after stepping away, Dale Earnhardt Jr. still gets race-winning cheers even when he’s running outside the top 15.

Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace recalled a recent race featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., where the crowd’s reaction stood out more than the on-track action.

"I run around people, I do things, picking up garbage, getting other things," he said. "I don't watch every lap. So I'm looking at it and they are positioned on the track and on those two cars. So I'm wondering if he's not passing for the lead, the way the car was cheering."

Bob Sargent, promoter of Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, pointed to the kind of reaction Earnhardt Jr. still commands, even in routine moments.

Following this, Wallace spoke about how Earnhardt Jr. is still a fan favorite driver despite retiring from full-time racing in 2017. The 15-time Most Popular Driver and Hall of Famer remains one of the sport's most influential figures.

"So it was just great, but that goes to Dale Jr. I mean, again. He's our hero. He carries himself so well. I watched him go and give autographs along the fence line that he didn't have to do. I mean he is really a great ambassador for our sport," he further added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed in 631 Cup Series races over 19 years, earning 26 wins, and also raced in the Xfinity and Truck Series. While his driving career has ended, he has now weighed in on Ryan Blaney’s struggles with Team Penske.

Dale Jr. Highlights Ryan Blaney Situation with Team Penske

Despite being one of the best cars in the 2026 season, Ryan Blaney faced several pit road mishaps. From delays to loose wheels, the 2023 Cup Series champion lost 86 points due to these errors.

"Ryan Blaney looked like one of the best cars all day long, but he is struggling on pit road. They lost 86 spots on pit road this season," Dale Jr. said in the Dale Jr Download podcast. "There are people who it's their job to make sure that pit crew is b*****. It isn't Blaney's job! He might be able to go into this person's office and say 'fix my pit crew, d*****'. If the pit crew's an issue, it might need a little attention."

Currently, Ryan Blaney is in second place in the Drivers' Standings with 324 points after eight races. With a win, a pole, and three top fives and six top 10s, the #12 driver is still one of the best drivers of this season.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav