We are so fortunate that Jr is such a history buff and shares these podcasts with us… He could have just wandered off into obscurity like so many others have done Thank you Jr.
The more stories that come out about DEI the darker it gets. It’s really sad, Dale Worked Very hard to build such a great place and once he died it just rapidly declined like Ty Norris said
Steve Hmiel is by far the smartest Crew Chief I have ever been around. Nobody thinks faster on their feet and makes instant decisions faster than Steve except me after I stole his style. He helped my career way more than he will ever know.
If this is the real James Ince, I thank you so much for your effort with the 10 car when one of my all-time favorite drivers Johnny Benson, Jr. was there. Benson was just on the Scene Vault and just lauded your genius and workmanship. Thanks again.
Hope you are well James -- always was a fan when you and Johnny Benson about turned NASCAR upside down with that unsponsored 10 car and then the Valvoline deal.
Would have definitely picked up a couple more Xfinity/ Nationwide championships. Possibly 2+ Cup titles. ????? Would they still be around and staying competitive.. ( she ) still might have won.😢
@@zt5547 haha and they had 3 Daytona 500 wins. One with Dale Jr. and two with Michael Waltrip. If Dale wouldn't have died I believe Jr. would have won the title in 2004
@@zt5547you consider winning 2 truck championships, 2 xfinty championships,24 cup races,41 xfinty races,25 truck races and 5 arca races for a total of 95 wins average?
If we all could be so honest about our mistakes, fears and failures. Dale pulls the curtain back and exposes his insecurities, vulnerabilities, frustration and uncertainty. You handled a terrible situation better than 99% of us would have. Your dad would be proud.
Don’t you just love listening to two humble people brag on each other and still are humble enough to not take credit for something so big. This is the very definition of love and respect.
She’s a Total Idiot and a Gold Digger. Dale deserved a better Woman. A better Human Being. He should have had his Will set up to give 51% to Jr. And 20% each to his other Boys. Teresa should be living in a Trailer Park, which is where She’d be without Dale.
Steve Hmiel got his last win as a crew chief at Chicago. That also explains how Dale Jr. and Steve's son Shane were in WinFuel commercials because Shane's dad worked with Dale at the time.
These are pure gold..... pure gold..... Jr, I know you won't see this, but it is so fun and enjoyable to watch you be and do what you were destined to do.... your interview style, honesty, humbleness is pure magic.... THANK YOU for sharing with us!
If Real had levels, this would be at the top. Even the jokes. Hope Mr. Letarte hears this. A crew chief making a driver believe he can drive. All the words, Real. Thank You!
Do you know how long was he at Ganassi? Was he a crew chief there? What happened with him in later years? Sorry for the questions but I got really interested in his story but he's not on wikipedia or anything like that and it's hard to get any info on his career tbh
Dale Jr you are 1000% correct. I raced for many years and for many different teams. If the team I was driving for had faith in me, then I had all the confidence in the world to do well. The results were so much better
Slight hijack...used to race dirt bikes in the woods. Was there when the GNCC series was created. I sucked. Zero confidence. Dealership picked-up Husqvarna. 1980 or 81. I had ridden Yamaha my whole life. Bought a leftover OR250 Husky. Rode it 3 times, went to spring race at Big Bear campground that is really close to WV/Maryland border. Fell maybe mile in a tweaked the bars around, pulled throttle off part way. Engine would rev when bars were turned right. Made one 20+ mile lap, came in pits to quit. Guy the sold me the bike was a football coach type. Looked me in the eyes and said "you hurt"? Nope. Yanked bars back straight and shoved throttle back in. GO!🤪 That moment did more for me than all the riding I'd done to that point. Went back few months later and made 4 laps (at least 80 miles of nasty rocks) ran top 10 for all of it. Physically ran out of gas last lap, finished 28th? I think in class. For me it was about confidence. He had it in me. I had it in the bike. Confidence is possibly the most important factor in success.
Truly appreciate these interviews and the stories surrounding the history of the sport. Stuff we never knew about while watching, but always wanted answers to, finally so much of it is coming to light.
I both love and hate these downloads. I love learning what happened. We all knew something was up but we never truly knew what. The hate was for Dale's legacy. To be a fan for almost his entire career and to know that a huge part of his legacy died when Dei fell apart is heartbreaking.
So much humility and truth in the room. Steve is like the Dog test. If my dog doesn’t like you, I wouldn’t want to be around you. Upper management failed the dog test.
DEI was destined for greatness it’s a shame it went down the way it did Jr is a heck a wheelman to have put those cars in victory lane with what was going on behind the scenes
The Pocono race they were talking about, i swear that wasn't the only one they changed shocks or springs on pit road. 2007 Pocono 2, I *swear* they did it there too Edit: ah I was right. He spun on lap 123 at the 2007 Pennsylvania 500 and they changed the front shocks on the car. Finished 2nd.
