Dale Earnhardt Jr. pokes fun at spotter, reveals he was going 'ballistic' amid radio issues at Bristol
For the entire first stage at Bristol, Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced without a spotter. So, what does that say about TJ Majors? The NASCAR Hall of Famer was going wild in the car during his radio issues but had a sense of humor afterward.
It was a tough first stage for Dale Jr. He battled radio issues and tried to make a radio swap but it didn’t work. After multiple stops on pit road, it’s not hard to imagine why Earnhardt was so upset.
On his radio, Dale Earnhardt Jr confirmed he had no spotter. “I don’t know what that says about TJ,” Earnhardt said, via Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.
It is probably a good thing that no one could hear him on his radio.
Just to make things worse, Gluck reports that Earnhardt lost his glasses in his original helmet. He thought they fell on the floorboard, but he is running blind in the car and above him. At least, he was in that first stage. He should be all good to go now that he’s got his new helmet and his radio is fixed.
Dale Jr. drove his way through the field with relative ease. He knows his way around Bristol in ways that these younger drivers don’t. It is a lot of fun to watch him battle against the full-time drivers. When he hops in that Xfinity car it’s like it’s 1999 again. Something just clicks.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. overcomes radio issues at Birstol
Radio issues plagued Earnhardt at the start of the race. But things have chilled out since. Bristol is a track that, despite being so small, you can drive through if you have a fast car. At least in the Xfinity Series, you can.
I do think if Earnhardt and his team hope to win the race they will have to make an adjustment or two. Right now the speed is there but he could be fighting his car. Perhaps his car will come alive after a long run. Right now, Cole Custer is driving a rocket ship. It will be hard to compete with the Stewart-Haas driver.
Dale Jr. is only racing Bristol this year. He has no deal for the future. So, this is his one shot to win another Xfinity Series race. It is a series he has more or less dedicated his professional life to as a driver and team owner. It would be fitting to see him walk off as a winner.
Last season he came so close. This year, it’s the same car that has been torn down and put back together better than ever. Is there a chance we see Dale Earnhardt Jr. get the checkered flag?