Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Takes Will Brinson, Blogger, and FanHouse for a Ride in His Stock Car

When the guy at the Richard Petty School of Racing said that "this will change your life" while referring to hopping in a stock car and making a bunch of left turns, I snickered. I'm sorry, I did. How on Earth can you possibly justify moving at a rapid speed in an automobile as something that would alter the course of your existence? Exactly. You can't.

Or can you? Check the vid below to see what happens when Dale Earnhardt, Jr., allows a blogger (yours truly) in his 88 car for a few turns around Lowe's Motor Speedway. (Oh, and make sure to read the interview with Dale too, where he talks about Amp, the Chase, Jimmie Johnson and his new bar in Charlotte.)

Okay, so "life changing" is kind of a stretch ... but, as you can tell from my Brah-ed out reaction to the whole thing -- "IN-TENSE", etc. -- it was a pretty ridiculous experience.

Should you ever have the opportunity, I would highly recommend it.

(Also, read Will Brinson's interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr. where they talk about whether the Cup needs to be fixed, the legend of Jimmie Johnson, and what Amp mixes best with for big post-race celebrations.)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02: Dave Blaney, driver of the #22 Caterpillar Toyota, leads Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 01: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, prepares for practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 1, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 01: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, drive in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 1, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 31: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, stands on pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on October 31, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 31: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on October 31, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

11-05-2008 @ 2:00PM

Maveness said...

LOL I did that back in the spring at Lowe's. My exact reaction after we stopped? I looked at the driver and immediately stated "I WANT one of these things!"

(I also had a panic attack when they strapped on the HANS device, so to be that excited over the speed and horsepower was huge. But once you get moving, it's great.)

So, are you going to try driving one next?

11-05-2008 @ 2:19PM

shirlee said...

It would fun I hope to see a race with Dale JR in it before I die.To old to race . But never miss watching a race.........Had a son that race he has gone with Dale Sr.

11-05-2008 @ 2:03PM

Isaac said...

So enthused about the Fossil Fuel Follies!

11-05-2008 @ 2:24PM

dick said...

I like Dale jr. He is not like his old man. Dale sr. was a punk and a dirty driver.

11-05-2008 @ 6:23PM

brenda said...

hey "DICK" ! obviously u know nothing 'bout stock car racin'. people may not have liked him, but they still had respect for him and sure do miss him now!!! he was not "dirty"! he just knew how to race hard and go for the win. do u call all these other wimps "dirty" when they drive like they don't have good sense. at least he knew what he was doin and how to do it without hurtin anyone. grow up and get over it and leave the "MAN" alone!!!!!!! gyrl from Virginia

11-05-2008 @ 8:00PM

Jim said...

Hey Dick,

Dale Sr. was a very overly aggressive driver. That wasn't afraid to push anyone out of the way. Jimmy Spencer was also an overly aggressive driver.
But fans thought Dale was great and Jimmy is an idiot. Dale Sr. told it like it was and didn't pull no punches, the same with Spencer. The difference was that Dale Sr won a lot of races and Jimmy didn't.
Dale Sr was an arrogant person.
If you came up to Dale Sr with a diecast that was "Home made" he refused to sign it. He looked at is as you were taking money out of his pocket and he didn't give you permission to make that car that he was a part of. Now if you went to Jimmy Spencer, Kyle Petty or even The King (not Elvis) they would say: Wow that is neat.
I am really glad that Dale Jr isn't 100% like his father.
But also when Dale Sr passed away so did a lot of the aggressiveness in NASCAR.
Too bad Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin had to die first before NASCAR took a long hard look at safety. Dale Sr was just the shot in the arm and the money man that NASCAR couldn't afford to lose. But they did.

11-05-2008 @ 8:23PM

Phil said...

Brenda said it better then I ever could. You either loved him or hated him but every body respected him. He pretty much made NASCAR what it was until his untimley death. Now for the most part it is been taken over by a bunch of panty waist cry babys

11-05-2008 @ 2:33PM

Ruth Mason said...

Love Dale, watch every race and pray he wins, he has had bad luck but his day will come. Nice personality, always smiling, never a bad word about anyone. Hope one day to meet him, 80 years old and he brings happiness to my life, hope to meet him one day.

11-05-2008 @ 3:11PM

laxtomax said...

Woah thats so weird I was just at Lowes Motor speedway on Saturday to do a ride along and to drive the car myself! The blogger that had the ride along was absolutley right! Crack on wheels! I highly recomend doing this before you die or can't drive:-P

11-05-2008 @ 2:48PM

Skip said...

Why does one never see any pictiures of Dale Jr. with a girl or a girl friend ???

11-05-2008 @ 5:33PM

kittens4dj said...

He is busy working on his careeer, no time for silly women. They would just mess with him for his money and his fame. He has friends and a VERY busy life.

11-05-2008 @ 6:27PM

because no-one is good enough! everytime he dates someone they r usually after his fame and fortune. just like the last one, her mother tried to run the show! they didn't care 'bout him, just what he could give them or do for them. so don't worry, jr can handle himself very well when it comes to women. he dont need them right now in his life. look at jeff gordon. can that tell u somethin? gyrl from Virginia

11-05-2008 @ 2:51PM

JBJG24M said...

NOW MAYBE SOME OF U PPL WILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE RESPECT FOR THIS SPORT!!

11-05-2008 @ 2:54PM

Bob Kuhns said...

Yep .... it would be a DREAM come TRUE .......... POP & JUNIOR have always been my favorites.

11-05-2008 @ 5:01PM

B. Kuhns said...

This is something that you dream about as long as you have ever been a NASCAR fan and Dale Junior has always been your favorite driver ...... what else can I say .....

11-05-2008 @ 3:42PM

USAF Brat said...

Beware of Brad - Comment #2. He is directing you to a site that will infect your computer. What a jerk.

11-15-2008 @ 11:39PM

dave said...

these post by Brad and Alex for nude pictures are on every one of these blog postings no matter what its about. I don't think reporting them does anything but make you feel like your doing something. Same names every time.

11-05-2008 @ 3:55PM

Jim Murphy said...

I love all the reactions from people who have never been in a race car. I started in a go cart when I was 9 back in the 1950's (I am now 60) and have owned/driven several race cars over many years - mostly formula cars in Sports Car Club of America (club racers) - and I am still addicted to the adrenaline rush that I get every single time that I strap myself into my car. Get in a race car and see for yourself.

Jim

11-05-2008 @ 4:04PM

When are we going to see a picture of Jr. with his girl friend, or does he not have one ??

11-06-2008 @ 9:14PM

barry said...

You seem to be obsessed with his having or not having a girlfriend..almost like you want to be his girlfriend if he doesn't have one or, if he does,and you were able to see a picture of her and you thought maybe you're cuter than she is you'd have a chance and maybe bust a move... I don't think he plays for the same team...get over him and move on.

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