The win at Chicago is the last race I've been to in person and it completed everything for me as I had seen Senior win twice in person so I was pumped to see Jr. win!
I always wanted to be a crew chief. I never wanted it bad enough or I was scared 30 years ago. I never really understood that I would have never made it until listening and watching your podcast. I never really understood how special mentality and emotionally you have to be. Steve Hmiel is someone who always interested me, but I had no idea he was that special. No idea I would have been competing against someone like him. What a awesome podcast!
All the haters can say what they want about Teresa but one thing is a fact. Nobody and I mean Nobody could have run DEI into the ground quicker than Teresa did!
His insight and honesty is painful and to be respected. DJ was basically a head case after Sr. passed and suddenly had to find his way in the world alone.
I Robert K ,get a ? when is the Bud light #8 car and the toy car it Dale JR inc , if it me it well be into the room when the others toys cars it , as for the car is it the wild west town , and old pics of races days too, with the others teams too,
This number one in all of the shows you have done. You alone brought me back to Nascar, after I had completely stopped watching any Nascar. Maybe someday we can talk about it.
Thankful for what Jr is doing here, respecting and sharing history, and some intimate details that we never would’ve known. I’m not afraid to say I was not a huge Jr fan when he raced, but as he’s gotten older I have a ton of respect and admiration for who he is and what he has become. Much respect.
Serious question… what becomes of Dale Jr if… he never gets an opportunity at HMS? JRM certainly never happens like it has and look at all the jobs JRM has provided over the years. Unbelievable what went down at DEI. I just shake my head.
Dale jr in the 8 bud car was so much fun watching. Wish Richard would of offered him a chance to drive the 3 car for him instead of waiting for Austin Dillion.
Wow I feel so sorry for Steve Hmeil having to deal with that mess Terresa made of Dale Srs dream. Just a sad sad time in history at DEI. I didn't realise all that was going on but I knew nothing was right after Dale passed away and the poor kids Dale Jr ,Kelly & Kerry had to feel so lost not knowing where there future was headed with that witch in charge of everything. I can not to this day believe she didn't do what Dale Sr wanted for the kids to get and keep DEI running and we all know they wanted to do in there daddy's name to carry on his legend. But Dale Sr legend will never die anyways.That witch has no control over all the memories qe all ha e of him his dad and his kids and what the man built. I met Dale Sr a few times and I will never forget how gracious and kind he was with my dad and I. And with me all alone at the busch shop at DEI he and little Taylor came over to the gate and talked to me for a few minutes and I was on top of the world.i could not believe I caught Dale Sr at a time when it was just me him and little Taylor and we talked about the Winston the night before and he had gotten crashed out of the race and I said I was there and hated seeing that and lost that car.He Said it was a good car but are you coming to the 600 I sure am in turn 1 down by the fence. He said well wait till you see that car run, it is an even better car and it is fast. He was penalized 3 times and sent to the back and still came back to win that 600. I was so happy for him and so excited for him. When he passed away it was devastating. I went to DEI with many other race fans that were there and all the news and sports crews covering it. One if the saddest days I've ever experienced. It was hard to even want to watch nascar anymore but I did follow Dale Jr and pulled hard for him and got to experience the great wins he had. Just never did put it all together to win that elusive championship in the Cup series. Dale Jr is actually the only one I haven't met of the Earnhardt family.i met Dale Sr of coarse a few times .unfortunately Teresa and of coarse Taylor and Kelly at Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet and Kerry when I worked at Lowes in mooresville nc. I had bought a truck from Dale's dealership and Dale was still with us at that time.i went for oil service on my truck and asked if Dale Jr was there and the service manager said you just missed him I sent him on a parts run to Charlotte and he went make it back before we close today.i said crap he's the only one I haven't got to meet and talk to. Dale Jr was just maybe 16 at the time just getting going in his young life. So I have alot of good memories and went to alot of races at charlotte and north Wilkesboro and Bristol,Rockingham and darlington to watch Dale Sr. I don't think I ever got to a race when Jr was racing even when his dad was still with us and driving. Every now and then I will go for a ride out to DEI and walk around and remember all the good times like meeting Dale Sr outback at the old busch shop. But my anger for the witch will never fade because she did Dale Kelly and Kerry very wrong and very dirty in my opinion. She was never the racer in that family.she married into it and then killed the whole dream her husband Dale Sr built for his kids to won day take over and runs and race. Will never forget!
Steve seems like a really nice guy. Doesn't want to hurt anyone's feeling. Lay it out there man. It's been nearly 20 years. They get upset, duck em. Tell it like it was.
