The Dale Jr. Download

On the dawn of a life-changing opportunity, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joined by up-and-coming racer Carson Kvapil this week on the Dale Jr. Download. Carson and his father Travis, longtime NASCAR competitor and 2003 NASCAR Truck Champion, join the show to share the announcement that he will be racing full-time for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next year. After impressing the racing world with back-to-back CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car championships in 2022/23 racing for JRM, Carson made his Xfinity debut for the team earlier this year at Martinsville, where he produced an impressive fourth-place finish. He followed this up by nearly winning at Dover, where he settled for runner-up behind Ryan Truex, a result that still haunts him today. Dale first began watching Carson closely when the decision needed to be made as to who was going to replace Josh Berry in JRM’s late model stock program. Dale explains that his sister Kelley and husband LW Miller noticed Carson while racing at Millbridge Speedway in the outlaw karts division and made the recommendation. Carson realized he had big shoes to fill in Berry’s absence, but it’s a task he’s managed quite well with multiple marquee wins and season crowns. This past weekend, Carson brought home the most coveted trophy in late model stock car racing: the ValleyStar 300 at Martinsville. Dale shares that he enjoys working with the Kvapil family as Travis allows JRM crew chief Bryan Shaffer to run the show and Carson the opportunity to learn from the team. Dale and Travis both laud Carson’s hard work ethic, as he continues to turn wrenches on his family’s late model for his younger brother Caden while working in the JRM shop. This weekend, Carson prepares for his Talladega Xfinity debut where he’ll once again be behind the wheel of the number-88 JRM entry. 21+ and present in North Carolina. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joined by his wife Amy for a special edition of Dirty Air. After a compelling race in Kansas to kick off the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs, there was plenty to unpack: 21+ and present in North Carolina. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

In this episode of DJD Reloaded, we’ve got a loaded lineup! Kyle Larson stops by to share why he took to Twitter after his Bristol win and how he’s gearing up for Kansas. Plus, former crew chief Greg Ives joins the conversation, giving us an inside look at what it’s really like working with Dale Jr. behind the scenes—especially during those chaotic in-car radio moments. From laughs to high-pressure situations, Greg reveals how he stayed cool when drivers were losing it on the mic. And to top it off, Dale gets personal in Ask Jr., sharing his go-to sushi order.

This week Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a conversation with a man he thought he’d never get to interview, longtime NASCAR Race Director David Hoots. In this episode, David opens up about how he made decisions in the booth, his thoughts on current NASCAR officiating, including the Austin Dillon penalty, his toughest calls in the booth, and how things ended at NASCAR. That leads to the reason Dale didn’t think this interview would happen. He assumed David would be working in the control tower booth for many years to come, and that seemed to be the case until a cluster of NASCAR layoffs in January of 2019. After a run of nearly two decades, stretching back to the fall Rockingham event on the 1988 schedule, David’s reign as chief steward for the Cup Series came to an end. The story of how David came to be in the booth starts in a likely place: Bowman Gray Stadium. David explains that his family began taking him to Saturday night races at the famed bullring when he was young, and he caught the racing bug at an early age. He initially took a position scoring cars in trade for free admission to the races, but his fascination with the race cars pushed him to wander into the world of technical inspection. From Bowman Gray, he began working at NASCAR regional events for the Sportsman and Modified divisions before the series were organized into their respective tours. He would stay on with the NASCAR Busch Grand National and the Winston Modified Tour before he caught the eyes and ears of Les Richter, who asked if he’d like to give the NASCAR Cup Series a shot. That day came on October 23, 1988 at Rockingham, where Rusty Wallace brought home his third victory in a row on his way to a second-place points effort. What followed for David Hoots was an illustrious career that saw him become one of the most revered officials in the modern era of NASCAR. 21+ and present in North Carolina. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

