What does it feel like to be in a 3000-pound, car traveling 200mph while it shoots and spins through the air?
That’s a question anyone who’s even seen NASCAR clips has asked themselves at least once, but most of us don’t have the opportunity to ask someone who’s been in the situation.
Insert Mike Tyson.
A few years back, Iron Mike had none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his podcast Hotboxin’ w/ Mike Tyson and this exact question came up.
When asked what it feels like when your car takes off, Dale Jr. had quite an interesting take.
“I was never scared. I was always thinking in my mind ‘I’m never going to be able to explain this to somebody. I’m never going to be able to tell somebody what this is like.’
You feel the car, it’s so damn heavy, but it’s flying through the air and you cannot describe it. It’s the weirdest thing.”
Never scared? Never?
Those Intimidator genes must run strong in the Earnhardt blood because I can’t imagine for a single second, no matter how much safety equipment is installed, no matter what helmet I’m wearing, no matter anything, not being scared if a car I’m in goes airborne.
Hell, I get scared when passing a tractor trailer on the highway, no way I’m not feeling a damn thing while getting thrashed about in a racecar while spinning through space and time.
To be fair, Dale said going 130 is much more nerve-racking than going 200 on a racetrack:
“I get nervous driving on the highway going 130, whereas on a racetrack on a closed course, in a car that’s supposed to be as safe as can be, I’m not concerned.”
But that’s why he’s Dale Jr. and I’m just me…
Hell of a conversation between these two, highly suggest listening to the whole thing.