Theresa could be on top of the world right along with Jr., but she couldn't see clearly. The whole thing is just so totally sad, but you can't keep a good man like Dale down.
Man dale, thanks for being so human and thoughtful about your past thoughts here! Very well said and inspirational in a very real way. Also Ross chastain should get some kind of pay bonus from nascar. I wish camera guys did a better job on that one but that just shows u absolutely noone saw that coming, even cameramen
I'll always say if Dale had lived Jr. would be a multi time champion because you could see Dale had built the dominant program and it just crumbled under Teresa...and when she and Jr had their differences come out I remember Jr had like 7 blown engines that year when dei never had engine issues I new it was over
One day, Teresa Earnhardt will have to tell everyone why she let her deceased husband's company wither into nothingness. Granted, the loss of DEI was RCR's gain, but DEI didn't *have* to die. Stubbornness killed it.
Sounds more like greed and jealousy. She did not know how to run the company but her admitting that would reinforce every ones preconceived notions of her. She took over a company the was dominated over by Sr with none that she would allow to step up. Jr talked about it in a different episode. The fact that the DEI Mgmt walked into the Chip Genassi meeting trying to get Steve fired when they were being absorbed shows you the Ego running thru DEI at the time. She will never admit Jr was right and won in the end.
Just wanted to say i enjoy Jr's podcast ABOUT as much as i liked watching him race and quit watching nascar when he retired my PERSONAL opinion is NASCAR went to alittle too sissy after an Earnhardt presence on the track.....
I think it should have someone who doesn't have a scooby about the sport to present the show, so they learn as the audience does. There should be no scripts like certain behind closed doors shows no-names or finger pointing......junior!!
I have pictures from the 500 in 04 from the top row in turn two and I could stand on the seat and see the runway and watched air force one and the F-16s land. Good weekend for the team.
They do say "Never say never". It's important to remember that. Important because it demonstrates that there are no absolutes. Because that is never gonna happen.
One thing I tell everybody.....you had to go through EVERYTHING you went through in life.... to get where you are NOW...in life.... just the slightest change and you'd not BE HERE....now.
Dale this interview with Steve really helped shed light on how bad Teresa was at attempting to run a business that your Precious Dad had built and succeeded into a mega company and when he passed he would've come back if possible to make things right to where Dale Jr and Kelley would have been head of the most successful team and THE BEST RACE CAR DRIVER EVER, THE INTIMIDATOR DALE SR WOULD NOT HAVE TOLERATED TERESA'S NONSENSE FOR A SECOND!!!! THE INTIMIDATOR INTENDED FOR DALE JR AND KELLEY TO CARRY THE EARNHARDT LEGACY INTO THE FUTURE AND Dale, you and Kelley and Mike and the wonderful people in your inner circle have done AMAZING THINGS AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL BEYOND WHAT EVEN YOUR PRECIOUS DAD EXPECTED AND YOU DID IT YOUR OWN WAY WITHOUT DEI WHICH RIGHTFULLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOURS AND KELLEY'S. BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE GOD WILL SEND DOWN HIS JUSTICE TO MAKE THE GUILTY AND GREEDY PAY . GOD DOESN'T MISS ANYTHING AND HE WILL STEP IN AND CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU FOR DOING YOUR FAMILY LEGACY JUSTICE 🙏🏻ALONG WITH YOUR PRECIOUS FAMILY AMY AND THE GIRL'S AND KELLEY AND HER PRECIOUS FAMILY 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻AND JEFFREY TOO. 🙏🏻🙏🏻💞🤗💞🏁🏆🏁
I know what happened. Teresa Earnhardt put her racing uncle on the board of directors. Did any of you know that. She handed DEI to him. He told her what to do. And she did it. He destroyed DEI because she let him. This I know as a fact. Don't even ask me how. I can't say. But believe it.
I'll do one better here, Teresa should have sold DEI to someone who cared about racing and the people who knows racing from the head of operation to the person who swept floors at the race shop. My moto is you "don't care, GET OUT OF THE WAY!'
Teresa was a cancer to that company from the minute Sr crashed! I hope she’s sorry for what she did to that company & family! She should be ashamed! I remember DW talking about her ruining DEI, he said he remembered Sr saying everyday while starting the company, “we’ve got to leave something for them kids”! He knew Sr meant for Jr & his siblings to take over!
Tec Stuff You shoud read Dale Sr's comments on how Teresa was a driving force in getting Dale Sr's business interests moving forward & in a positive position! There's no doubt that she wasn't Step mom of the year to Dale Sr 's children! But she helped Dale Sr take care of them when no one else did. Dale Sr was racing & winning championships, hunting, & fishing and building businesses, which We admire! Instead of being Father of the Year. Theresa was by his side. I understand, because it's not popular to be the stepmother to three children, who want different things, from their father.