After an action-packed return to racing action this past weekend in Bristol, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the Dirty Mo Media studio for a new episode of Dirty Air. He is joined by special co-host TJ Majors to chat about their radio issues in Friday night’s NASCAR Xfinity race and even listen to some radio chatter sound clips, plus:

In this episode of DJD Reloaded, host Carla Gebhart is joined by Dale Jr.'s crew chief, Andrew Overstreet. Fresh off a win at Watkins Glen with Connor Zilisch, Andrew shares how he’s working with Dale Jr. to prepare for the upcoming Bristol Xfinity race. Also joining the show is NASCAR’s resident funnyman, NASCARcasm. If you know anything about NASCARcasm, you know he’s here to bring some laughs to the weekend chaos. We also break down tire performance with Goodyear’s NASCAR Project Manager, Mark Keto. Listen as he explains how Bristol’s concrete surface shaped an exciting spring race and what to expect this weekend. To top it off, Dale Jr. answers fan questions in a special Ask Jr. segment, where he shares what Chase Elliott has taught him about handling the nerves and pressure of racing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with longtime NASCAR crew chief and former ESPN television analyst Tim Brewer to learn more about his legendary career calling the shots for some of the sport’s all-time greats. After growing up within earshot of Bowman Gray Stadium, Tim established himself as a hard worker and found a position as crew chief for Junior Johnson and Associates, helping Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip earn Cup championships in 1978 and 1981 respectively. Tim’s work ethic was developed in his early teen years when he left his path of education to join local racer Ernie Shaw in the NASCAR Grand American ranks. Tim had a short stint with Tiny Lund before settling in with fellow Winston Salem native Richard Childress, becoming one of the youngest crew chiefs in NASCAR history at the age of 18. Tim explains that he got hired onto the famed Holly Farms team when Herb Nab vacated the chief position and Junior Johnson made a call to Childress. Tim and Travis Carter came on board in 1978 and helped guide Yarborough to ten wins and a third consecutive Cup season crown. Tim and Dale also discuss his years spent working with Waltrip and what made him leave Johnson’s team in 1982 to work for MC Anderson, reuniting with Yarborough. He also details how Raymond Beadle came to NASCAR ownership, creating the Blue Max Racing group with driver Tim Richmond in 1983. Tim talks about his friendship and competition with Dale Earnhardt Sr., his falling out with Junior Johnson in the early 90s and how he came to become an Emmy-award winning television analyst after he stepped down from the pit box. He closes the show by sharing a few "innovation stories" from over the years.

It was a thrilling dash to the finish at Watkins Glen, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the Dirty Mo Media studio with a new edition of Dirty Air. Special co-host TJ Majors joins to recap the race and weigh in on the latest hot topics in the racing world:

September 11, 2001. A day that changed our country forever. Less than two weeks after the tragedy, NASCAR returned to the track, offering a brief escape, a sense of unity, and something to cheer for during overwhelming grief. This week on DJD Reloaded, we’re taking you back to that unforgettable day. We’ll be joined by the people there, the men who helped Dale Jr. take home that emotional victory. It’s a Throwback Thursday you won’t want to miss. This is the story of a race that meant more than just points, more than just a trophy, and will be forever remembered as a race that brought fans together. Hear Jeff Clark and Joey Meier talk about that iconic race, and the stories leading up to the race that you’ve never heard before.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sets out to learn more about the world of open wheel motorsports as he sits down with the CEO of McLaren Racing Zak Brown. Big news brought the open wheel executive to town as McLaren joined Hendrick Motorsports in announcing that Kyle Larson will return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2025 for another attempt at the Memorial Day double. Zak explains how the partnership with Rick Hendrick came together through an adoration for his race team, which he views as a North American equivalent of McLaren. He also credits Larson’s versatility with being reminiscent of yesteryear’s drivers like A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. As McLaren continues to flourish open wheel racing, Zak says his sights are set on becoming a top-outfit in the sports car ranks, competing in both WEC and IMSA in the future. Zak’s background in racing can be traced to the 1981 Long Beach Grand Prix, which he attended with his parents and brother. A successful appearance on Wheel of Fortune when he was 13 and advice from Mario himself led to a door opening in go-kart racing, which Zak entered and never looked back. After finding a knack for securing sponsorship, Zak realized he was better fit on the marketing end of the sport and started his own company, Just Marketing, Inc., which quickly rose to being one of the top businesses in racing. Zak would sell the company and find himself at a professional crossroads before being faced with the ultimate career decision: be in line to one day run Formula One or help direct McLaren Racing. Thanks to his love of competition, Zak took the position at the legendary race team and helped it return to its former glory at the forefront of the racing world. Dale and Zak share one strong common thread, through Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s 1980s Nova, which currently resides in the JR Motorsports garage. Zak was a longtime owner of the vehicle before Dale Jr. was able to acquire it through auction, and he shares an incredible story of how he was able to confirm its authenticity.

