“Hunting really was his escape. When he got away, he let the other side out — Dale Earnhardt the average person, just another guy in the hunt camp,” Bill Jordan recalled Dale Earnhardt’s love for hunting after The Intimidator passed away. Away from the roar of the engines and the chaos of pit road, Earnhardt found peace in the woods. Hunting wasn’t just a pastime, but it was where the seven-time champion could swap his fire suit for camo, trade in horsepower for silence, and be at home in nature.
But for his son, Dale Jr., those quiet mornings in the tree stand weren’t always so relaxing. In fact, one memory in particular still sticks with him decades later.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s childhood hunt with his father
On his weekly podcast, Bless Your ‘Hardt, co-hosted with his wife Amy, Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared a vivid story about his first hunting trip with his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. He recalled the daunting climb up a tall, bare tree in Alabama, where safety harnesses were nonexistent. “He put these pegs as far apart as possible. So, he didn’t have to put so many in there. But I can’t get my foot to the next peg,” Dale Jr. recalled.
Despite the scary ascent, what stood out most to Dale Jr. wasn’t his own fear but his intense worry for his dad. “I was worried about him. Why? Because he’s the breadwinner. He’s like the greatest thing on earth,” Dale Jr. explained. Growing up, Dale Jr. saw his dad not only as an iconic racing legend but also as a strong provider and loving father. This admiration built a lasting bond fueled by respect and love. Even at a young age, Dale Jr. understood his father’s importance in his life, fearing for his safety more than his own during that first hunting adventure.
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Once they reached the top, the tension eased. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalled shooting his first deer at 150 yards, which dropped immediately. His dad, though an experienced hunter, was as proud and happy as if he had made the shot himself. “He was as happy as if he’d shot his own deer, which was awesome,” Dale Jr. beamed with excitement.
And while we are on the topic of Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s passion, it would be unfair not to mention the fishing story shared by Kix Brooks. The country music star and Ronnie Dunn were good friends with the seven-time Cup Series champion, and during deep-sea fishing once, Earnhardt tossed Kix and a bucket of chum into the waters and sped off in a boat. After scaring Brooks and his wife for a while, he turned his boat around and picked him up.
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Once the story reached Dale Jr., he did not have much to say except: “This is f*cking insane.”
But coming back to his Jr., his memory with his father, reveals not just the physical challenges of that day but also the emotional connection and reverence Dale Jr. holds for the iconic “Intimidator,” capturing the heart of their unique father-son relationship. However, the passing of Earnhardt Sr. left the 50-year-old heartbroken for years to come.
How Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death still shapes the way Dale Jr. processes grief
When you lose a parent unexpectedly, it reshapes how you process every other loss that comes after. For Dale Earnhardt Jr., that truth has followed him for more than two decades. He was just 26 years old when his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., passed away in a tragic accident. Now approaching 51, Junior has lived longer than his dad ever did, and that tragedy continues to shape how he views grief.
That became evident recently after he and his wife Amy lost their beloved dog, Junebug, a 14-year-old Pomeranian who had been with them through thick and thin. While Amy admitted she cried several times during their Bless Your ‘Hardt podcast, Junior’s response was more subdued. “He doesn’t have empathy,” Amy said gently, acknowledging that he processes things differently.
Junior himself explained why. “I had a very big loss back in 2001 with Dad,” he said. “That like hardened or seasoned… now, when another loss happens in life… even though I loved June Bug to death and I will miss him terribly – I feel like I can’t, I don’t grieve.”
On February 18, 2001, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. tragically died in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. While battling for position, Earnhardt’s car made contact with Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader, sending him into the retaining wall at roughly 155 miles per hour. He sustained a fatal basilar skull fracture, and despite swift medical efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after at Halifax Medical Center. He was just 49 years old.
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It’s not that Dale Jr. didn’t care; it’s that he measures every loss against the heartbreak of 2001. “It’s not like I don’t appreciate him and love him,” Junior said, “but like that part of me is not working right… I feel fine, I feel okay with how that’s working.”
Part of that also comes from time. Junebug’s health had been declining for nearly two years, giving Junior a chance to prepare himself. His father’s death, however, was instantaneous and unimaginable. More than 20 years later, that grief still lingers, and in some ways, it has redefined how he feels about every other goodbye.