Bubba Wallace’s Insider Unearths an Unfortunate Truth About Dale Earnhardt’s Struggle With Fame

Rich, famous, and influential — if these are the three words to describe someone in the NASCAR world, it is none other than Dale Earnhardt. He had a power like no other in the sport, not just on track but off track as well. But with fame and power come certain demerits. One of the most notable of them all is being sidelined. 

Most think that famous personalities are too unattainable to talk to or to have a normal conversation with. But while fame can create barriers, it can also create unforgettable connections and memories. This is exactly what Jeff Green, a notable NASCAR figure, faced when Dale Earnhardt reached out to him.

The price Dale Earnhardt had to pay for his fame

Over his career, Dale Earnhardt clinched 76 NASCAR Cup Series victories and seven championship titles. Known as the ‘Intimidator’, the name rightly suited him. His intimidating presence on the track left significant imprints on how he was perceived off-track. A presence that was loved widely nonetheless, but was seen as something unreachable. Hence, when Jeff Green received a call from Dale Sr, he had to shake his head.  

Speaking on Dale Jr Download, Jeff Green shared an incident. He said, “Along the way, your dad was going to retire from the Busch Series, and Mike and your dad were really good friends. So, Mike was putting my name in the hat for that car for that opportunity. I came home one night late in the ’94 season, and Michelle, my wife, hit the button, and… Earnhardt was on the other end, I thought. For the next three or four hours, I called all my buddies back in Hornsboro to see who was messing with me, but it turned out to be him for sure, and that was a pretty special occasion for me.” And when Dale Earnhardt Jr asked what his dad had said to him, Green replied, “Come see me, buddy.”

But while the conversation seems pretty normal, after hearing Green’s side, one can tell the price fame brings. It shows how a great person’s most genuine gestures can come under doubt, even in a moment of opportunity. And well, no one is at fault except the real pranksters. Jeff Green got a call from one of the biggest personalities of the sport and instead of excitement, what he felt was skepticism. He didn’t think Earnhardt could call him! He probably thought that he must be far too busy or too important to engage in a normal conversation with him.

Bubba Wallace spotter, Freddie Kraft, echoed these similar ideas. He took to Twitter to share the harsh reality, writing, “I feel bad for Dale Earnhardt back in the day. No one ever returned this guy’s phone calls cause everyone thought it was a prank.” 

But while fame can create such barriers once in a while, the capability of its impact is far too great. We cannot miss the fact that Green considers that one call to be very special. It shows that when someone at the top of their game reaches out with a warm gesture, it can break down barriers and open doors. And seems like Dale Earnhardt Jr has taken a page out of his father’s book. Recently Brad Keselowski shared how Dale Earnhardt Jr reached out to him during a tough period and changed his life path.

The day Brad Keselowski got that life-changing call from Dale Earnhardt Jr

Brad Keselowski didn’t always have the illustrious career we know of. In 2006-2007, he faced several challenges. Back then, he was driving for Keith Coleman Racing, a backmarker team in the Xfinity Series. However, his fortunes changed quickly. In a podcast with Kevin Harvick, he mentioned that he had begun attracting team owners’ attention with his performances against the “Bushwhackers.” The major turning point came during his substitute appearance in a Truck race at Memphis, which caught the eye of Dale Earnhardt Jr and led to a life-changing call for him.

Keselowski shared on the Happy Hour podcast, “Probably my biggest break came when a driver got suspended after a truck race, and I filled in for him. I ran really well, sat on the pole, led a lot of laps, and had a shot to win. It felt like all these different things came together. I remember being on an airplane flying back from Memphis, flying commercial. I landed in Detroit, where I was living at the time. I turned my phone on, and I had a voicemail from Dale Jr. I remember thinking, “This is the coolest thing ever.” 

Then Junior and Keselowski got back in touch the following week, and the rest is history. He drove for JR Motorsports, opening the doors to establish himself in a competitive sport like NASCAR. 

What we can conclude here is that if fame can create barriers, it also holds the power to break down those very walls, if the intentions are genuine enough. And well, the Earnhardt household has time and again held hands with various drivers beyond those walls.