These interviews show how Dale Sr. put together a team of super capable people. Unfortunately his outsized personality was necessary to keep everyone in line and working together. Unfortunately #2 is that he did not have a plan that worked without him.
The foundation was solid! I doubt he could've foreseen what Teresa would do to his legacy. When he died Teresa knew she'd take a back seat and couldn't stand the thought! The future was built into the name and the name was NOT hers!
@@tflick41 Dale Sr, was 22 when his father died and he stepped in and became the patriarch of the family. Dale Jr. 26/27 when his father died. It is an interesting to see how children grow up compared to their parents. Teresa should have taken a back seat and let Dale Jr. be the face of the company. I still maintain there were too many egos at DEI and it took a Dale Sr. to keep them all in check and running smoothly. I would love to see the timeline where Dale St. survived.
Teresa never liked his kids she was just jealous of them and only really cared for the one they had together. I wonder if Sr. ever saw or realized this fact and thought he should put something into place in case he passed to protect them . She wasn't going to give up anything to Jr but 49% of something is better than 100% of nothin. Her greed and hatred got the best of her.
You’d think Dale Jr would have had much more confidence in The Eury’s as the leaders of His Pit Crew being that His Pops The Legend #3 The Intimidator put them in their places in DEi to help His Son succeed and it was working .
i'll tell you this: the 2 DEI guys who hated Hmiel were pieces of crap and were a major part of the problem. probably the 2 biggest problems after Teresa herself. . and i've never been a fan of either Earnhardt.
We are so fortunate that Jr is such a history buff and shares these podcasts with us… He could have just wandered off into obscurity like so many others have done
Thank you Jr.
The more stories that come out about DEI the darker it gets. It’s really sad, Dale Worked Very hard to build such a great place and once he died it just rapidly declined like Ty Norris said
The honesty coming through on these interviews is brutal.
That’s the way it should be.
Tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may.
I'd name, names. These guys are thick skinned enough to take it. If not, duck em.
Yup, I'm with you on that.
👍🏽
I agree 100%
Steve Hmiel is by far the smartest Crew Chief I have ever been around. Nobody thinks faster on their feet and makes instant decisions faster than Steve except me after I stole his style.
He helped my career way more than he will ever know.
What stands out most that Steve taught you?
If this is the real James Ince, I thank you so much for your effort with the 10 car when one of my all-time favorite drivers Johnny Benson, Jr. was there. Benson was just on the Scene Vault and just lauded your genius and workmanship. Thanks again.
Hope you are well James -- always was a fan when you and Johnny Benson about turned NASCAR upside down with that unsponsored 10 car and then the Valvoline deal.
DEI would still be around if Jr and Kelly had control. Just gonna leave it there
Steve Hmiel was brilliant and one of the greatest crew chiefs of all time. Mark Martin wouldn't have won all those races without him. Great Job Jr!
A shame that Hmiel and Martin never won a title together.
@@tomdalfonzo9959 we all know Mark Martin won the 1990 Cup…
@@mikeyoungblood1642 marks the fans champion
Really makes you wonder if Jr's Dad didn't die, that DEI would still be a thing today and still thriving in the Cup series.
It was on its way to be on par with HMS
Would have definitely picked up a couple more Xfinity/ Nationwide championships. Possibly 2+ Cup titles. ????? Would they still be around and staying competitive.. ( she ) still might have won.😢
When did DEI ever thrive? They were average even on a good day.
@@zt5547 haha and they had 3 Daytona 500 wins. One with Dale Jr. and two with Michael Waltrip. If Dale wouldn't have died I believe Jr. would have won the title in 2004
@@zt5547you consider winning 2 truck championships, 2 xfinty championships,24 cup races,41 xfinty races,25 truck races and 5 arca races for a total of 95 wins average?
If we all could be so honest about our mistakes, fears and failures. Dale pulls the curtain back and exposes his insecurities, vulnerabilities, frustration and uncertainty. You handled a terrible situation better than 99% of us would have. Your dad would be proud.
Don’t you just love listening to two humble people brag on each other and still are humble enough to not take credit for something so big.
This is the very definition of love and respect.
I love this! Best comment I've seen on one of these.
Teresa should be ashamed about driving DEI into the ground. What a way to honor your late husband.
If she had shame she would be
She doesn’t care about racing. Tough to be invested in something as insane to run as a race team if you’re uninterested.
She just wanted the money, didn't care at all about the race team. Dale JR. Kelly and Kerry Should have gotten the race teams.
She’s a Total Idiot and a Gold Digger. Dale deserved a better Woman. A better Human Being. He should have had his Will set up to give 51% to Jr. And 20% each to his other Boys.
Teresa should be living in a Trailer Park, which is where She’d be without Dale.
Did any of you watch this video? Jr is tell how he childishly contributed to the demise of DEI.
It's amazing how long Jr got by on talent alone. I'm very impressed with the level of reflection and perspective he has developed since 2011, 2012.
On talent alone? He was always in top flight equipment. When did he have to get by on talent alone?
@@jk-kr8jtJfc.... are you just trolling all over these downloads while screaming at your wife and kids? What a miserable prick.
His humility and reflection is an ultimate reason why this young man is so revered
100%
The absolute best interviews / discussions happen right here!!! Props to the Dirty Mo Crew!!!!
And Steve… You should have named names…. They said it… They reiterated it… And they never retracted it… You owe them nothing
Steve Hmiel got his last win as a crew chief at Chicago. That also explains how Dale Jr. and Steve's son Shane were in WinFuel commercials because Shane's dad worked with Dale at the time.
These are pure gold..... pure gold..... Jr, I know you won't see this, but it is so fun and enjoyable to watch you be and do what you were destined to do.... your interview style, honesty, humbleness is pure magic.... THANK YOU for sharing with us!
If Real had levels, this would be at the top. Even the jokes. Hope Mr. Letarte hears this. A crew chief making a driver believe he can drive. All the words, Real. Thank You!
Steve Hmiel was a great spotter and crew chief. This interview made me love him even more than I already did.
Do you know how long was he at Ganassi? Was he a crew chief there? What happened with him in later years? Sorry for the questions but I got really interested in his story but he's not on wikipedia or anything like that and it's hard to get any info on his career tbh
Dale Jr you are 1000% correct. I raced for many years and for many different teams. If the team I was driving for had faith in me, then I had all the confidence in the world to do well. The results were so much better
Slight hijack...used to race dirt bikes in the woods. Was there when the GNCC series was created. I sucked. Zero confidence. Dealership picked-up Husqvarna. 1980 or 81. I had ridden Yamaha my whole life. Bought a leftover OR250 Husky. Rode it 3 times, went to spring race at Big Bear campground that is really close to WV/Maryland border. Fell maybe mile in a tweaked the bars around, pulled throttle off part way. Engine would rev when bars were turned right. Made one 20+ mile lap, came in pits to quit. Guy the sold me the bike was a football coach type. Looked me in the eyes and said "you hurt"? Nope. Yanked bars back straight and shoved throttle back in. GO!🤪 That moment did more for me than all the riding I'd done to that point. Went back few months later and made 4 laps (at least 80 miles of nasty rocks) ran top 10 for all of it. Physically ran out of gas last lap, finished 28th? I think in class. For me it was about confidence. He had it in me. I had it in the bike. Confidence is possibly the most important factor in success.
Truly appreciate these interviews and the stories surrounding the history of the sport. Stuff we never knew about while watching, but always wanted answers to, finally so much of it is coming to light.
I both love and hate these downloads. I love learning what happened. We all knew something was up but we never truly knew what. The hate was for Dale's legacy. To be a fan for almost his entire career and to know that a huge part of his legacy died when Dei fell apart is heartbreaking.
So much humility and truth in the room. Steve is like the Dog test. If my dog doesn’t like you, I wouldn’t want to be around you. Upper management failed the dog test.
Good analogy
DEI was destined for greatness it’s a shame it went down the way it did Jr is a heck a wheelman to have put those cars in victory lane with what was going on behind the scenes
I’m so happy Junior is gonna race 2 times this year. I miss seeing him driving.
The Pocono race they were talking about, i swear that wasn't the only one they changed shocks or springs on pit road. 2007 Pocono 2, I *swear* they did it there too
Edit: ah I was right. He spun on lap 123 at the 2007 Pennsylvania 500 and they changed the front shocks on the car. Finished 2nd.
The win at Chicago is the last race I've been to in person and it completed everything for me as I had seen Senior win twice in person so I was pumped to see Jr. win!
Going out into the lot afterwards was so much fun. Everyone was happy.
One you guys best show yet. The honesty and humbleness is without doubt admired by many.
I always wanted to be a crew chief. I never wanted it bad enough or I was scared 30 years ago.
I never really understood that I would have never made it until listening and watching your podcast. I never really understood how special mentality and emotionally you have to be. Steve Hmiel is someone who always interested me, but I had no idea he was that special. No idea I would have been competing against someone like him.
What a awesome podcast!
He was exciting to watch the #8 on the Budweiser team. Teresa destroyed it.
All the haters can say what they want about Teresa but one thing is a fact.
