As we all know, a few names in American motorsport carry the same weight as that of the legend Dale Earnhardt. To testify to the same, American rapper Rob Van Winkle arrived on the Dale Jr Download podcast to glorify the great racer's abilities while discussing one of the most treasured pieces in his collection: Earnhardt's early "Saturday Night Special" race car.

Before he even began to talk about the vehicle, Winkle found it apt to quantify Earnhardt's legacy by comparing it to one of the greatest names in American culture.

"The Earnhardt name is Elvis Presley right up there with it, man," Winkle told Dale Earnhardt Jr. "It's just Dad, brother. It's you too, man."

By comparing Dale Sr to Elvis Presley, Winkle was trying to show how high the late driver's place is in American culture. Just like how Presley's music went beyond his industry, Earnhardt's influence also extended beyond just racing, making him one of the most recognized faces in and outside of the motorsports world.

Winkle then went on to discuss the car and its role as a piece of Earnhardt history. He started with how much effort he put into getting to know more about the car.

"And that was the start of his career. And I'm like, 'God, man.' And I read every story and dissected it about that," he said. "And I know that number two car, and I know that number three car, and every development and every evolution along the way."

What fascinated Winkle, however, was something more minute. Winkle continued, "I find it more fascinating, the stuff that's not so out there. That's the early, early parts, you know what I'm saying?"

The source of his fascination was better put down in Winkle's own words. "There are so many cool stories that are, you don't need a phone. You don't need anything. You can just sit down and tell front-porch stories all day long," he said.

For Winkle, the connection with Earnhardt meant a lot, as he viewed Earnhardt as an American hero. In doing so, we agree, while ensuring that it's apt to review the legend's record with the car Winkle holds.

Why the 'Saturday Night Special' matters

The Saturday Night Special isn't just another vintage model to own, but its story is much better. It was a car that was built as part of Dodge's early-1970s kit-car program, and it remains one of the few surviving examples of a project where the manufacturer tried to make racing more accessible at the grassroots level.

But that isn't the only thing making it valuable. Its true significance comes from the ties it has to Dale Earnhardt Sr. When Ralph Earnhardt was unable to test the car due to being hospitalized, he sent his son, Dale, instead.

Dale's performance impressed key figures involved with the program, and it was here that influential people began recognizing him as the racer he was.

It was at this exact moment that his career as a racer began taking him toward the pinnacle from which we recognize him today.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Uday Jakhar

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason