Dale Earnhardt Jr. was recently confronted by a Dale Jr Download co-host, Andrew Kurland, about a remark that the Hall of Famer had made about Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman in an earlier episode. While doing so, Kurland jokingly called the two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion a “dumba**” and a “complete moron”.
A few weeks ago, Alex Bowman grabbed the checkered flag in the Grant Park 165, marking his first win of the current season. It was also Bowman’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory since March 2022. As he celebrated his triumph during the cooldown lap, Bubba Wallace pulled up next to Bowman’s No. 48 Chevy and pushed him into the wall. Alex Bowman had spun Wallace earlier in the race.Drivers don’t usually unbuckle their seatbelts until the race is over.
However, reports say that Alex Bowman had his seatbelts loose and window nets down at the time. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wouldn’t let this slide.
Reacting to the same in an earlier episode, Junior had said,
“Nobody unbuckles before they come to a complete stop in the pits to get the hell out. You’re a dumba** if you f*****g undo your belts in a moving car.”
Andrew Kurland agreed. However, he brought out a bunch of pictures that showed Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself, taking his seatbelts off while in the car on several occasions.
“Look at this. Look at what you’re doing right here,” he said. “That’s a seat belt coming off. You want another example? This is Talladega!”
“These are all wins!” Junior replied, trying to defend himself.
“I’m so glad you brought that up,” continued Kurland as he took out another picture.
“This is a duel race. You’re coming to pit road, you’re taking your helmet and your seat belt off. You gotta be a dumba** to do that. A complete moron.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR’s 15-time Most Popular Driver and a two-time Daytona 500 winner. He has 26 Cup Series wins to his credit. Although retired now, Dale Jr. occasionally runs in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Since his retirement in 2017, Junior has run at least one race each year.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s take on the Bubba Wallace-Alex Bowman incident
Dale Earnhardt Jr. supports on-track squabbles and pit-road tussles. He feels that the element of rubbing is what makes NASCAR so thrilling.
Therefore, he saw nothing egregious about Bubba Wallace door-bumping Alex Bowman’s car.
“After the race, I’m OK if Bubba goes up there and hits the 48 (Alex Bowman),” Earnhardt Jr. said earlier in his podcast (as reported by On3). “And I’m OK if somebody goes after Chase (Elliott) or Chase goes after somebody.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew that NASCAR would perhaps fine Bubba Wallace for the intentional tap on Bowman’s machine. Reflecting on the same, Junior said,
“If they want to fine them, that’s fine.
I don’t care. I don’t think the drivers mind too much. $5, $10, $15 grand…don’t take points away. Don’t truly deter this, because this s*** is what racing’s about.”
Luckily, NASCAR did not dock Bubba Wallace points. However, he was handed a $50,000 fine, which was a lot more than what Dale Earnhardt Jr. had probably expected.