Nobody and I mean Nobody could have run DEI into the ground quicker than Teresa did!
His insight and honesty is painful and to be respected. DJ was basically a head case after Sr. passed and suddenly had to find his way in the world alone.
He had Kelly!
Steve is such a class act. Terresa did him dirty
I Robert K ,get a ? when is the Bud light #8 car and the toy car it Dale JR inc , if it me it well be into the room when the others toys cars it , as for the car is it the wild west town , and old pics of races days too, with the others teams too,
Nobody just tells Tony Eury "you're fired". Felt so bad for Steve that he was put in that position
This number one in all of the shows you have done. You alone brought me back to Nascar, after I had completely stopped watching any Nascar. Maybe someday we can talk about it.
Thankful for what Jr is doing here, respecting and sharing history, and some intimate details that we never would’ve known. I’m not afraid to say I was not a huge Jr fan when he raced, but as he’s gotten older I have a ton of respect and admiration for who he is and what he has become. Much respect.
Serious question… what becomes of Dale Jr if… he never gets an opportunity at HMS? JRM certainly never happens like it has and look at all the jobs JRM has provided over the years. Unbelievable what went down at DEI. I just shake my head.
Dale jr in the 8 bud car was so much fun watching. Wish Richard would of offered him a chance to drive the 3 car for him instead of waiting for Austin Dillion.
Wow I feel so sorry for Steve Hmeil having to deal with that mess Terresa made of Dale Srs dream.
Just a sad sad time in history at DEI.
I didn't realise all that was going on but I knew nothing was right after Dale passed away and the poor kids Dale Jr ,Kelly & Kerry had to feel so lost not knowing where there future was headed with that witch in charge of everything.
I can not to this day believe she didn't do what Dale Sr wanted for the kids to get and keep DEI running and we all know they wanted to do in there daddy's name to carry on his legend. But Dale Sr legend will never die anyways.That witch has no control over all the memories qe all ha e of him his dad and his kids and what the man built. I met Dale Sr a few times and I will never forget how gracious and kind he was with my dad and I. And with me all alone at the busch shop at DEI he and little Taylor came over to the gate and talked to me for a few minutes and I was on top of the world.i could not believe I caught Dale Sr at a time when it was just me him and little Taylor and we talked about the Winston the night before and he had gotten crashed out of the race and I said I was there and hated seeing that and lost that car.He Said it was a good car but are you coming to the 600 I sure am in turn 1 down by the fence. He said well wait till you see that car run, it is an even better car and it is fast.
He was penalized 3 times and sent to the back and still came back to win that 600. I was so happy for him and so excited for him. When he passed away it was devastating. I went to DEI with many other race fans that were there and all the news and sports crews covering it.
One if the saddest days I've ever experienced.
It was hard to even want to watch nascar anymore but I did follow Dale Jr and pulled hard for him and got to experience the great wins he had. Just never did put it all together to win that elusive championship in the Cup series.
Dale Jr is actually the only one I haven't met of the Earnhardt family.i met Dale Sr of coarse a few times .unfortunately Teresa and of coarse Taylor and Kelly at Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet and Kerry when I worked at Lowes in mooresville nc.
I had bought a truck from Dale's dealership and Dale was still with us at that time.i went for oil service on my truck and asked if Dale Jr was there and the service manager said you just missed him I sent him on a parts run to Charlotte and he went make it back before we close today.i said crap he's the only one I haven't got to meet and talk to.
Dale Jr was just maybe 16 at the time just getting going in his young life.
So I have alot of good memories and went to alot of races at charlotte and north Wilkesboro and Bristol,Rockingham and darlington to watch Dale Sr.
I don't think I ever got to a race when Jr was racing even when his dad was still with us and driving.
Every now and then I will go for a ride out to DEI and walk around and remember all the good times like meeting Dale Sr outback at the old busch shop. But my anger for the witch will never fade because she did Dale Kelly and Kerry very wrong and very dirty in my opinion.
She was never the racer in that family.she married into it and then killed the whole dream her husband Dale Sr built for his kids to won day take over and runs and race.
Will never forget!
Talk about a shitstorm. They were screwed the minute the old man died.
One of the greatest guys in racing. This was one of the best episodes I’ve seen on here.
Steve seems like a really nice guy. Doesn't want to hurt anyone's feeling. Lay it out there man. It's been nearly 20 years. They get upset, duck em. Tell it like it was.
That was a great interview. I always loved Steve
Wow...... after that meeting.......it would have been some ass whooping going on
The more of this I hear the more I dislike the Wicked Witch!
Theresa could be on top of the world right along with Jr., but she couldn't see clearly. The whole thing is just so totally sad, but you can't keep a good man like Dale down.
