Happy wife, happy life… and a whole lot of happy NASCAR fans if this all actually works out.
Every married man knows that if you’re wife suggests that you do something, it’s not actually an option. Smart husbands hear suggestions as “orders,” and a whole lot of NASCAR fans are hoping that Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes this latest idea from his wife, Amy, very seriously.
In a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download, which primarily focused on this past weekend’s Daytona 500 (which featured some Michael Jordan controversy), the retired NASCAR driver revealed that, after the race, his wife of 10 years said that he should get back behind the wheel and race in the Daytona 500 next year:
“Amy told me I should run the Daytona 500 next year. I was like, ‘What?’ We were laying in bed Sunday night after the race and she was like, ‘You should just drive it next year.’ I’m like, ‘Hello? Pardon me? What’d you say? Are you okay?'”
The two time Daytona 500 winner (2004, 2014) hasn’t participated in “The Great American Race” since 2017. And because he announced he would be retiring in April of that year, he had already raced in the Daytona 500 by then… so many fans watched not knowing it would be Earnhardt Jr.’s last at Daytona International Speedway.
So is Dale Jr. actually considering it? The fact that he even brought it up could indicate that he’s at least entertaining the idea. He’d be 52-year-old by the time the Daytona 500 rolls around in 2027, so he’s no spring chicken… but he’d be far from the oldest person to ever compete in the race (Mark Thompson was over 66 when he raced in the Daytona 500 in 2018).
However, when he was somewhat pressed about it by his co-host, Dale Jr. was rather noncommittal:
“Oh man, I don’t know.”
You can’t just tease NASCAR fans like that.
If Dale Earnhardt Jr. thought he would drop that tidbit into his show and no one would care… he’d be wrong. The news that Amy Earnhardt wants her husband to get back on the saddle again for next year’s Daytona 500 has gotten a whole lot of Dale Jr./NASCAR fanatics fired up:
Just when I thought I was out. They pull me back in.
— Terry (@Harrybenzle) February 18, 2026
The hype around this race would be unbelievable
— Teddy Gallagher (@TeddyGal25) February 18, 2026
*starts saving for vacation in Daytona next year now*
— R D (@Duffman815) February 18, 2026
We need this and NASCAR needs this and if Amy is onboard let’s make it happen!
— #EverybodysOnSteroids (@sportsguyjason) February 18, 2026
If he’s entering I’ll buy a ticket today
— Titus (@AlCamus9) February 18, 2026
Dale, you have to do it now.
— Steve Leffew (@SdotL49) February 18, 2026
The NASCAR legend returning for the famous race would be iconic, but I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for it to happen. Maybe Dale Jr. truly does want to get back out on the race track for the Daytona 500 though? Wouldn’t that be something?
He did add this after someone accused him of engagement farming:
“I only wanted folks to know Amy wasn’t to blame for my retirement back in the day. I felt she got some unnecessary blame back then. I won’t be racing cup but she’s not the reason.”
I only wanted folks to know Amy wasn’t to blame for my retirement back in the day. I felt she got some unnecessary blame back then. I won’t be racing cup but she’s not the reason.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 18, 2026
Here’s the full episode of the Dale Jr. Download where you can hear more about it:
