Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 5-year-old daughter, Nicole, has caught the racing bug after a ride with her father at Pocono Raceway on June 13.
What happened?
Nicole rode shotgun with her father, Dale Earnhardt Jr., after JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier won the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Pocono Raceway. According to her father, Nicole seemed to enjoy the experience. "Nicole also said that she thinks she kinda — made sure that you knew she kinda — wants to try to drive a race car," Earnhardt Jr. said, per Dirty Mo Media.
Why it matters for Dale Earnhardt
If Nicole were to pursue racing, she would be a fourth-generation driver following in the footsteps of great-grandfather Ralph Earnhardt, grandfather Dale Earnhardt, and her father, Dale Earnhardt Jr. This would be a significant milestone for the Earnhardt family, which has a rich history in NASCAR.
What comes next?
Earnhardt Jr. has already started making plans for Nicole to try out driving a car. "We got a little track... We'll just get out there and putt around and you can kinda try it," he said. This will be a great opportunity for Nicole to learn more about racing and potentially pursue a career in the sport.
Nicole's interest in racing is not surprising, given her family's background. Her father, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is a well-known NASCAR driver, and her grandfather, Dale Earnhardt, was a legendary driver who won seven championships. Nicole's enthusiasm for racing is a testament to the sport's enduring appeal.
Earnhardt Jr.'s wife, Amy, also shared Nicole's excitement about the experience. "She goes, 'Mom, I really liked being in the race car'," Amy Earnhardt said. "She whispered it in my ear and hugged me super tight. Later, she's like, 'Mom, that was so fun.'"
It's clear that Nicole has caught the racing bug, and it will be exciting to see if she pursues a career in the sport. With her family's history and her own enthusiasm, she has a great foundation to build on.
Earnhardt Jr. confirmed with Nicole that she was indeed talking about a race car. "She goes, 'Yeah, but kinda. Just kinda.' I'm like, 'Well, I got electric cars and stuff. We got a little track... We'll just get out there and putt around and you can kinda try it.'"
The Earnhardt family's legacy in NASCAR is a significant one, and it will be interesting to see if Nicole follows in her family's footsteps. With her father's support and her own enthusiasm, she has a great chance of making a name for herself in the sport.
The NASCAR community will be watching Nicole's progress with great interest, and it will be exciting to see if she becomes the next generation of Earnhardt drivers.