Best kinda stuff Dale Jr keep at it kid
Teresa destroyed DEI
It was Brian Vickers not Ryan Blaney at Chicagoland that held off Matt Kenseth.
Dale Jr should took it over not her
Assume interview . Steve sounds like a gentleman's gentleman
At the end of the day Dale sr should have had it in writing that dale jr kerry n their sister get the team 3 ways
I remember the days that Steve was Mark's crew cheif and how well they worked together.
Great interview!! I’m not a nascar guy, don’t know who Steve is but he seems like a good guy! Dales honesty is remarkable!
This episode was gut wrenching to me. Shows real drama at dei.
Tony Eury Jr. was back on the box by the late in the year by 2005 and in 2006.
Lisa Pressley was the musical act at daytona july 2005
Amazing just how much Teresa did to destroy DEI.
Great episode! The interview seemed spontaneous and revealing to everyone involved in the discussion.
Man dale, thanks for being so human and thoughtful about your past thoughts here! Very well said and inspirational in a very real way. Also Ross chastain should get some kind of pay bonus from nascar. I wish camera guys did a better job on that one but that just shows u absolutely noone saw that coming, even cameramen
I'll always say if Dale had lived Jr. would be a multi time champion because you could see Dale had built the dominant program and it just crumbled under Teresa...and when she and Jr had their differences come out I remember Jr had like 7 blown engines that year when dei never had engine issues I new it was over
Honestly probably one of the top 5 guests you’ve had. Great episode.
One day, Teresa Earnhardt will have to tell everyone why she let her deceased husband's company wither into nothingness. Granted, the loss of DEI was RCR's gain, but DEI didn't *have* to die. Stubbornness killed it.
Sounds more like greed and jealousy. She did not know how to run the company but her admitting that would reinforce every ones preconceived notions of her. She took over a company the was dominated over by Sr with none that she would allow to step up. Jr talked about it in a different episode. The fact that the DEI Mgmt walked into the Chip Genassi meeting trying to get Steve fired when they were being absorbed shows you the Ego running thru DEI at the time. She will never admit Jr was right and won in the end.
Teressa is the Yoko of NASCAR!!
There's more to racing than car going round and round. These stories about team work and struggles are what makes racing so hard to get out of system.
I have always been a Steve Hmiel fan, since his days with Roush!
Just wanted to say i enjoy Jr's podcast ABOUT as much as i liked watching him race and quit watching nascar when he retired my PERSONAL opinion is NASCAR went to alittle too sissy after an Earnhardt presence on the track.....
Steve seems like a very knowledgeable person and an asset to any operation.
Teresa should’ve known that DEI couldn’t make it when she let jr leave! She should’ve sold or gave him the 51% he wanted! DEI would still be around!!
You would think Teresa would want NOTHING to do with Nascar after her Husband Lost his Life while Racing under the Nascar banner.
Wow. Just wow.
Jr. You always were and always will be my driver!
I can see how Mark Martin & Steve Hmiel were so DYNAMIC together in the 90s! Steve Hmiel is a LEGEND
A network TV or streaming show (Peacock) on Racing and the Politics behind the shop door would be awesome. Please get on that Mike Joy 👍
I think it should have someone who doesn't have a scooby about the sport to present the show, so they learn as the audience does.
There should be no scripts like certain behind closed doors shows no-names or finger pointing......junior!!
This tells you how bad things got after Dale Sr. passed.
I have pictures from the 500 in 04 from the top row in turn two and I could stand on the seat and see the runway and watched air force one and the F-16s land. Good weekend for the team.
10 races to go in 2005 Tony Jr took over as crew chief for Junior.
Tony Jr got suspended for 4 races in 2007. Tony Gibson was crew chief.
Mike : "we ran like a bag of ass" !!! 🤣
These podcasts are gold! Teresa has to go down as one of the worst owners in NASCAR history. Ran that place in the ground fast.
Dale did you ever race against Kenny Wallace I see him on utube all the time he never won a Nascar race why is he on utube
Teresa was a petty / jealous individual. She ruined DEI..
Curious if he’ll have Teresa one day. They can’t hold a grudge forever
Yeah that'll never happen. They don't even talk personally much less publicly on a show like this. Teresa doesn't talk publicly anyway.
They do say "Never say never". It's important to remember that.
Important because it demonstrates that there are no absolutes. Because that is never gonna happen.
One thing I tell everybody.....you had to go through EVERYTHING you went through in life.... to get where you are NOW...in life.... just the slightest change and you'd not BE HERE....now.
well at least Bud din't have JR wearing a dress and doing splits, cmon.
