NASCAR Corridor of Famer and two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. lately spoke with Laborious Rock Wager (for whom he’s a model ambassador) about varied matters, starting from the upcoming season, regrets from his profession, and even a few potential cameo within the 2028 Quick and Livid film.
The son of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., he was additionally requested about his Method 1 fandom and fashionable stars he’d prefer to see get behind the wheel of a inventory automobile.
Within the current previous, Method 1 World Champions Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen, and Jacques Villeneuve have made a handful of begins on the high degree of NASCAR. As for probably the most profitable F1 stars in NASCAR, Dan Gurney gained 5 Cup races, Juan Pablo Montoya gained two (and completed as excessive as eighth in factors), after which there’s Mario Andretti, who gained the Daytona 500 11 years earlier than he turned an F1 World Champion.
“I imply, I’d like to see Max Verstappen give it a strive,” stated Earnhardt, although Verstappen has beforehand stated no to NASCAR and IndyCar alternatives. “He’s unbelievable and I feel his curiosity, his work ethic, I feel all of that will play a terrific function in permitting him to achieve success.
“Plus, our automobiles have modified lots. Our automobiles have impartial rear suspension, the transaxle diffuser… our automobiles aren’t the inventory automobiles from 10, 20 years in the past, and so I feel the chance for an F1 man to have success is a lot better at present than it was 20 years in the past.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Max Verstappen on the 2025 Miami Grand Prix
Photograph by: Mark Thompson through Getty Photographs
Earnhardt additionally talked about Daniel Ricciardo, who ran the No. 3 in F1 in honor of Dale Jr.’s father.
“I hoped that Daniel Ricciardo would come to NASCAR after his resolution to go away Method 1 and that will nonetheless occur. Daniel’s nonetheless comparatively younger.”
And whereas NASCAR is his life, Earnhardt is a giant F1 fan as effectively and has watched it since Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher had been preventing for the title within the the ’90s. He additionally revealed that he was a giant fan of the seven-time world champion, who was the winningest driver in F1 historical past earlier than Sir Lewis Hamilton’s rise. Earnhardt all the time puzzled what Schumacher may have finished behind the wheel of a NASCAR inventory automobile as effectively.
“I used to look at F1 very closely again when Michael Schumacher was battling with Mika Häkkinen and people guys, I imply, these had been unbelievable years. I had all the time wished for the chance to listen to what Michael Schumacher considered driving a inventory automobile.
“I solely wished him to have the ability to get within the automobile, run a pair hours, and I all the time thought Michael was the best race automobile driver that I ever knew in my life with every little thing that he achieved, and the way good he was, and I’m like, you recognize Dale Earnhardt’s my hero, however Michael Schumacher was the person.
“Sadly, I by no means bought to actually perceive what he would possibly take into consideration a inventory automobile, however I suppose what I’m attempting to say is that I get excited when drivers from completely different disciplines from F1, or any automobile no matter it could be, come over and drive our stuff, as a result of I’m anxious to listen to what they are saying. I’ve a lot admiration for his or her skill and their disciplines. I do know what we’re doing is so completely different, and it’s enjoyable to listen to their opinions and standpoint.”
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