The NASCAR Playoffs are underway, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the studio to unpack the action from Atlanta. The NASCAR charter agreement has progressed and several drivers are in early points predicaments after the weekend:

In this special episode of DJD Reloaded, we’re taking the show on the road! Join The Athletic’s motorsports journalists and hosts of The Teardown, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, as they take you behind the scenes of their first-ever exclusive driver sit-downs at NASCAR Playoff Media Day. But don’t expect the same usual questions you’ve heard drivers answer before. These guys were candid, unfiltered, and so much fun. From surprising insights to raw reactions, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the personalities and pressure fueling the Playoff contenders. Plus, Amy Earnhardt joined Dale Jr. on the Download for #AskJR – or, shall we say, #AskAmy – this week, so you won’t want to miss it!

Join Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he sits down with former NASCAR Crew Chief and team owner Travis Carter to discuss his past working with some of the most legendary race car drivers in history. During his two-decade-long time in the sport, he was a championship-winning crew chief with Benny Parsons in 1973 and was Cale Yarborough’s crew chief during the iconic 1979 Daytona 500. Over the years, Travis also worked with Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson, and Darrell Waltrip. He also speaks on his time working for Penske, the teams who sought his employment, and the rise and fall of his team, Travis Carter Motorsports. Listen as Travis shares stories, including his friendship with Dale Earnhardt Sr., his start in NASCAR, and his complete exit from the sport. 21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

It’s the first Tuesday of the month, so that means Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joined by his wife Amy in the Dirty Mo Media studio for Dirty Air. After an exciting conclusion to the NASCAR regular season at Darlington, there was plenty to chat about: 21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

On this episode of DJD Reloaded, we're joined by the newest voice in the NASCAR NBC broadcast booth, Leigh Diffey. He talks about his transition into NASCAR, the most incredible sports moments he's called, and his excitement to be covering NASCAR. Leigh also gives us his message for NASCAR fans and jokes about being called "British." Next, we sit down with Parker Retzlaff to discuss his second career Cup Series start and the controversy surrounding the final restart. If Parker could do it over again, would he do anything different? We get his side of the story and see how he's handling the scrutiny while preparing for Darlington. Finally, we have a fresh batch of your questions in Ask Jr. where Dale shares how he feels about the return of the No. 88 to the Cup Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. welcomes legendary NASCAR Crew Chief Buddy Parrott to the Dirty Mo Media Studio to learn more about the pivotal role he played in some of NASCAR’s greatest moments. Growing up in Gastonia, North Carolina, Buddy participated in competitive diving all through high school before finding his way to a race at Birmingham International Raceway on behalf of Huggins Tire Service. Buddy would take a job with the company working as a tire man for their NASCAR events, mounting tires for the entire Cup field on a regular basis. It was through this service that he met the legendary Harry Hyde, and not long after Buddy would approach him for an opportunity to work on his famed K&K Insurance Dodge team. Buddy explains that his time with Harry was invaluable, and he considered him to be his mentor, teaching him everything he knew about race cars and racing setups. Buddy would make the decision to split from the team when Kentuckian Ferrel Harris came to the shop to purchase a racer and some Raymond Fox-prepared engines. While working with Harris, Buddy also spent time teaming up with Robert Gee to help prepare his dirt cars, which were chauffeured by none other than Carolina ace Hayward Plyler and a young Dale Earnhardt. Dale Jr. was surprised to learn that Buddy served as crew chief for his father’s 1976 Atlanta 500 attempt in a car owned by Johnny Ray, which was famously destroyed in a crash. Buddy would move on to the DiGard Motorsports outfit to team with Darrell Waltrip and take the NASCAR Cup scene by storm in the late 1970s. Listeners can hear all of this, plus more about Buddy’s time working on Harry Ranier’s Gray Ghost, helping Richard Petty score his 200th win, and the 1990 Daytona 500. 21+ and present in North Carolina. Opt in req. Wager requirements apply. Bonuses awarded as nonwithdrawable bonus bets or profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including bonus expiration. See terms and conditions at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