Dale this interview with Steve really helped shed light on how bad Teresa was at attempting to run a business that your Precious Dad had built and succeeded into a mega company and when he passed he would've come back if possible to make things right to where Dale Jr and Kelley would have been head of the most successful team and THE BEST RACE CAR DRIVER EVER, THE INTIMIDATOR DALE SR WOULD NOT HAVE TOLERATED TERESA'S NONSENSE FOR A SECOND!!!! THE INTIMIDATOR INTENDED FOR DALE JR AND KELLEY TO CARRY THE EARNHARDT LEGACY INTO THE FUTURE AND Dale, you and Kelley and Mike and the wonderful people in your inner circle have done AMAZING THINGS AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL BEYOND WHAT EVEN YOUR PRECIOUS DAD EXPECTED AND YOU DID IT YOUR OWN WAY WITHOUT DEI WHICH RIGHTFULLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOURS AND KELLEY'S. BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE GOD WILL SEND DOWN HIS JUSTICE TO MAKE THE GUILTY AND GREEDY PAY . GOD DOESN'T MISS ANYTHING AND HE WILL STEP IN AND CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU FOR DOING YOUR FAMILY LEGACY JUSTICE 🙏🏻ALONG WITH YOUR PRECIOUS FAMILY AMY AND THE GIRL'S AND KELLEY AND HER PRECIOUS FAMILY 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻AND JEFFREY TOO. 🙏🏻🙏🏻💞🤗💞🏁🏆🏁
Man I miss those days the passion is gone these days.
I know what happened. Teresa Earnhardt put her racing uncle on the board of directors. Did any of you know that. She handed DEI to him. He told her what to do. And she did it. He destroyed DEI because she let him. This I know as a fact. Don't even ask me how. I can't say. But believe it.
I'll do one better here, Teresa should have sold DEI to someone who cared about racing and the people who knows racing from the head of operation to the person who swept floors at the race shop. My moto is you "don't care, GET OUT OF THE WAY!'
Teresa was a cancer to that company from the minute Sr crashed! I hope she’s sorry for what she did to that company & family! She should be ashamed! I remember DW talking about her ruining DEI, he said he remembered Sr saying everyday while starting the company, “we’ve got to leave something for them kids”! He knew Sr meant for Jr & his siblings to take over!
Tec Stuff You shoud read Dale Sr's comments on how Teresa was a driving force in getting Dale Sr's business interests moving forward & in a positive position!
There's no doubt that she wasn't Step mom of the year to Dale Sr 's children! But she helped Dale Sr take care of them when no one else did. Dale Sr was racing & winning championships, hunting, & fishing and building businesses, which We admire! Instead of being Father of the Year. Theresa was by his side.
I understand, because it's not popular to be the stepmother to three children, who want different things, from their father.
When theres no one to manage all the ego's, everyone thinks their way is the only way to succeed
These interviews show how Dale Sr. put together a team of super capable people. Unfortunately his outsized personality was necessary to keep everyone in line and working together. Unfortunately #2 is that he did not have a plan that worked without him.
The foundation was solid! I doubt he could've foreseen what Teresa would do to his legacy. When he died Teresa knew she'd take a back seat and couldn't stand the thought! The future was built into the name and the name was NOT hers!
@@tflick41 Dale Sr, was 22 when his father died and he stepped in and became the patriarch of the family. Dale Jr. 26/27 when his father died. It is an interesting to see how children grow up compared to their parents. Teresa should have taken a back seat and let Dale Jr. be the face of the company. I still maintain there were too many egos at DEI and it took a Dale Sr. to keep them all in check and running smoothly. I would love to see the timeline where Dale St. survived.
Teresa never liked his kids she was just jealous of them and only really cared for the one they had together. I wonder if Sr. ever saw or realized this fact and thought he should put something into place in case he passed to protect them . She wasn't going to give up anything to Jr but 49% of something is better than 100% of nothin. Her greed and hatred got the best of her.
Who all went and watched the Pocono and Chicago race after this video??
You’d think Dale Jr would have had much more confidence in The Eury’s as the leaders of His Pit Crew being that His
Pops The Legend #3 The Intimidator put them in their places in DEi to help His Son succeed and it was working .
One of the nicest guys in NASCAR
Big Budweiser nr.8 fan here from Kolding, Denmark (Scandinavia)
And nr.88 fan after Junior changed car.
Stay safe 🤘🇺🇲🇩🇰🤘
Can add a spring- COT. I can add a spring. Three spring's, lol.
This was a rough interview on all points. Glad it was put out though
This an amazing interview. Great stuff
WHO said it?!?!?
i'll tell you this:
the 2 DEI guys who hated Hmiel were pieces of crap and were a major part of the problem. probably the 2 biggest problems after Teresa herself.
.
and i've never been a fan of either Earnhardt.