My Favorite Earnhardt

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32367551/mediaviewer/rm89817090/?ref_=tt_ov_i

Fresh from watching the Prime Video release of the Imagine Documentaries, Everyone Else, and NASCAR Studios, in association with Dirty Mo Media, production of Earnhardt, I am full of emotions. 

Yes, emotions. 

I was one of the millions of Dale Earnhardt fans. 

I knew about his daddy, Ralph. 

I knew about his career, and how he won Rookie of the Year in 1979, beating out Harry Gant and Terry Labonte, and went on to win his first championship in 1980 for Rod Osterlund Racing.

When Richard Childress picked up Earnhardt and put effort into winning the championship in the mid-1980s, a seismic shift was brewing.

Winning championships in 1986 (RCR's first) and 1987 showed he was no flash-in-the-pan, but a juggernaut - a force to be reckoned.

During the All-Star Race in 1987, Earnhardt was forced into the infield grass, never lost control, and regained his lead (never passing anyone) - the so-called Pass In The Grass - earning him the nickname "The Intimidator".

When Wrangler pulled out and GM Goodwrench arrived to sponsor RCR's No. 3 Dale Earnhardt car for the 1988 season, the paint scheme went from blue and yellow to black.

More success followed in 1990, the year I started watching, and 1991 marking his fourth and fifth championships respectively.

Then, in 1993 and 1994 his sixth and Richard Petty-tying seventh championship were realized. 

Throughout the years Earnhardt had coupled his extraordinary and aggressive driving style with heart-stopping wrecks that he would walk away from seemingly unharmed.

The Intimidator seemed like The Immortal.

With all of his championships, Earnhardt had never won a Daytona 500, arguably the most important race to win in the world of NASCAR.

The Great American Race victory was realized in 1998 in grand style by Earnhardt, earning him a high five from every single crew member lined up to congratulate him at the race's completion. 

Earnhardt was a Champion.

Earnhardt was a god.

The next year, 1999, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Earnhardt's son, started in the Cup series driving for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.

And, in 2001, with Earnhardt Jr. pushing fellow DEI teammate Michael Waltrip to victory in the Daytona 500, Earnhardt lost his life in a last lap crash.

Watching that final race of Earnhardt's life in the documentary series brought the emotions back in full force.

I cried. 

Hard.

Memories flooded my brain and my heart.

Losing Earnhardt was catastrophic - then and now. 

What watching Earnhardt did for me, though, was show me why so many in the sport and beyond, not only loved Dale Earnhardt, but love Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

I honestly never got it.

Upon the conclusion of Earnhardt, I did.

Like Earnhardt before, Earnhardt Jr. wanted only to be loved and seen by his father. 

Like Earnhardt, that was a rarity for Earnhardt Jr. 

The words wrapped around Earnhardt for the documentary say, "When Racing is everything, you'll sacrifice anything."

Read that again.

"When Racing is everything, you'll sacrifice anything."

Dale Earnhardt sacrificed everything for racing - his family relationships, his friendships, and, ultimately, his life. 

His death made Earnhardt ascend to mythic proportions. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed to be on a similar path, but he wasn't his father. 

He is a different species.

Although never as successful on the race track as his father, Earnhardt Jr. has had incredible successes as a driver, and as a team owner with his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller for their JR Motorsports team. 

Earnhardt Jr. is an incredible communicator, thinker, and talent picker. 

Earnhardt Jr. is a loving husband and father who is hyper-involved with his family.

He has parlayed his popularity - winner of 15 consecutive NASCAR Most Popular Driver awards - into a successful broadcasting career that spans several types of media. 

Most importantly, Earnhardt Jr. retired from competition at the end of the 2017 season. Though controversial, he chose to do what was right for him, and the years that followed have only been incredibly successful and lucrative for him. 

With Earnhardt Jr.'s blessings, contributions, and platform, Earnhardt brought Dale Earnhardt back on the screen for legions of fans. 

Though still god-like for many, this series shows a more complicated Earnhardt. 

Dale Earnhardt will continue to be a hero, and his legend will continue to thrive as it should.

I will always remember Dale Earnhardt and my immense fandom.

I'm just glad I understand why Dale Earnhardt Jr. has such a loyal, steadfast, and ever-growing fandom that may have started because he was Earnhardt's son, but grows ever-bigger because he is his own man.

https://www.swooon.com/1194966/who-is-dale-earnhardt-jr-married-to-amy-kids/