After a surprising finish at Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in the studio to catch up on the latest racing headlines on this week’s edition of Dirty Air. It's a star-studded lineup on the show this week, with Bubba Wallace, Harrison Burton and Jeff Burton all jumping on the show. Harrison Burton’s unpredictable win means the Playoffs cutline moved again, and several drivers face a must-win situation rolling into Darlington:

In this episode of DJD Reloaded, we are joined by NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Media and Revenue Officer Brian Herbst, who explains how race start times are determined. Learn about the factors influencing these decisions, from broadcast windows and viewership trends to the balance between TV audiences and trackside fans. We also discuss Richard Childress Racing’s penalty appeal, and what it means for the team moving forward. Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, co-hosts of The Teardown join and explain the nuances of the appeals process and what happens next. Plus, the fans ask Dale Jr. their burning questions in Ask Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joined by longtime NASCAR competitor and winner of the 1990 Daytona 500 Derrike Cope to learn about his journey from the Pacific Northwest to capturing one of the greatest upset victories in racing history. After growing up with a father who competed in the NHRA Drag Racing ranks, Derrike learned the finer points of being a mechanic working in various speed shops on the West Coast. After his initial focus in life of baseball was curbed by a devastating injury in college, Derrike followed in his father and brother Darren’s footsteps and strapped into the driver’s seat. After competing in late model races, Derrike would find himself on a path that would lead him to the heart of the fast-growing world of stock cars through the NASCAR Winston West Series. Dale and Derrike give listeners some insight into the former Winston West outfit, which ran from 1971 to 2003 and was essentially its own separate entity sanctioning Cup racing on the West Coast. Derrike explains that Winston West fixture George Jefferson was instrumental in helping Derrike get his first Cup ride, and it was in this series that Derrike found his footing and learned the craft of racing top-speed stock cars before making the journey east. Derrike’s initial efforts out east were plagued by financial difficulties, but thanks to a relationship with Purolator he eventually found his way to Bob Whitcomb and they established a state-of-the-art operation with the legendary Buddy Parrott at the helm. This potent combination armed with a Dorton-built engine set sail for Daytona in 1990 and brought home stock car immortality when a dominant Dale Earnhardt Sr. ran over debris on the final lap and slowed. Dale and Derrike recap what he remembers from this memorable week, as well as his time racing for Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, working with StarCom, and what he occupies his time with today. 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full price of NFL Sunday Ticket will be automatically charged seasonally after free trial. No refunds. Terms, restrictions, and embargoes apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov

The NASCAR Cup race may have been delayed until Monday, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is right on schedule with this week’s edition of Dirty Air. After a late-race caution caused much debate among racing fans, Tyler Reddick held on in double overtime to win his second race of the season: 21+ and present in North Carolina. Full price of NFL Sunday Ticket will be automatically charged seasonally after free trial. No refunds. Terms, restrictions, and embargoes apply. Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.