Dale Earnhardt Jr and NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton get in depth about the future of the sport, his relationship with the Intimidator, the new Gen-7 car and the most difficult announcement a friend ever had to make.  DJD spars about fighting in racing, Bubba's emotions and drama at Indy Bump Day & more.
 
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257 - Mike Helton: Both of Y'all Hush

NASCAR’s 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of two Daytona 500s, Dale Earnhardt Jr., hosts his very own podcast, The Dale Jr Download on Dirty Mo Media. Earnhardt raises the bar with unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and fascinating, first-person insight into the life of a broadcaster, celebrated racer.

Sports

On this week's DJD Reloaded, Carla Gebhart is joined by T.J. Majors, Brad Keselowski's spotter and co-host of DBC, to talk all about the art of blocking. We call up Michael McDowell to get his thoughts on how the final lap at Talladega played out and what, if anything, he could have done differently to hang on and secure the win. Plus, Jamie McMurray calls in and shares his perspective on McDowell's move and which drivers are the best drafting-track blockers in NASCAR today.
 
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The Art of Blocking: Checkers or Wreckers

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with a driver from NASCAR’s past, Tennessee’s own Casey Atwood. After rapidly making a name for himself in the late model stock division at Nashville Fairgrounds, Atwood made a big splash in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, becoming one of the youngest winners in history. Casey explains that while his family grew up watching racing, he would become the first driver in his lineage after convincing his father to buy him a go-kart. The father-son team would start out at the Nashville Fairgrounds before entering the World Karting Association ranks and finding championship success.

Upon graduating from the karting world, Casey entered into the four-cylinder ranks at Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, TN. It was there he forged a friendship with Bobby Hamilton, a relationship that would help pave his entryway into NASCAR. A successful season in late model stock competition propelled his name into the NASCAR garage, and after turning heads in 1999 by becoming the youngest winner in Xfinity Series history at the time, Casey was sure he would have a spot in the sport for many years to come. Unfortunately though, a career gamble on a new team and a year of rookie struggles in the Cup Series would leave Casey Atwood in the “what could have been” category of NASCAR’s past drivers.

21+ and present in NC. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov
 
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535 - Casey Atwood: The Career I Don't Talk About

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to the Bojangles Studio after a thrilling Talladega Cup race for a new edition of Dirty Air. From scoring pylons to saving fuel, there was a lot to unpack in this episode:

A new “grumpy old man” moment

What does Dale think about the scoring pylons?

How can NASCAR solve the fuel-saving dilemma on drafting tracks?

Shorter races vs. more stages: “don’t take chips out of my bag!”

Michael McDowell makes one block too many 

Race winner Tyler Reddick calls into the show

The impact of Michael Jordan being in Victory Lane


During the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners sent in questions regarding:

Frontstretch interviews vs. Victory Lane interviews

Most heartbreaking race loss

New parenting lessons

Meeting and interacting with Michael Jordan


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534 - Talladega: The Answer Isn't Less Racing

Carla Gebhart and Andrew Kurland are joined by NASCAR's SVP of Competition, Elton Sawyer, to pull back the curtain on practice time at NASCAR’s highest levels. The hot topic started several weeks ago with comments from Brad Keselowski. It caught new momentum this week after Jimmie Johnson wrecked at Texas. Is less practice a good thing or a bad thing for today’s racing product? What do drivers like? Owners? Fans? Dale Jr. went on a self-admitted tangent this week on the Download saying we eliminated practice during the pandemic but never properly put it back despite everyone wanting it. But no sooner did he say it, Chase Elliott made a compelling argument as to why it’s fine the way it is. Who’s right? What’s the real story about practice? Is it a cost burden and, if so, for who? We’re searching for answers and going straight to the source – NASCAR.
 
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The Real Reason For Less Practice with Elton Sawyer

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with Hendrick Motorsports mechanic Marlin Yoder to discuss his departure from the Amish community and his one-in-a-million journey to becoming a NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew member. The conversation begins with Yoder’s perspective of living in a strict Amish community and his first time discovering NASCAR via the radio he smuggled into his bedroom. He relives the dramatic moments of leaving his family and community behind to chase a dream in an unknown new world. 
Yoder didn’t know what a racetrack or the race cars looked like until he first laid eyes on a NASCAR television broadcast after leaving home. He instantly caught the bug to pursue a career in racing, and details his early days racing at a local short track. Dale Jr. and Yoder also discuss his efforts handing out resumes at race shops, breaking through in the lower levels and achieving the impossible at NASCAR’s highest level. Yoder’s story is one you won’t believe until you hear it for yourself.

21+ and present in NC. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.
 
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257 - Mike Helton: Both of Y'all Hush

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